The tiger sand conch (Strombus sp.) The word “conch” applies both to the snail and to its shell. When scared or stressed, they can completely tuck into their shell. When they are small, these bumps are long and spiky, which may confer protection against predators and/or stabilize them in moving water. How to Clean Conch Shells. The tiger sand conch (Strombus sp.) You can also find lots of vacation rentals in Sanibel. Each end of the shell comes to a sharp point. There are several species of conch that can be found in the area, including the Queen Conch and the Florida Fighting Conch, which is quite a bit smaller. Conch are quite the delicacy. Conch (pronounced 'konk') is a common name for certain large marine snails.They are gastropod mollusks, the most commercially important of which are in the family Strombidae. It spends a considerable amount of time cleaning and aerating the sand bed and might even disappear into the bottom for long periods of time (sometimes for months). Temperament. is a popular conch. Such types of questions may arise to our minds at some or the other point of your life. A conch’s shell grows in a spiral pattern with bumps around the outer surface. Long tide pools formed in the sand and strange little animals were going about their business as if they were still on the bottom of the ocean. Here are some of the “living sea shells” of Sanibel I encountered. Conch shells can be used as wind instruments.They are prepared by cutting a hole in the spire of the shell near the apex, and then blowing into the shell as if it were a trumpet, as in blowing horn.Sometimes, a mouthpiece is used, but some shell trumpets are blown without one. And don't miss the best conch fritters which you can find at Mallory Square. A queen conch can reach up to 12 inches in length and can live for up to 40 years. Conchs who live in the waters surrounding the Florida Keys are an endangered and protected species. If you are born elsewhere but live here seven years you become a fresh water conch. To dry your shells faster, you can place them out in the sun. Conch move from shallow water into deeper waters as they grow, then return to lay eggs in the shallows. It may take a queen conch at least 5 years to reach maturity. It spends a considerable amount of time cleaning and aerating the sand bed and might even disappear into the bottom for long … At this stage in life they have a very hard flared lip and can reproduce. Co-authored by wikiHow ... Do not leave shells out in the sun too long. Other Fun Key West Facts : To this day if you are born in Key West you are a conch. If yes then you must have thought on whether a fish can live out of water. is a popular conch. There are many species of conch, and you can recognize a conch by its two spires. Key West Conch Appearance: The Key West Conch is a giant snail that can grow up to a foot long and lives under the water. They have a long “snout” like mouth and if you look closely, you can see their eyes peeking out from inside the shell. The conch shell is a single piece, which makes it somewhat challenging to remove the shell from around the snail. The queen conch lives an average of 7 years, but are known to live as long as 20 – 30 years. If you go scuba diving there, the Giant Horse Conch is waiting for you. While conch snails are typically very peaceful snails, male conch snails can sometimes be territorial towards other male conch snails. Hailing from the Eastern Pacific Ocean, this is an excellent addition to one’s clean-up crew. Pronounced "konk," these exquisite sea snails have a delicate and sweet flavor like that of clams. Hailing from the Eastern Pacific Ocean, this is an excellent addition to one’s clean-up crew. And it's hungry. Conch in the shell can be difficult to but locate but can often be found fresh frozen in Chinese or Italian marketplaces or specialty fish stores. The specific species most commonly used for food is the queen conch, or pink-lipped conch, Strombus gigas, which can be found in warm waters of the Atlantic and the Caribbean from Florida to Brazil. They live in shallow, warm waters on coral reefs or sea grass beds. Queen conchs (pronounced “konks”) are soft-bodied animals, belonging to the same taxonomic group (Mollusca) as clams, oysters, octopi, and squid.