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https://www.wikihow.it/Pulire-i-Dollari-della-Sabbia-(Clypeasteridae)
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If you have found sand dollars on the beach, you should clean them before displaying or painting them.The remains of these sea urchins dry naturally in the sun.You can rinse them with fresh water to remove sand or debris and let them soak in a bleach solution to speed up the whitening process.Do not collect live Clypeasteridae:it is not only cruel, but in some areas also illegal.
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Do not collect live hedgehogs. It is considered cruel to kill these animals for the sole purpose of drying them and using them as decoration.If everyone did this, the sand dollar population would suffer dramatically and eventually no one would be able to find their shells anymore.
- Don't take them directly from the sea.The Clypeasteridae are animals similar to sea urchins and starfish, they hide under the sand of the seabed to protect themselves from predators and debris.If you remove a sand dollar from the seabed, there's a good chance it's alive.
- Turn the shell over to look for thin, centipede-like legs or hairs found on the underside.Gently tease them with your finger;if they move, the animal is alive and you should put it back in the water;if not, feel free to pick it up and take it home.
- If it's wet or heavy and "full," it's probably alive or recently dead, even if you found it on the beach.In these cases, rely on common sense and opt to put it back into the sea if you have any doubts.[1]
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Collect dried exoskeletons that have been washed ashore by the waves. The rarity of finds of these shells makes their discovery even more significant and you know for sure that you are not catching and killing a live animal.
- In many states it is illegal to harvest live sand dollars, and if you are caught red-handed, you could be fined.[2] If you don't know the law – or if you care about preserving the fragile coastal ecosystem – don't take these urchins directly from the water.
- Many coastal authorities set a maximum number of Clypeasteridae that can be harvested at one time.Research the laws and regulations before preparing for a day on the beach.
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Be gentle when washing these shells. These are actually fragile exoskeletons that break easily if they are handled carelessly.
- Don't rub them too vigorously;If you decide to clean them this way, don't apply excessive pressure.
- Don't immerse them in chemical solvents – such as bleach or acids – for too long.Solvent can cause this already very delicate object to deteriorate.Clean the sand dollar, but don't dissolve it!
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Remove any rotting material. If the shell was recently washed onto the beach by the waves, it may still contain residue from the dead animal.You can let the sand dollar dry naturally in the sun, bury it and let insects feed on the tissue, or remove these parts by hand.
- If you notice a musky, salty odor around the urchin, similar to that emitted by rotting algae, there may be decomposing animal tissue.[3]
- Expose the exoskeleton to the sun for a few weeks;in this way, soft tissue residues degrade naturally and disappear.Additionally, the sand dollar begins to bleach slightly and harden.When it has a shell-like appearance with a somewhat smooth surface, it is ready to use.
- Consider burying it in the soil of your garden or vegetable patch.You can put it at any depth that is more than 5-6 cm.Within a week or two the worms and others detrivores present in the earth consume the dead tissue leaving a perfectly clean sand dollar.Remember to identify the area where you bury the exoskeletons with a particular stone or stake so you don't forget it.Be careful not to crush the sea urchin when burying it or digging it back to the surface.
- You can remove the remains of the animal with a sharp pocket knife.Remember that the tissues have developed inside the exoskeleton and it may be difficult to extract the last bits.If you decide to use a knife, be careful not to cut yourself or scratch the surface of the Clypeasteridae.You should expose the shell to the sun for a few days, even if you cleaned it by hand.
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Rinse the sand dollar. Soak it in clean, fresh water to remove any sand or debris that has gotten stuck inside.
- Fill a bowl or bucket with fresh water and let these sea urchins soak until the liquid turns cloudy and brown;replace it with more fresh, clean water and continue soaking the shells until the water is dirty again.Repeat the process until it remains transparent.
- If your exoskeleton is particularly dirty, you can add a couple of squirts of dish soap to the water for a slightly more aggressive cleaning mixture.If you're in a hurry, you can continue rinsing the shells under cold running water until it runs clean and free of sand.
- Consider using a stiff brush to remove sand from cracks, crevices, and cracks in the shell.You have to be very gentle – sand dollars are extremely fragile and are unable to withstand too vigorous action.
- Once they are free of sand, expose them to the sun for several hours to dry.
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Remove the tar from the shells. Some beaches are notorious for the sticky black tar that washes up on the shore and covers rocks, sand and the feet of people walking on them.If your sand dollar is tarred, you can't clean it with water alone.
- Loosen any large pieces of tar with a sharp piece of metal, such as a paint scraper or knife.Be careful not to injure yourself or scratch or break the hedgehog's exoskeleton.[4] It's best not to use force with these shells, as they are so fragile.
- Use baby oil.Spray a small amount of this substance on the surface of the hedgehog and carefully rub the tar-covered area.If you don't want to get your fingers dirty, use a handkerchief or the corner of an old tea towel.Continue scrubbing until the baby oil begins to dissolve the tar;within a few minutes you should be able to remove most of them.
- Consider using any of the following tar "thinners":eucalyptus oil, lard, margarine, olive oil, mineral oil, peanut butter, petroleum jelly, vegetable oil or tanning cream.Try adding them to the bowl of water you soak the sand dollars in and then covering the shells with these pure "emollients" in another container.[5]
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Leave them to soak in a bleach solution. If you want the exoskeletons to be even whiter or you have some difficulty cleaning them with water alone, you can consider bleach.Mix it with an equal amount of water and place the Clypeasteridae in the solution.
- If you are cleaning numerous specimens, fill a baking pan with the bleach-water mixture;this allows you to arrange the various shells evenly on a large surface.Make sure the sand dollars are completely submerged in the liquid.[6] Alternatively, you can use a bowl, bucket, or Tupperware-type container.
- If you're cleaning just one exoskeleton, find a small bowl, lid, or other container;you won't need as much bleach to get the effect you want.
- Be careful not to let sand dollars soak for too long:the shell begins to soften and disintegrate if it remains in contact with this strong solution too long.If you want to wash them for longer, reduce the concentration of the mixture.
- Be cautious when handling bleach.Make sure it does not get into your eyes and do not swallow it.Wash your hands with soap and water after touching it.
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Rinse the shells after bleaching them.[7] Transfer them to a bowl or tray filled with fresh water.
- Bleach continues to corrode sand dollars even after you remove them from the liquid;you must therefore rinse them carefully to neutralize the solution and eliminate the last traces of dirt.
- When you are sure the shells are clean, leave them in the sun to dry.Within a few hours they should be ready to be decorated, displayed or kept as a souvenir.These exoskeletons become hard over time, but you must continue to handle them carefully.
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Consider making them stronger with glue. This solution is very practical if you intend to use the exoskeletons in a craft project or if you want to display them without the risk of them breaking.
- Mix white glue and water in equal parts.Use a sponge or brush to cover the shell entirely with the mixture.Wait for the glue to dry and become hard like icing.
- Sand dollars become hard naturally over time as they dry out more and more.Remember that thicker glue mixtures can hide the natural texture of shells.
- When the exoskeletons are hard and dried, you can use them for your projects or display them.Paint or decorate them, give them as gifts or leave them as they are.
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Advice
- Handle the remains of these animals with great care, especially the smaller ones, because they chip or break easily.Try not to drop them or handle them violently.
- You can find most of the Clypeasteridae along the sea shores.When alive, they hide under the soft sand of the seabed.When they are dead or dying, they are pushed onto the beach where they dry in the sun.
- In some countries it is illegal to harvest live sand dollars.Do your research and be respectful of animal life.
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