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STRANGE QUESTION!
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by wls967 on December 13, 2002
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I have several SE pitvipers frozen. Some died of natural causes, the others from the "Goodyear" syndrom. I want to know the best way to preserve a scull and jawbone with fangs intact. I have tried clorox and it looses it's oxidation ability too quickly. Peroxide would do the same. How can I remove all skin and flesh from the head skeleton without causing damage to the bone structure. Also, if fangs are connected by tendon, then other strong oxidants won't work either. I have thought about Coke or Pepsi, they will both dissolve a piece of bacon overnight, just not sure about 20 year old snake skin. Any insight is appreciated.
wls,
reptile removalist
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RE: STRANGE QUESTION!
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by sierra on December 13, 2002
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A few years ago we used the flesh eating beetles ( I believe they are called dermis beetles)we got them from a science supply catalog and it took about a week for them to "flesh" a small skull. But there are also taxidermy supply websites that sell skull fleshing chemicals, and we always glued the teeth in place when the items were complete....I keep my dear sweet mother in law on the mantle..LOL.....
sierra
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Flesh eating beetles
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by TomT on December 15, 2002
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A good friend of mine, that just happens to be a taxidermist, has also told me of using flesh eating beetles to clean skulls.
I'd recommend contacting a large university near you to see if they maintain a colony of these animals for their biology or natural history studies programs.
My friend used to take skulls to the University of Montana to have them cleaned by the beetles.
I have used nature's way (fly larvae, aka maggots) to remove flesh from wild hogs I've killed in the past, but it smells, as you can imagine, and you have to put the skull far out of reach of any animal that might be interested in making a meal of the work in progress...
Best of luck with your project....
TT
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RE: STRANGE QUESTION!
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by zetekitoxin on December 16, 2002
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The flesh eating beetles are called dermestid beetles. They are available from mail order suppliers like Ward Scientific and Carolina Biological Supply. Do a quick web search and you'll find plenty of information on them.
-Meredith
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Thanks Guys, and Gals
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by wls967 on December 16, 2002
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I live about 40 minutes from Auburn Univ. I think I will try to boil them, if that doesn't work, I will give Auburn a call. One more thing, what about Fire Ants. I currently maintain multiple colonies totaling about a billion of the little @#&^$@#$'s at work. On these recent warm days, they have still been very active. Thanks again for all the help..
wls
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RE: Thanks Guys, and Gals
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by Rhodostom on December 17, 2002
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All I know about fire ants is when you go south and step on a mound of them with sandals on, it hurts like hell!!!
Michael B.
A northerner...
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RE: Thanks Guys, and Gals
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by TAIPAN78 on December 17, 2002
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When YM and I used to cruse to the Carolinas, if we were haveing a slow day we would run over as many fire ant mounds as we could find to pass the time by. Death from above you b@st@rds!LOL
J
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RE: Thanks Guys, and Gals
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by wls967 on December 17, 2002
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I'm from South Carolina and if you think fire ants are bad there, you should see south Alabama. The colony's are bigger and tenfold. I have destroyed, or attempted to destroy 2 foot tall mounds. they are everywhere. I agree with you Jeremy, but who is YM?
later,
wls
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