How to Get Dead Crab out of Seashells to Keep the Shells

Locate an anthill. Leave your shells on the anthill for a day or two, during dry weather. The ants will diligently clean every scrap of flesh from inside the shell, including crevices that are difficult to reach any other way.

Bury your seashells in a clearly marked location for a few weeks to a few months, the longer the better. Insects, worms and various microorganisms will clean out your shells, and this method leaves very little odor.

Freeze, thaw, and boil the shells. The crab, and any remaining original flesh, will then slide out easily at the end of a toothpick. This works best if the shells are frozen and thawed at least twice.

Bleach the shells or soak them in pure alcohol to remove any lingering smell. Some shells can be damaged by soaking, so consult a reference work or a more experienced collector if you have not previously collected a given specimen.