Collecting - Seashells by Millhill

Why Are You Interested In Seashells?

When I began writing this blog about seashells I did so hoping to sell paper products containing my seashell photography, like the card below. I lived in New Hampshire at the time, which is funny because my shells had been collected when I lived in Florida. But my Zazzle business, and especially my seashell and beach-related store, needed promoting and I figured a blog was the way to go. What I discovered right away was that my blog was turning into something else.

In the beginning I wanted to promote my store.

Hello From Florida Custom Beach Shells Flat Card
by millhill

The blog quickly became a learning experience.

People reading my blog wanted information about seashells. At the time I knew very little about the shells I had randomly collected while living in Florida. Now, it was time to learn. For some reason I had never thought much about how those empty shells got there or where they came from. The mollusks, or sea snails, which made them were amazing creatures. I wanted to share what I learned with others who wanted to know.

Big horse conch seashells found locally — Two horse conch shells and Skittle the cat

A move back south made writing easier.

The first years of writing were spent in the North, far from tropical beaches, but now that I am once again in Florida, writing has become easier. It’s always better when you have access to the subject. With the purchase of our boat, I have even better access to remote spots where I may come across fun nature photos to share. And I have my camera with me in the form of the iPhone now too.

shells in the sand — The wind was covering, or maybe uncovering, shells along the beach

Discovering local species is most exciting.

Starfish and sand dollars were my first focus because it was easy to find information about them, and I knew what they were called! It’s been a journey, and I’ve made mistakes along the way, but my writing has improved and so has my knowledge of marine snails and the homes they carry on their backs.

Large living tulip shell with Mollusk inside, found in the backwaters of the Indian River in New Smyrna Beach / Edgewater area — My guesstimate at the size of this living tulip is 7 inches in length. It’s a biggie!

Getting out in the Florida wilderness.

Now I would say that I am interested in shells because their lives fascinate me. Sizes, shapes and colors of seashells vary because of the snail which made them. I am lucky enough to get to see those living creatures now and then and share photos here on my blog. Usually I have far too many photos to deal with and not enough time to write, but it’s fun. I hope my readers can learn something which makes them appreciate the beauty of shells.

Venice Beach is the Place to Find Shark’s Teeth

The shoreline at Venice Beach, on the Gulf coast of Florida, is known as the best place to find shark’s teeth. I have never visited this beach, which is located about halfway along the west coast, but my kids would have loved to collect sharks teeth there.

Just like beachcombing for good seashells, you will find more sharks teeth after a storm comes through. The teeth are fossilized remnants of the large creatures that died some time ago. Eventually the teeth make their way to shore, usually in rough water. As sharks are abundant in the warm Gulf of Mexico, so are their teeth. And we all know that sharks can have many rows of teeth, losing them over a lifetime. This also adds to the large number of teeth deposited on the ocean floor.

Now here is something interesting that I came across. You can also hunt for shark’s teeth in freshwater rivers in Florida! I’m going to give you a link to a page that will tell you why, but briefly it is because all of Florida used to be under the ocean. There are safety factors involved when you do anything in fresh water, one of them being cottonmouth snakes and the other is, of course, alligators. Florida fresh water areas are not inviting – not to me anyway. Florida is full of creepy, and deadly, wildlife, but the bodies of fresh water are the worst! Read more about this challenging way to Hunt for Shark’s Teeth in Rivers (Shark Teeth Store website). The article link is to a site which also sells shark teeth, in case you are interested in buying.

Personally, I would stick to the beach to find my shark’s teeth, but the more adventurous could find some nice specimens in and around rivers. Diving and snorkeling could yield some terrific artifacts. And while you’re looking for teeth, keep your eyes peeled for other fossils. Because of the nature of the beach, with it’s tides and storms, each day contains the possibility of finding something new. Once you have that special tooth, wrap it in wire and hang it around your neck proudly.

(Photo credit: PubicDomainPictures @ Pixabay)

Where and When To Find The Best Seashells?

Most people love to find and collect seashells. The “best shells” is a relative term, as it may mean different things to different beach-combers.

I’m lucky to live in Florida where a beach is always close by. The West coast is the place to search for beautiful shells, and probably the Keys too, but I do find some cool shells on the East coast where I live. The truth is that I find the best shells while out boating.

The best place, in general, in the state of Florida, to find beautiful and unique seashells would be Sanibel Island and the surrounding area. I would also include any islands away from shore where there are fewer shell-seekers to compete with.

The best time, in general, to search for keepers would be at low tide or after a storm.

Screen Shot 2017-11-20 at 10.18.43 AM — Sea greenery shows where high tide was

I’ve never done any shell collecting just after a big storm, but I’ve read blogs where people have found loads of particular shells washed up on the beach. I have come across shells far up on the beach, or tucked under roots of trees where they were shoved by the force of storm waves.

Anything sturdy and possibly buried in the sand can be moved with the extra-high tides and large waves that erode areas, especially after hurricanes. I am usually too busy dealing with the after effects of the hurricane to go out and collect seashells.

What does “best” Mean to you?

Shells I consider to be the “best” are the ones I come across less frequently, like these flat dosinia shells.

disc dosinia seashells — Disc Dosinia Seashells

The best shells to find are the more rare ones. Big beautiful gastropods, like the pink conch, horse conch, and helmet shell (pictured below), can also be categorized as the best. Good luck finding an empty one in good shape.

Helmet seashells — Helmet Shells (photo credit: Skeeze at Pixabay)

It depends on what you hope to find. Sometimes tiny shells can be special as well. I once came across some little Marsh Periwinkles which I’d never see before. I was walking around an island near Ponce Inlet and found three of them just lying in the sand. My Seashell ID book tells me this type of shell is not commonly found in my area, but can be found further north. They were empty so I took them home.

Wherever you plan to be while vacationing in Florida you are certain to find some interesting specimens along the beach. Be safe (the sun is a killer here) and know the rules when planning a trip.