Hundreds of live FIGHTING CONCHS raised out of the sand at Lighthouse Beach yesterday to take a look around as the tide was going out.
I found one of the FIGHTING CONCHS hanging out in a tidal pool… but wait… I noticed something in the water beside it…
This FLORIDA FIGHTING CONCH was laying EGGS! The eggs are released in a gelatinous egg string then sand adheres to its thick jelly-like sheath.
I tried to get close enough to see how the eggs are released without disturbing this busy gal. If you look closely, you can see them shooting out! It’s that spout perpendicular to the eye. Go Momma! Raise some more shells!
I think this is a FIGHTING CONCH EGG STRING as well…. but why would she lay her eggs without being in the water? I followed the trail from the string to a healthy FIGHTING CONCH about a yard away. Hmmm. Maybe that jelly like sheath protects them when the tide recedes. I dunno, but I hope she raises healthy shells and I sure love to find new things like this!
Speaking of “raising shell”…. We met the Shell Raisers at Blind Pass Sanibel! These 2 brothers, Eric and Chris, have been shelling all their lives and they even witnessed a BANDED TULIP laying eggs in their live shell tank.
Chris found that huge WHELK but put it back in the water since was occupied by a monster HERMIT CRAB. They were vacationing on Sanibel with their family from the east coast of Florida . Here are Chris and Eric with (from left to right) their mom Cheryl, Sarah, Amelia and Ava.
Back at the Sanibel lighthouse, Linda (Pensacola, FL) was busy finding the mini shells…
She found a mega WENTLETRAP along with some other sweet minis…
Her best find was this gorgeous MANGROVE PERIWINKLE…
If you look closely you can see a beautiful purple lip…
Bobby (Houston TX) finally found what he was looking for…WENTLETRAPS!!
I was asked a question on I Love Shelling Facebook page by Diane F  about a shell I.D. It was that ROSE WOLF SNAIL again! I told y’all I keep forgetting the name of that shell but now that I can remember the name,  I completely forgot to put it on my SEASHELL IDENTIFICATION page. This shell keeps stumping me some how! Thanks Diane for asking about this shell and sending such a beautiful picture of it. I’m going to use photo for my I.D page- Thank you!
Okay, one more thing… I saw the dolphins playing near the pier last night and I just happened to video them racing along the shoreline in front of an unsuspecting family. This is no fancy video…just a little clip of our own little Sanibel Sea World…
Are there any beaches or hotels that are dog friendly on Sanibel? I hope to visit next year and would like to bring my Chihuahua.
Thank you.
Melanie
All of the beaches are dog friendly on Sanibel and Captiva… you just have to have them on a leash. I don’t know of the dog friendly hotels… I’m sure there are plenty. Anybody else out there know?
Mitchell’s Sand Castle’s on West Gulf Drive is dog friendly.
Tropical Winds are terrific little cottages & accept dogs! That’s where my husband and I stay each year.
not sure about sanibel, but you should also check out the dog beach over by lovers key park in Fort Myers. you walk abit but then can let them run on the beach. it’s great.
Island beach club through VRBO has some. Check VRBO for others. Mitchells sandcastles and 4015 next door too.
Awesome pictures again.
Great to put the “faces”to the shell raisers…great looking family.
Love the Periwinkle and the monster Wentle !
Oh I so want to be there! Don’t have foot surgery in May! LOL! It ruins your summer. I sure love looking at the blog every time one is posted! I will make up for it next year! I told my husband I am going for 2 weeks to Sanibel!!!! Please keep this blog going!!!!! I sure need it! Thanks! Happy shelling!
Anchor Inn on Periwinkle Way, lets you have dogs. We took our dachshund last year. He had a blast as much as we did!
My favorite spot, the Castaway’s at Blind Pass, allows dogs.
Pam, I always love your posts. Have a great day!!
Terrific post Pam, with great pictures. So much info in one post!!! Amazing.
Your photo of momma conch spewing eggs is textbook professional and GORGEOUS!
Thank you Sandra! I was so excited to catch that conch in action. Its a little different! So thank you!
I’d like to stress the importance of keeping dogs on a leash at the beaches. Many people are out there to just relax and lay on the beach and it is quite disturbing to have a dog run up and surprise them with a wet snout or even raise their leg on their beach bag! Also it is important that dogs do not chase birds or any other wildlife.
This is the best website ever! I vacationed in Sanibel in April and these pictures and stories make me feel like I’m still there. Thanks!
We are coming for vacation to Sanibel for the first time next Saturday. I can’t wait!
Oh Dawn, I am jealous of you but wanted to wish you a great trip!!! Be sure to leave room in your luggage to bring your loot home!
Oh my goodness, I so like this page, it just makes my heart skip some beats, :) I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Mangrove Periwinkle, it looks quite beautiful! If you’ve ever been to Sanibel and we have a few times, you will really enjoy yourself, its like a second home, well really all of Florida is like a second home on the gulf side, we’ve been exploring in the Keys the last few years, but all these wonderful pictures and news are making me want to visit Sanibel again! Please never stop, its so awesome to see and read whats going on there!
Awesome post!! Great pics and info! We shelled at Blind Pass (Captiva side) today and had a blast! We were able to snorkel!! I was so excited to be able to swim down and see the bottom! We found fighting conchs, scallops, one beautiful flat scallop, tulips, augers, jewel boxes, etc.. A teen next to my group was shelling with her feet and pulled out a perfect beautiful junonia!! Five feet from me! I was just dying!! I told her how great a find it was & she could maybe get her photo in the paper, but she said she’d just like to keep it to herself! :(
Oh Pam…..I hope you know what your little videos do for me when I watch them….over and over and over again. lol! To hear that water lapping on the shore is like music to my ears, girl. Thank you for sharing this one today. :)
xoxo laurie
I’ve seen those gelatinous strings before, but never knew what they were! Thanks for sharing, Pam!
The video of the dolphins is great! All those who love dolphins should watch the movie Dolphin Tail. It’s a heart-warming movie that can be watched over and over. The story takes place in Clearwater, FL and is based on actual events.
The Mangrove Periwinkle is one I’ve never seen before. I’d love to find one myself.
Pam, I love your posts! I have started to go through your pasts posts for all the different kinds of shells. I have learned so much about the area…not only about shells and beaches but a little about the people, the enviroment, the places to check out etc…..who needs the Chamber of Commerce when we have you!!! I can’t wait until September! I have a feeling this will become an annual event! Thank you so much and I look forward to many years of checking my e-mail for my next peek into your wonderful “life”. See you in September!
“I love me some good egg casings!” :)
Thanks for the info on the parking (post storm) the other week or so….work schedule finally allowed the family a day trip down for shelling and exploring.
r/
Jen, USN
Thanks for posting the dolphin video which includes me, my wife, and our son. We really enjoyed our first visit to Sanibel and my whole family enjoyed seeing the dolphins that swam up so close us. I am really glad you were there to capture that moment on video for us!
Jason Adair
Houston, TX
Jason, I’m so glad you got to see this! I’m so sorry I didn’t get your name that night. It was just so exciting, I completely forgot to ask. In the video, you can even hear your son say “This is FUN!” after seeing the dolphin so close. How cute!
I love the bit about the fighting conchs and the egg casings. Thats an amazing sight. I have never heard of the egg strings. Are they like the casings for the horse conchs or the lightning whelks?
So this is why there are so many fighting conchs on the beach