Australia's Science Forum

Hi
We need to buy new preserved animals because what we have is in bad shape. I was wondering if anyone knows where I can buy some or if anyone has bought some recently.
I thank you in advance for your help & I am sorry to bother you knowing how busy you all are.
Nahrein

Try Southern Biological

I have just brought a set of 27 species encased in acrylic in a kit for $295.00 from Haines. Trying to stay away from chemically preserved specimens especially with the junior grades. The teachers are happy with it.

We have a mixture of embedded and preserved specimens from Souther Biological. Teachers and myself are very happy with them.

Does anyone know the procedure on how to change the preserving solution in old preserved specimen jars/bottles once it has gone yellow. How do I test it to see if it's formalin or alcohol?. Can you place a previously formalin preserved spec into a new container containing alcohol. Will this cause the specimen to deteriorate? What do you do with the old formalin?
Thanks

We did replace old solutions of formalin with alcohol. There doesn't seem to be any deterioration.
I collected the old solution, stored in in hazchem cabinet until chemical collection at the end of year.
Lada

Or you could evaporate it, in a basins in the flume cupboard.

Does anyone know the rules on where preserved animals are stored?

If they're stored in a flammable liquid, most are, you need to treat them as such. You also need to somehow determine they are not stored in something you don't want to be handling e.g. formalin. I think a lot of schools have disposed of their collections because of the risks.

We bought 10 cases of these from Haines. The kids love them.
https://www.chemtalk.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=451/index.php/ani ... imens.html

We bought some really lovely sets of embedded specimens from Modern Teaching Aids.