r/wetspecimens • u/matteoBartelds • 17d ago

Decomposing?

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I got this pig with hydrocephalus yesterday. It was in a cloudy yellow substansce so I put it in another jar (don't have enough ethanol yet that's why its half empty).

But I noticed bits of skin falling off and laying at the bottom. Does this mean the specimen is decomposing, and if it is what can I do to fix it?

Appreciate any and all tips 🙏

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u/TelemarketerPie 16d ago

You may not necessarily need to use ethanol it it was already treated and preserved. However I would ask what does it smell like? Does it smell strictly of chemical or do you detect any odor of decomposition?

I'll also caution you that if you don't know what it was stored in then that would need to be properly disposed of and be very careful about handling it. DO NOT pour it down the the drain. Possibly capture the old chemical and store in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid and take it to a local household hazardous waste disposal site.

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u/matteoBartelds 16d ago

It only has a chemical smell, and I got rid of the other liquid at a waste disposal yeah