Andrew,

How is it going?

Saw your inquiry in the CONCH-L archive. Looks like you didn't get any
responses. The only useful information I can dig up is from J.W. Knudsen,
Collecting & Preserving Plants & Animals, Harper & Row, 1972. This is what he
says for the use of epsom salts to narcotize freshwater & marine snails:
"Place the specimens in containers of water from the habitat & slowly add
crystals of epsom salts every 10 or 15 minutes, increasing the amounts after
each hour. The crystals should be dropped carefully, so as not to disturb the
expanded specimens. Some specimens are easily relaxed this way & may be
transferred to 35% alcohol or 5 or 10% formalin for killing with no
contraction. On the other hand, it has been the author's experience that many
species require several days of treatment-and, even then, they have
occasionally contracted."

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Aydin



>From: Kay Lavalier ([log in to unmask])
>Date: Sat Feb 05 2000 - 13:13:12 EST

>Andrew Vik
[log in to unmask]

>Dear conchlers:

>What is the proper ratio of epsom salts per gallon of sea water
>for relaxing gastropods?

>Yours, Andrew V.