Betty, please, come over to the Middle East and teach our Tritons how to clean themselves. Especially those from the Red Sea are usually completely covered with foreign growth except for the immediate surroundings of the aperture. Also those from the Eastern Mediterranean are always covered with foreign growth. How can we explain this apparent different behaviour?

Henk K. Mienis

mienis@netzer.org.il

----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert & Betty Lipe" <rlipe1@TAMPABAY.RR.COM> To: <CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 4:24 PM Subject: Re: Do calcareous deposits occur on live cowrie shells?

> Many shells have a dormant stage from time to time, either by the cold water or > lack of food supply. That is the time when other marine life can attach. I've > seen it from time to time, but it is not common in cowries. Helmets and > Tritons can usually clean or knock anything off with their powerful radula > sheath. It can reach any part of the shell. " Observations in an aquarium for > over quite a few years." I have slides of a Charonia variegata cleaning > itself. > > Bob > > > Please visit us at our Website: http://www.theshellstore.com > Or at the shop at 348 Corey Ave > St. Pete Beach, FL, 33706 > Phone: 727-360-0586 > Fax: 727-360-3668 > >