How would you treat salt water shell before putting them in a fresh water tank?

[KittenFishMom]

I got a bulk box of Abalone shell from northern California sea shores. How should I treat them before I put them in my freshwater tanks? I was just going to soak them in fresh water overnight. Is there anything else I should do to them?

[PaigeIs]

I often collect shells (abalone, sand dollars, and large clam) and rocks from the beach near my house and use them in my freshwater aquariums. I rinse them well, give them a good scrub and then dip them in boiling water for a few minutes, allowing them to air dry thoroughly in the sun.

You purchased shells from a retailer, making them even less likely to carry some pathogen as they've been out of the water for a long time. The little salt they may leach is unlikely enough to bother your fish. I have snails and ADFs along with the fish. I've never noticed ANY change in tank behavior or animal health.