Jim,
        Keep on asking your questions, then one day we'll ask you a few and
by then you should be able to help us get through... or even another
generation that is going to be on Conch-L.  You know, we weren't born with
these answers.  We're not that smart... most of us anyway.
Dan
 
>Hi folks,
>
>Once again a stinky shell question. I just received some Thais species from
>Singapore in a trade. When I opened the box . . . Whew!! Okay, so here are
>these nice rock shells with all their operculums in place, looking great.
>Do I need to take them apart and try to flush out the deadly remains or
>will leaving them outside in the sun for a week or so dry them out enough
>to stop the stench. I think I know what the answer is going to be, but I
>just thought I'd get all the input from you guys. I'm starting to feel like
>I am going to have to eventually get one of those ultrasonic cleaners,
>particularly since a lot of my material is coming from scallopers who have
>left the shells sitting around, sometimes for weeks, so it's hard to know
>when all the gunk is out (the soft parts tend to just look like stinky
>dirt, so there's no distinctive "coil" to give away a successful cleaning).
>
>
>So I guess I also need advice on which cleaner to get -- is there one out
>there big enough to do, say, a Junonia or a Tulip without cleaning out,
>say, my bank account.
>
>Thanks a million people. It's really great to have you all as a resource.
>Some day when I am as knowledgeable as you, I won't have to ask these
>questions and we can move on to more important topics.
>
>Best regards to all,
>Jim Miller
>Tallahassee, Florida
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan & Hiromi Yoshimoto
1164 Vista Dr.
Eureka, California
        95503-6018
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]