We use a solution of alcohol on our trips, but it can't be too strong otherwise the animal gets too
hard to remove. We usually do not have problems to clean them, except for some shells from Pacific
ocean which have a narrow aperture with a callus inside. Nothing as bad as cleaning a Turbinella
laevigata or Cassis turberosa.....

Marcus

regarding conus....or any other mollusc with a thin and narrow aperature....is there an easy way to
clean them.....that I have overlooked

I've read the freeze and thaw....but I have noticed in the conus they retreat deep inside the first
coil of the shell, making it very difficult to retreive them with a pick without damaging the lip
edge.

Any tips?  also, does anyone want to study the animal, i have a few ( conus floridanus(( now
anabathrum ))    ). Really awesome and large poison sacks on these guys for being so small. Makes me
wonder if one could harpoon you, if you might fall ill.

Also, can 91% isopropyl alcohol be used as a preservative in the field for a while. ?

Lyle


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