Spare shells for hermit crabs

[lotuskid]

Can shells collected from the beach be used and should they be of any specific type?

Should they be placed in boiling water for a while first?
If so for how long and is hot water alone enough?

 

[Reefscape]

You can buy lots of shells for the hermit crabs off ebay...they are so so cheap and you can get bucket loads..They are also spotless. The last lot i had were just great..

I dont see why you could not use them off the beach as long as you boil them..

Niko