Best way to clean hermit shells?

[Zissou]

So I ordered some hermit shells from premiumaquatics the other day, and when I opened the box they were in, I nearly fell over. The shells were bagged dry, but they freakin' REEK. I can smell them from across my room it's so bad, and the bag is closed!

I threw a few in the fish tank already (I picked up 20 to get a broad size range of shells) but in hindsight I'm wondering if I should of cleaned them first. If anything, I want to clean them just to get rid of the darn smell, or I'm going to put them outside. Obviously, I don't want to clean them with anything that'll hurt whatever's going to use them.

Any ideas? If anybody wants the large ones (about the size of a golf ball or so for large hermits), let me know, I'm only going to use the small ones.

 

[bjohanson1234]

I would try boiling them. That should help loosen anything up.

Brian

 

[dcantucson]

Yep! Boil them for around 20 minutes. Soft boil. Be sure to put the vent on, too!

 

[project5k]

yea i would agree, boil 'em

how many of the larger ones do you have, i have a few larger crabs that might like to look at some new diggs... hehehe

 

[daugherty]

yep boil them

 

[yote]

Build a fire outside and boil em.That way you dont stink up the house.

 

[dcantucson]

Thats a good idea yote. I guess one could do it over their BBQ or Charcoal Grill.

 

[bjohanson1234]

or over your neighbors:mrgreen: