Kice Island Florida Shelling Adventure: What the Beach Taught Me About 15 Types of Seashells and Letting Go

Kice Island, nestled in Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands chain, is more than just a haven for seashell collectors who like identifying different types of seashells. It is a place where land meets sea, nature meets wonder, and if you’re quiet enough, the beach teaches you more than just marine biology.

I’ve visited Florida beaches for seashells, including Kice Island nine times over the past year, and every trip felt like a gift. But on this visit, something shifted inside me. I wasn’t just there to hunt for rare shells.At Kice Island, Florida, I was open to whatever the beach had to offer, even life lessons. As one quote resonated with me:
“When you release expectations, you are free to enjoy things for what they are, instead of what you think they should be.”

So, I ventured out without expectation. And what a day it turned out to be.

Kice Island Florida A Treasure Hunt Beneath the Tides

Kice Island always delivers, but the spot where shell tours typically drop off tends to be well picked over. So, I zigzagged into the interior, where mangrove roots make the ground soft and sponge-like and let nature surprise me.

The tide was going out all day, which made conditions ideal for shelling. Each shell I found told a story, each ripple on the sand whispered secrets of marine life and tide movement.

Some Finds from the Day at Kice Island Florida

Cloudy & Mangrove Periwinkles

Cloudy periwinkles are small sea snails that live mostly on mangrove trees and rocky shores in warm areas like the Indo-Pacific. Their shells are tiny—only about 1 to 2 centimeters long—and have cloudy, grayish or brown patterns that help them blend into the tree bark. These snails are great climbers and often crawl up trees to stay safe from predators and high tides. They mainly eat algae that grow on trees and rocks.

Mangrove periwinkles are slightly larger and are common in mangrove forests along the Atlantic coasts, especially in places like Florida and the Caribbean. Their shells are smooth, pointy, and can be brown, olive, or striped. These snails also spend a lot of time climbing mangrove trees to avoid being eaten by fish or crabs during high tide. They feed on algae and other tiny bits of plant material. When they reproduce, they lay their eggs in jelly-like clumps that float in the water.

Calico & Bay Scallops

Calico scallops

Calico Scallops are small, colorful shellfish found in warm waters like the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern U.S. coast. Their shells are fan-shaped with pretty patterns in red, pink, purple, or white—like a calico quilt, which is where they get their name.

They don’t bury themselves like some other scallops but instead rest on the ocean floor. Calico scallops can swim short distances by clapping their shells together to escape predators. They feed by filtering tiny plankton from the water.

Bay scallops

Bay Scallops are similar but usually live in shallow bays and estuaries along the Atlantic coast, especially from New England to Florida. Their shells are also fan-shaped but tend to be grayish, tan, or mottled. Bay scallops are renowned for their sweet, tender meat and are commonly harvested for culinary purposes. Like calico scallops, they can swim by snapping their shells open and shut. They have bright blue eyes along the edge of their mantle that help them detect movement and light.

Banded & True Tulips

Banded tulips

Banded Tulips are beautiful sea snails with long, smooth, and glossy shells that have spiral bands in soft colors like gray, pink, and purple. They live in shallow waters along the southeastern U.S. coast, especially in sandy or grassy areas. The shell is more slender compared to the true tulip. Banded tulips are carnivores—they feed on other snails and small marine animals by using a long, tube-like mouth.

True Tulips

look similar but are larger and more heavily built. Their shells are often darker and more boldly patterned with reddish or brownish bands. They live in similar areas—warm, shallow waters like the Gulf of Mexico—and are also predators. True tulips can grow up to 5 or 6 inches long. Both types are named “tulip” because their shape and color remind people of the flower.

Florida Fighting Conchs

Florida Fighting Conch shells are thick, heavy, and beautifully spiral-shaped, usually around 3 to 4 inches long. These shells come in warm shades of orange, brown, or tan, often with streaks or darker markings. When you find them on the beach, they usually have a flared opening with a slightly pointed tip and noticeable ridges along the spiral. The lip of the shell (the edge of the opening) often shows wear or smoothness from being tumbled by waves.

These shells are common along Florida’s Gulf Coast and are popular among collectors for their strong build and rich color. Even though the live animal was once active, the empty shell is totally harmless and safe to handle.

Colorful Moon Snails (Shark Eyes)

Colorful Moon Snail shells, often called Shark Eyes, are smooth, round, and glossy, with a tightly coiled spiral that looks a bit like a flattened globe. These shells are usually gray, blue-gray, or tan, often with a darker center spot that looks like an eye—hence the name shark eye.

They’re usually found on sandy beaches, especially along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The inside of the shell is shiny and smooth, often with a bluish or purplish tint. These shells come from carnivorous snails that once burrowed in the sand and drilled holes into clams or other snails. The empty shell is solid, heavy for its size, and prized by collectors for its soft colors and perfect spiral shape.

Buttercup Lucines & Angel Wings

Buttercup Lucine shells are small, round, and thick, usually white on the outside but bright yellow or golden on the inside—like a buttercup flower, which is how they got their name. They’re usually about 1 to 2 inches wide and have fine ridges that run from the hinge outward.

These bivalve shells come from clams that lived buried in sandy or muddy bottoms, often near seagrass beds. When found empty on the beach, the yellow interior makes them stand out and easy to spot among white shells.

Angel Wing shells are long, delicate, and pure white with thin ribs that stretch from the hinge to the edge, giving them a graceful, feathery look—just like angel wings. They usually come from soft, muddy bottoms where the live clam stayed hidden.

Because their shells are thin and fragile, it’s rare to find a complete, unbroken angel wing on the beach, which makes finding one a special treat for collectors. They’re usually around 3 to 6 inches long when whole.

Spiny Jewel Boxes & Lace Murex

Spiny Jewel Box shells are thick, bumpy, and usually covered with short, blunt spines or ridges. They are small to medium-sized clams and come in shades of white, gray, or tan. The inside of the shell is often pearly white or pinkish. They get their name because the two halves (valves) close tightly like a box, and the outside looks rugged and decorative—almost like a treasure chest.

These shells wash up on beaches, especially in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, and are popular with collectors because of their interesting texture.

Lace Murex shells are delicate and beautifully spiny, with long, frilly ridges that look like lace or coral. They’re often white, cream, or light pink, and the shell has a long, narrow shape with an extended opening. Though they look fragile, many turn up intact on beaches, especially in tropical areas.

The live snail was a predator, but the empty shell is safe to collect and is prized for its detailed and artistic appearance. Each one looks a bit like a seashell sculpture.

A Quick Lesson in Cleaning Shells

Not all shells should be cleaned the same way. Some, like shiny conchs and olives, lose their gloss in acid. Others, like worn lace murex or apple murex, benefit from a gentle acid soak. Shells with a natural shine? Just rinse and oil lightly.

Tip: Carry hard containers like Pringles cans or small Tupperware to keep fragile shells intact.

Not Just Shells – A Peek at Island Ecology

• Ospreys nested nearby. Their chicks, almost adult-sized, were learning to fledge—typically within 4–8 weeks.
• Fiddler Crabs darted around, each knowing exactly which burrow was theirs.
• False Ceriths clustered together, black due to their periostracum (outer organic shell layer).

Even without the “perfect shell,” the day was full of small wonders. Sometimes the slower pace lets you appreciate what you’d normally miss.

Rare Finds and Personal Favorites

Here are a few highlights from my collection this time:

Florida Horse Conch (Florida’s State Shell)

Florida Horse Conch shells are large, heavy, and impressive—they can grow up to 24 inches long, making them one of the biggest sea snail shells in North America.

Despite the name, it’s not a true conch, but it’s still called one because of its similar shape. The shell is long and spiraled, often with a pointed tip and deep grooves. When freshly empty, the shell may be orange inside, but over time it fades to pale tan or gray on the outside.

These shells are found along Florida’s coasts and are the official state shell of Florida. Because of their size and bold shape, they’re a prized find for beachcombers, although it’s rare to find a large, unbroken one.

The original animal was a fierce predator that fed on other snails, but the shell it leaves behind is completely harmless and stunning.

Dusky Cones, Florida Cones & Alphabet Cones

Florida cones are venomous, but not dangerous—like a bee sting. Dusky Cone shells are small, smooth, and gray or pale tan with soft brown markings. Their colors are dull, which makes them easy to miss. They have a shiny, pointed cone shape and are found on sandy beaches in the southeastern U.S.

Florida Cone shells are longer and slimmer, with cream or light orange backgrounds and brown zigzag patterns. They’re common on Florida beaches and are known for their clean, pretty look.

Alphabet Cone shells are short and wide with bold, dark markings that look like letters or symbols. They’re glossy and cream-colored, often found in Florida and the Caribbean. Very popular with collectors.

Eastern Augers

Eastern Auger shells are long, skinny, and tightly twisted—like a little drill bit or screw. They are usually light brown or tan with fine ridges along the spiral. These shells are found on sandy beaches along the U.S. East Coast and are small, usually about 1 to 2 inches long. They’re simple but pretty, and easy to spot because of their narrow, pointed shape.

• Rose Petal Talons & Alternate Talons – Rare and delicately patterned.
• Nutmegs, Lettered Olives, Jingle Shells – Common, yet always delightful.
• Colorful Worm Snails & Paper Figs – The weird ones are often the most fun!

And yes, there were broken shells too—true tulips with missing spires or chipped edges. I used to leave them behind. Now, I see their beauty anyway.

From Kice to Dickman’s – A Perfect Ending

We took a quick boat ride to Dickman’s Island to end the day. As the sun set, a golden glow washed over the water and my small pile of shells. I breathed in happiness and exhaled gratitude.

I left with a few delicate treasures:

• A beautiful parel scallop
• A golden-hour calico clam
• A broken-but-gorgeous true tulip
• And a renewed love for the wild patience of the sea.

Final Thoughts about kice Island Florida: Nature Rewards the Curious, Not the Expecting

Kice Island reminded me that sometimes, it’s not about finding the rarest shell or the fullest bag. It’s about showing up, looking closely, appreciating the little things, and letting nature surprise you.

So if you’re planning a trip to Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands—bring your shelling bag, your curiosity, and leave your expectations at the dock. You never know what the tide will bring.

Want to shell smarter
Stay tuned—next week I’m heading to the East Coast with more marine discoveries. Until then, may your heart stay open, your steps be light, and your shells be shiny.