No, Phil...the pink color wasn't from something you did. The same thing
is true of C. ebraeus found in Okinawa.  The pink color eventually
fades...in two or three years...but it's nature in live specimens I
collected in Okinawa.
 
Kim Hutsell
San Diego
 
Phil Liff-Grieff wrote:
>
> I need advise from the experienced collectors on Conch-L before I do any
> more damage...
>
> I am cleaing a number of specimens of Conus ebraeus that I collected in
> Hawaii this past month.  They came home frozen and were thawed and put
> in full strength bleach to remove calcareous deposits etc.- a method
> that has worked fairly well on other shells.  Once cleaned these cones
> have a definite pink cast to them!  Since I can't find any reference to
> pink and black C. ebraeus, I have to assume that, somehow, I'm
> responsible.
>
> What did I do wrong?
>
> Thanks in advance for the help,
>
> Phil Liff-Grieff
> La Crescenta, CA
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