Australia's Science Forum

Is it just metho used in a jar for a dead snake someone brought in and wants to keep and display???

ABSOLUTELY! I know, I know, there are recipes out there on how much alcohol and how much water etc, etc, blah blah blah. However, I just chuck them in a whole bottle of meths and that works for me. One fine day I have threatened my bio teacher with spending an afternoon helping me re-jug a couple of things, like our Blue Traveller tree snake, and the Night Tiger I jugged a while back. But, on my list of things to do, gutting recently deceased animals, and preparing accurate mixes is about "Z" as far as priority goes.

Anyway, up here, I can always go out and get another pretty easily! It's finding a bottle big enough to fit a scrub python that's the problem.

We use Half Distilled water & half Metho. They seem fine with that. Guess its the cheaper way out.

Cheers, Thanks for the heads up!
A python??? draw the line there. haha!!

Why not enbed them if you need to know how I will send you a booklet

Man! That'd be some lump of resin! OK for a blind snake I guess.

Might make a BIG pillow

Technically you need to seek permission from the relevant authority to accept endangered species. May encourage kids kill snakes etc for displays. I do but display a disclaimer in the specimen cupboard that it died of natural causes! mtg

Good point, Welcome to chemtalk, that is indeed sound advice, I may do the same in our display cabinet, never thought of it before. I feel sure you will enjoy chemtalk.

Thanks Labbie. Love this forum. Re Specimens, perhaps 'died of natural causes" would be a better disclaimer. And how do others top up their formaldehyde/formalin specimens? I got rid of these chemicals ages ago due to carcinogenic properties.mtg

OOOPS repeating myself. Just checked and this is what I actually put up after the last influx of snake heads and one dusky antechinus. "Our lab doesnt accept endangered species." mtg

We in NSW or DEC schools, have to go by the CSIS and we can not use Formaldehyde for preserved specimens. They tell us to use Metho, I use half distilled water & half Metho. But as you are in VIC, I guess it is different. I top our up once a year.

About 10 years ago, we had to drain all the specimens, which was Formaldehyde into a bottle, large of course, and keep for collections. RInse out the jar, clean and re-fill with half water half metho, boy what a large job that was.

we use a metho glycerol mix.70/30 from memory

Hi Whits
That is what I use I find it works very well

Thanks for the ideas.Some of the specimens are dept. supplied dissections and are over 40 years old. Still useable but if drained and refilled will possibly turn to soup!Not gonna do it have weak stomach. Wonder what happens when you add suggested solutions to existing formaldehyde? mtg

Is there a way to tell if specimens are in formalin or metho?
Lesley

I guess the nose would tell you. If they are in Metho they should be labled, perserved in 50% metho 50% distilled water. Our specimens that I did 10 years ago, are still fine, one or two little bits fell off, after drainage was done, but most are just fine. Not one turned to soup. It was really worth doing, I sterlizied each large jar & little ones after draining out the old stuff, patted dry the item with paper towel. Long job but will worth it.

With formalin being carcinogenic I'm trying to avoid the smell test

At uni we were recommended a 70% methylated Spirits with distilled water solution.
If there has been leakage from the jar you only need to top up solution. There was one of our specimens that was looking a little cloudy and I successfully replaced the solution.

Would anyone have any idea when formaldehyde was stopped being used in schools. I have a cupboard of specimens, most need topping up, but I have no idea what they are in. I'm with lesnsw, not into the idea of the smell test either. It does make good sense that the jars should be labelled with the date and what the specimens are preserved in. Seems common sense to us now but I suppose 20 years ago "who'd have thunk it!"