Are Sand Dollars Alive? Learn to tell the difference and other interesting facts about Sand Dollars.

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 เม.ย. 2020
  • If I can't go to the beach to go shelling and look for critters, might as well spend some time taking a closer look at another critter that lives in southwest Florida gulf coast waters - the sand dollar. Learn about this living creature and how to tell the difference between the live sand dollars and the ones that are safe to bring home.

ความคิดเห็น • 106

  • @elftails
    @elftails ปีที่แล้ว +27

    “Sand dollars can't survive out of the water for more than a few minutes. If you find a live one, return it to its home by placing it gently on the sea floor, so it can continue to play its important role in Sanibel's ecosystem.” Sanibel Sea School

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you for leaving this comment!

    • @virakoudom143
      @virakoudom143 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      You’re right

  • @3rdGenCamaroGirl
    @3rdGenCamaroGirl ปีที่แล้ว +13

    My sister and I went beachcombing yesterday and we found maybe 5 or 6 live sand dollars washed up on the shore. They were very dormant but as soon as we put them back in the water they started doing their thing. They’re so furry and cute. I was lucky enough to find a complete five slotted sand dollar test yesterday

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      That's awesome! You were rewarded for being kind! 🐚

  • @masonburley6311
    @masonburley6311 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I love Sand Dollars so much!! We were in Sanibel last year, and found HUGE dead ones. I wish we could go back to shelling!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Mason Burley Last July they were EVERYWHERE on Fort Myers Beach. I hope you get to make it down here again and find some more!

  • @trishkosakowski1928
    @trishkosakowski1928 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This video was so informative! Thank you for sharing!!

  • @55Harlz
    @55Harlz 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Thank you for your videos! I really enjoy watching them 😀 They are very informative and fun to watch.

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      55Harlz Aw shucks - thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words. Be safe!

  • @birdiemays7640
    @birdiemays7640 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks again! Learning about sanddollars yes! So much stuff to learn! Thank you, Birdie

  • @storytimewithunclebill1998
    @storytimewithunclebill1998 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That was really cool and informative. Was fun to watch. Great video

  • @venckute2
    @venckute2 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Outstanding video!
    This helped me a lot, now I can explain to my bff what they are/were all about!

  • @docv73
    @docv73 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I just got back from Florida, where I found my first sand dollar. After finding it, I started looking for more, but only found two more live ones. One I was absolutely certain was alive, because I found it when I scooped up a handful of sand, where it was buried. I took a few pictures then set it back on the bottom. The other one I wasn't sure, because it was lying on the bottom, upside down, in about 4 feet of water. It was still fuzzy, so I released it, but I do wonder about that one.
    Thanks for your videos! I just recently discovered your channel looking for a way to clean a sand dollar my wife and daughter found a few years ago. Your channel is GREAT!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Aw shucks - thank you! I hope the hydrogen peroxide works!! I think it was a good call to release that fuzzy sand dollar. It was likely still alive ☺️

    • @docv73
      @docv73 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@SWFBeachLife so far, after only a few hours, some of the barnacles are flashing off, so I have hopes it's work well after a day or so.
      Thanks for the reply!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@docv73 Fantastic!! Please keep me updated. I hope it works!

  • @dianeburton9969
    @dianeburton9969 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for this video!!!!!! I’m going to make a solid effort this year to find more sand dollars!!!!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm releasing a new video tomorrow on how to whiten them with hydrogen peroxide. Brilliant!

  • @patifagan6774
    @patifagan6774 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very informative.thanks

  • @PrincessVanessaTheFirst
    @PrincessVanessaTheFirst 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This was super informative. Happily subscribed ⭐

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for subscribing!!

  • @kholbrook203
    @kholbrook203 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Thank you so much for this wonderful, informative video. I learned so much. I never knew how to tell if a sand dollar were alive or not. I just assumed when they were dark they were alive and I was always told when white you could take those because they were dead. All your videos have really opened my eyes. Sadly I have no place to look for them. I wish I did as it would be so exciting looking for sand dollars, starfish and shells. You don’t know what it means to me watching the videos you make. I just love walking along with you. So I thank you.❤️

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      You are so very welcome! I had a fantastic walk last weekend and found tons of shells AND critters. I'll be sharing that in a few weeks. I found a really, really cool live critter that I've never found before!

    • @brienfoaboutanything9037
      @brienfoaboutanything9037 ปีที่แล้ว

      All you need to know about Sand dollar: th-cam.com/video/s5Ao-jLoR40/w-d-xo.html

  • @yomama8873
    @yomama8873 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    That was great 💜

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it :)

  • @ScaryFear
    @ScaryFear 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Thanks for sharing. I have one I found ages ago on Honeymoon Island. It's a big one. I'll have to measure it but it's more than 3 inches. Last time we went to Sanibel they were everywhere in the water. I had to walk so carefully and the water was all muddy so we couldn't see them. I had a sand scooper and every time we put it in a sand dollar came up. It was funny and annoying.

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I didn't want to walk in the water because these guys were EVERYWHERE, so I got some snorkel equipment and picked the dead ones out. I got a TON! Hopefully I can do it again in a few months - fingers crossed!

    • @ScaryFear
      @ScaryFear 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SWFBeachLife I can't wait too. Here's hoping. Less than that I hope.

  • @asmrsleep3079
    @asmrsleep3079 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I went to the beach and for the first time I found a bunch of sand dollars with my feet... It was so cool because I've NEVER seen them alive.

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Isn't it amazing? I never even thought about where they came from until I moved here and found a live one. They're so cool!! I'm glad you got a chance to meet some for yourself 🤗

  • @mayita5641
    @mayita5641 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    so cuuuuuuute

  • @dawnthemetaldetective3083
    @dawnthemetaldetective3083 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you! I have never seen alive one!!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You are so welcome! I didn't know anything about these guys when I moved here but I'm lucky enough to find the live critters along with the dead ones that I can keep ☺️

  • @mishison85
    @mishison85 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Amazing video!! Love you me work!!

  • @lorihoezee5353
    @lorihoezee5353 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you once again Lori!!! 🙏🏼❤️

  • @trinijoyl1720
    @trinijoyl1720 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I LOVE SAND DOLLARS!!!!!! I HV BEEN COLLECTING SINCE AM LITTLE.am 56! Now. And my little neice LOVES THEM ALSO! Shes fascinated!!! By it. Lol. My family and friends hv no clue ab sand dollars. They think am weired. Lol

  • @clarel6252
    @clarel6252 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video

  • @cinfulCindy
    @cinfulCindy ปีที่แล้ว

    Found some live ones today and left them! 😊

  • @sweetbelly6plays254
    @sweetbelly6plays254 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you! I’m going to the beach soon and would love this information. I was wondering. When you find a dead sand dollar you can crack it open right? It might sound dumb to some people but I honestly would love to know!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes, there are "doves" in the sand dollars that are actually part of their mouth. I picked up a ton of sand dollars last night on my tour to the Marco Island area and I will be opening a sand dollar in one of my upcoming episodes again. I did it once in the part - here's a peek: th-cam.com/video/6EWKKhTgyvE/w-d-xo.html

  • @trevonduncombe5866
    @trevonduncombe5866 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Actually thank you so much 😭 I live in The Bahamas & I always thought they were rocks

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I’d love to go shelling in the Bahamas!!

    • @trevonduncombe5866
      @trevonduncombe5866 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SWFBeachLife if you come down, I’d be happy to show you some of our finest beaches!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@trevonduncombe5866 I will take you up on that if I ever plan on going there!

  • @maosung5219
    @maosung5219 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    ❤❤🧡🌼🌺🌸🌷

  • @sherri-michellepidcock8785
    @sherri-michellepidcock8785 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    @SWFBeachlife ~ Does sand dollars have like doves shape inside of them? I heard if you break them open they do have it. Is it true?? It is my dream/bucket list too go too the beach.

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes, it is true! I did open up a sand dollar to show the doves and share the legend in a previous video: th-cam.com/video/6EWKKhTgyvE/w-d-xo.html

  • @JayCeeMax
    @JayCeeMax 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The water is so clear there.

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      It can be! In the spring it's a beautiful aqua color. It's awesome! Thanks for watching!

    • @JayCeeMax
      @JayCeeMax 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SWFBeachLife I see. Thanks for watching.

  • @pvtbuddie
    @pvtbuddie หลายเดือนก่อน

    I always thought that sand dollars were some sort of formed thing made of sand, like an imprint made from something, or like a fossil, but more quickly formed.

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I didn't know where they came from either until I did the research. They are such interesting creatures!

  • @moni_venus
    @moni_venus ปีที่แล้ว +1

    40 and so years and I've never seen one alive where i live

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It's wild the first time you see one. I'm so used to them by now but I adore them!

  • @ben-hur7729
    @ben-hur7729 ปีที่แล้ว

    i just found a bunch in the parking lot at the beach!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว

      Down here you can find fossilized shells in the parking lots too!

  • @debbiepeterson8396
    @debbiepeterson8396 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I was in the Bahamas and I found a light green Sandollar I had never seen one before so I picked it up and I was holding it and it stung me it felt like five or six bees stings all at once it left an imprint on the bottom of my hand of the star. Have you ever heard of this before?

    • @debbiepeterson8396
      @debbiepeterson8396 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I also wanted to say how much I have enjoyed the 2 videos that I have watched.
      I am very envious of you being able to go to the beach any time you want. I live in Colorado and there aren’t any beaches around here.
      I look forward to seeing more of your videos. Thank you for sharing them with us.

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I have not ever heard of anything like this! I tried to do some research to find anything that would explain it and I couldn't find anything. That is so weird! I got stung my an urchin on my foot in Jamaica - those guys are NO JOKE!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm pretty lucky to live where I do and I love that I can share the beaches down here with others who can't be here themselves. I appreciate you taking the time to leave me a comment and thanks so much for watching my videos!

    • @spice6966
      @spice6966 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      THOSE THINGS STING!?

    • @debbiepeterson8396
      @debbiepeterson8396 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@spice6966 did you get stung by one? You are the only person that I have ever heard of that knows about them, other than the 3 other people who were with me when it happened.

  • @Yunorko271
    @Yunorko271 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Is it just me or do I think sand dollars are cute

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Not just you - so cute!! 🥰

  •  5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Beautiful LIVING CREATURES! IS IT DEAD IF ITS BLACK?

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      If the sand dollar has hairs and is moving it's not dead. Sometimes the dead ones can be dark too.

  • @lesliecalvert3458
    @lesliecalvert3458 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I learned when little black ones alive..white ones not.. :) I love your video's so interesting and fun

  • @danni1993
    @danni1993 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    What causes the pattern on the sand dollar?

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It's just the way they are. Like blue birds or calico box crabs - they get their special colors & patterns from nature.

  • @kathrynpoitra2164
    @kathrynpoitra2164 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I had a box of sand dollars given to me and I have a perplexing situation or question I am not crazy but everything I have read says one I have is still alive is this possible

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Not possible. Sand dollars need to be in the salt water to survive, but having the dead ones is still pretty cool ☺️

  • @angelakreitzer5338
    @angelakreitzer5338 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Are sand dollars found in other parts of the world?

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yes they are! They are urchins and I found this online to help explain: Sand dollars are primarily found in tropical coastal regions of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean. They live on sandy and muddy ocean floors mostly in low subtidal zones of protected bays but also in deeper waters up to 40m (131 feet).

  • @maxwellyt9745
    @maxwellyt9745 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Picked one up today and had yellow stuff on my finger tips after holding it

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      That can happen! The live ones will sometimes do that but for some reason it doesn't happen to me. 🤔

  • @nicelady51
    @nicelady51 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ok. I watched. But what about the 'legend' of the sand dollar?

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      That was in a different video ☺️: th-cam.com/video/6EWKKhTgyvE/w-d-xo.html

  • @mcbawangyakuznouxman9439
    @mcbawangyakuznouxman9439 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    The name dollar came about because you can find them between Wales to USA.. and Sam or Sand are just there, maybe the name looks cooler?

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think they got their name because they look like coins when they're dead on the beach. Either way, they're a super cool animal that has a pretty awesome skeleton!

    • @mcbawangyakuznouxman9439
      @mcbawangyakuznouxman9439 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SWFBeachLife ...

  • @JupiMeow
    @JupiMeow 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    One time I found a bunch of live sand dollars on the beach so I moved them into the water. How long can they live outside of water?

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      They can survive a little while out of the water - I don't know exactly for how long, but if I had to guess I would say a few hours at most. Thank you for moving them back into the water! 🐚❤️

  • @blazephoenix5849
    @blazephoenix5849 ปีที่แล้ว

    We were exploring the beaches for sand dollars all of which where dead but 3 where questionable, 3 of them still had their spines and tube feet but one is missing quite a lot of spines and is turning white so im 99% sure its dead and decaying, the other 2 had all of their spines though but they smelt like decaying fish, all 3 where also found pretty far away from the water so im hoping they where already dead before being taken home if not i feel bad 😓 (not that i wanted them dead i just hope we didnt kill them)

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว

      If they smelled - they were dead! It's hard to tell if you don't know what you're dealing with but that whitish one sounds like it was indeed dead and if the other 2 were stinky they were dead too. I would let them dry out 100% and use a soft toothbrush to rub off all the spines. Then I soak in 100% hydrogen and coat with 1 part water and 1 part glue.

    • @blazephoenix5849
      @blazephoenix5849 ปีที่แล้ว

      @SWFBeachLife I'm just curious do you know of a way to preserve the spines? I think it would be cool to have one with its spines, and yes they were both stinky and the spines and legs weren't moving at all when I got them, thanks for the tips!

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@blazephoenix5849 I do not know how to preserve those spines. They’re so delicate.

    • @blazephoenix5849
      @blazephoenix5849 ปีที่แล้ว

      @SWFBeachLife probably just encase it in resine, yeah they are really delicate I can feel a bunch of them inside of the bag I'm keeping them in until we get back home, there is more and more piling up

  • @mikrjones4788
    @mikrjones4788 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Maybe not me I live in NY

    • @mikrjones4788
      @mikrjones4788 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      So they aren't in my country

  • @Sea_Bea
    @Sea_Bea ปีที่แล้ว

    Mermaid 🧜🏻‍♀️ money 💰

  • @vaikoloavaha2224
    @vaikoloavaha2224 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yes they’re definitely a alive they move like starfish they eat shrimps and other food that they could find 🙂

  • @Robertward111
    @Robertward111 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Is this seriously still being questioned today?

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Sadly it is. People just don't know that sand dollars used to be living critters. They don't just fall from trees!!!

  • @elftails
    @elftails ปีที่แล้ว

    It would be cool if you posted this on Instagram to reach more people:)))))

    • @SWFBeachLife
      @SWFBeachLife  ปีที่แล้ว

      That is a fantastic idea! I'm going to add it to the list and hope I can find the time to get it posted!