Dear all, thanks for the advice on the hermit! I got him out, but i'm afraid that he did not survive the ordeal. I am in the process of burying him, to hide any disagreeable smell he might produce. Now, the murex is heavily encrusted with slippers, small oysters and that stuff that looks like calcareous fine lace, whatever it is. I have tried bleach, but it only took off some of the lace stuff, but it did not take of oysters or slippers. How do I get these off? Kind Regards James ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]