Since I have not seen a reasonable answer to the question : Is there a way
to get the Conch out of the shell. the question must be asked " do you want
the animal extracted dead or alive ?"
If an animal was removed and placed in a vessel that (A) doesn't have a
predator, (B) the proper pH level in the liquid environment that would be
used to maintain the animal (C) adequate food source. Then there shouldn't
be a problem as long as the animal was removed from the shell properly. My
advice would be to use a LAPROSCOPE equipped with a retractable scalpel and
remove the abductor muscle from the shell wall. The weight of the animal
would
crush itself if not returned to the water immediately. I don't know what
ART was referring to I would hope it was good natured humor gone awry.
PS, the population of Americas black footed ferret it declining very fast
and is a write-off for the most part as the genetic pool is very small. that
should make all of you ferret hetaera happy... I'm waiting to see humans of
the cites list HAHAHAAHAHA weasel
ian
----- Original Message -----
From: Art Weil <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2001 7:48 PM
Subject: Re: Is there a way to get the Conch out of the shell?


> There is a way to remove an animal from a shell without killing it. The
animal
> has to be a racoon or a weasel.
>         Q-Man
>
> Bobbi Cordy wrote:
>
> > THERE IS NO WAY TO REMOVE THE ANIMAL WITHOUT KILLING IT!
> >
> > "Joseph B. Martin" wrote:
> >
> > > Is there a way to get a conch out of the shell without killing it?  I
would
> > > like to collect a few shells I have found, but I do not have the heart
to
> > > kill the inhabitant.  Is there a way to either move the conch to
another
> > > shell, or have it removed from the shell to find another?  I have
heard
> > > that if they are removed from the shell, they will die.  Is that
correct?
> > > So, a summary of the questions I am asking:
> > >
> > > 1.  Is there a way for a conch to be removed from its shell without
killing
> > > it?
> > >
> > > 2.  If there is, how?
> > >
> > > 3.  Can it move from one shell to another?
> > >
> > > 4.  Can a conch live outside its original shell?
> > >
> > > 5.  If yes to 4, will they move to other shells?
> > >
> > > I apologize for my ignorance on the subject.  I am very new to
collecting.
> > >
> > > Thanks for the help.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > JBM
>