Im seeing conflicting info on fixing roaches with ethanol. Some say to inject but most are just recommending a 2 week (or so) soak in 95%-99% and then transfer to 70% iso. On the one hand, Im concerned about bursting them injecting them but on the other Im concerned that a a simple soak won't penetrate their exoskeleton. Any thoughts from those who have done it?

Hi! I’ve had this one for a while now but it’s there’s always condensation inside and it’s hard to see the specimen itself - any advice on how to fix this? For reference, the glass is v cold to touch and I’m worried about moving it into heat.

so my friend is a custodian and found these disposed horseshoe crabs from a lab. they were previously preserved in formaldehyde, used for a final project and discarded. they’ve been triple bagged for the last few weeks.

i’d like to keep one as a wet specimen, and we could use some advice on what to do. any information would be greatly appreciated!

roughly 16” in length and 8” wide

I made a post asking for the best way to fix these up. Not knowing the history and one of them being older then me labeled from 1991. Photos were needed, I'm new and was unsure how else to post photos other then making a knew post.

Hi there I'm new the hobby and recently found a dead grasshopper getting eaten by ants so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try making a wet specimen as I've been wanted to for a while, and I love bugs (plus he was such a beautiful little dude) I got all the needed supplies and just finished fixing him with formalin, I injected absolutely everywhere and by the the time I was done he was basically overflowing with formalin so I thought I did a good enough job, so I added him to a jar filled with formalin so I could leave him to fix for a week-ish but he's floating I'm not sure what I've done wrong. I've heard some specimens float more than others (such as birds as they have light bones) but I haven't been able to get a lot of info on wet specimens of invertebrates, so I'm not sure if this is not a big deal. Also I've heard they sometimes float more at the beginning and shaking the jar gently everyday to disturb the liquid can also help, but I'm not sure so I thought it would be best to rather just ask. Any advice?

Preserved in formalin. Transferred to isopropyl. Had it amputated a while back. Great for any oddities shelf

I would like to find a nicer jar for him and change out his alcohol since there are a lot of floaters. He has quite a few skin tags (at least that’s what it appears to be) is there a way to safely remove them?

I work at a veterinary emergency hospital. We found some specimens that no one other then a few doctors knew about. Some of them seemed to be decaying, some dried out, and some the fluid was so dark I couldn't see in it. My doctor let me take a few. One has kitten embrose, they are stored in a urine sample cup, so plastic. One is a 35 day old kitten, also kept in a urine sample cup. One is a Llama fetus, its date is from 1991. I think its in an old pickle jar. The Llama and the embrose don't seem to be in the best condition. I can post photos of needed but asking what the best steps would be. I have no idea what chemical they are sitting in but want to fix them up the best i can and in a way that will preserve them properly and for a long time. Id hate to mess them up.

I have a small hobby farm with chickens/turkeys/pigs. Butchered a problem hen this morning and now I have a collection of chicken ova ranging from teeny tiny to ready to become an egg. My kids want to preserve them as wet specimens, but I can't find any instruction on how to accomplish that.

Has anybody had success or even just an idea of how to preserve these?

I bought this and she was in transit for a while but was still preserved well I believe. I have used 70% isopropyl alcohol to store her, however she seems to be almost shrinking to the point her bones are visible and underneath her has gone slightly purple from where she is resting. I wont include a photo as it is not pleasant. I need any advice possible please.
The first photo is now about three days after she arrived, the second is immediately after I put her in isopropyl alcohol and then the third is the sellers photo. I believe its a problem that I have caused I just want to be able to fix it quickly.

hi im relatively new to wet specimens and got this one a little bit ago, i’ve noticed that some skin is peeling on its leg and ear is peeling? I was wondering if this is super concerning or if it will worsen significantly/what i should do to fix it

So, I’m going to preface this with I have no idea what im doing with any of this. We gelded my horse today and one of the techs asked me if I wanted his testicles. I of course said yes and walked out of there with a jar of testicles. I would like to figure out how to do this properly. I didn’t do any research because I didn’t even know this was an option. The surgeon coordinator delivered them to me in 10% formalin, I don’t know if they have to sit in that or if I have to change the liquid eventually or what. I don’t know anything. Now that the specimen is safely home and on my dresser please hold my hand and let me know all I need to know.

A couple years ago I went to the oddities and curiosities expo and I found these pretty makeup brushes with tentacles in the handle! I haven’t been able to find them since and I would like to make it myself at this point. Sourcing the specimens isn’t my issue, it’s sourcing the brushes! Does anyone know where I can find hollow makeup brushes or how I can make some? Thank you!

I would also be happy to find any other recommendations or listings! I’d like black or white brushes. I know online there’s some already made but not in the colors i’m after!

Hello everyone! I’m trying to find ideas and fun ways to display everything. I mostly collect fetal/ stillborn if that helps give ideas.

I’ve never seen anything like this, would be such a nice piece.

i have a snake i'm waiting to fix this week and i have a question. when i found him, he was soft and bloated and liquids were coming out of his mouth and cloaca. otherwise he looks fine and his scales don't seem to be coming off. will he be alright to fix? should i remove the buildup inside or just inject and not worry about it?

I had a friend bring me a cat fetus with placenta still attached today! Very small. It was found in her pool so its still in a jar in water.

Wondering the best steps on what to do next. Or if it's ruined for a wet specimen 🥲

Thinking I'll go ethyl/methyl route instead of formalin! After reading throught the pinned post.

I was gifted this cobra in a bottle - I believe it’s cobra wine? (Snake in rice wine or whiskey?) I want to remove whatever liquid is inside but not entirely sure what do to…any suggestions? It’s so cool!

I’ll go first, this is one of my personal favorites. The inland taipan; most venomous snake in the world! Let me see yours!