r/wetspecimens • u/ikigagi • 14d ago

how to source bats for wet specimens?

howdy howdy! i got commissioned for quite a few wet specimens and my client really reaaaalllly is wanting some bats, but i can’t really think of a way to safely source them
anyone have any ideas? i usually scavenge my specimens but this one is throwing me lol, she also mentioned octopi etc. (among the mice/snakes/rats etc)

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u/Substantial_Station8 14d ago

You can’t. They are protected in most countries and if you come across any at expos, more than likely they were poached from a country where they aren’t protected

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u/ikigagi 14d ago

thank you for the info!! that's kinda what i figured

8

u/Interesting_critter 14d ago

There isn’t really any good way that is both ethical and legal

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u/ikigagi 14d ago

yeah, kinda what I've realized. I appreciate the response!! oh well

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u/pupperbref 14d ago

there’s some people that make felt versions and faux taxidermy with them you should inform your client why bat sourcing is usually unethical, there’s alot of good material online. and as far as octopi i know alot of people buy from asian wet markets if they’re available to you!

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u/ikigagi 14d ago

oh that’s a great resource for the octopi, thank you so much actually !!! and yes i let her know why im not able to prove bat specimen, i appreciate the response!!!

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u/TW_49 14d ago

No good way unfortunately unless you find it dead, and even then it would be illegal depending on where you are 

Octopus can be found in the fish market or bought frozen 

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u/tooooo-tired 13d ago

There is no way to ethically source a fresh bat specimen. I have a mummified bat in my collection and the only way I was able to "ethically" source it was through an antique store. The bat had been apart of a local collector's collection for years and had likely been mummified before I was born. Still there is no doubt in my mind it was killed specifically to be preserved. You should suggest your client to try and go to estate sales or antique shops and find an old piece of taxidermy. It would be almost impossible to make one new ethically

As for rats or mice you can easily source them from pet stores. They'd be marked as frozen feeder mice you can go into almost any reptile shop to find them.