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Stuffing your dead snakes?

R

reptile_addict

New member
Does anyone know of a way to stuff your dead snakes? I have some frozen boas in my freezer and 1 corn. They where all really old and died of NATURAL causes. I want to preserve them some how and put them on display.
 
Interesting idea...

I was once going to have my ball python cremated. Could have it done for 20 bucks. I assume your question is better suited for a taxidermist?
 
Well, if they aren't of huge value to you dead, it would be a great learning tool for taxidermy. Not sure how much damage might've occured in the freezer, though. I've often thought about learning to tan snakeskin for hatband type purposes.
 
Think thats a great idea especially when they have meant so much to you and for some maybe their best friend for years seems sad to just bury them. I for one if i could afford it would like to have them preserved.
 
I have only seen a couple of stuffed snakes...and the work wasn't all that good on them...probably better off getting them skinned and tanned...

Although...depending on how long they have been in the freezer...they may be unusable...I don't know how well snake skin holds up to freezing...although a good taxidermist can bring back some stuff that has been frozen for AGES to very usable quality...
 
I've frozen birds for a taxidermist, but I agree that a reptile might be a little tricky.
 
It couldn't be all that difficult for a competent taxidermist. I know the scales aren't the same, but large fish (fat large mouth bass in my experience) runs about $10 per inch of length, so that might be somewhat of a deterant, especially for your python..
 
reptile_addict said:
me to. I just want to have my dead snakes on display with a rat in its mouth getting contricted.
Click to expand...

That's pretty freaky, man. :sidestep:
 
elrojo said:
I've often thought about learning to tan snakeskin for hatband type purposes.
Click to expand...

Ill be gallderned! Hey Chip, Burt Reynolds called ta see if youd be able to git him ona yer hatbands for the next Smokey and the Bandit movie!

Ona the problems with stuffin a snake is that you haveta slice it down the length of tha belly. That wouldn't make for muchova trophy. ;)
 
I've got a taxidermy book that says how to stuff a snake. It says to make a very fine cut down the length of the side, where the belly scales meet the body scales. That way if he's put back together nicely no one will be able to tell. Try checking your local library for taxidermy books.
 
check taxidermy.net

they have a forum about reptile taxidermy, I'm interested in taxidermy and skeleton prepeation too
 
Well in regards to fish having scales...most of the fish that are mounted anymore are replicas...it is easier and cheaper to take detailed photos and measurements and replicate it than it is to actually mount the fish itself!!

I can't imagine a snake would cost as much as a fish...snakes don't have fins and such that create a good amount of the work...

I just don't know how good it would look...fish are actually painted to show their "true" color...

Would hate to waste the money to have a snake painted...better off doing a full length hide...

I know a taxidermist that has an 18 foot anaconda skin on his wall...circus animal that died while they were in town...he asked if they were going to keep it and gave it to him...his first (and only) snake tan....
 
In 10-15 or so years when my gorgeous amel comes to the end of her days I want to have a watchband made from her hide as a permanent memento of her...I already have a couple of friends who want one too but I think that's a little impersonal seeing she's MY baby and if anyone is going to be wearing her it'll just be me.
 
OOHhh...I love the watchband idea...(or maybe even the belt that my friend is always threatening to make out of Chester.. :eek1: .).
Does anyone do their own tanning, or does it have to be sent out?? I've helped with deer and moose hides before, but something tells me this might be different :rolleyes:
 
If anyone knows how to tan snake hides let me know. That would be kinda cool and plus my aunt makes clothes for a living. I can make a big belt out of fluffy the corns or masacre the blood python when they die. They are both babies though.
 
okay, now whilst i personally would never get a pet stuffed, nor would i wear it as an item of clothing, this is an interesting thread, and i have enjoyed reading others' opinions on the matter.
i have only lost 1 of my precious girls *touch wood no more for a very long time* and i had her cremated because i simply could not bring myself to bury her, i would never be able to move homes if that was the case.
but she is now in a beautiful little box, a plaque with her name 'Missy' graved into it, and she sits proudly on my dressing table.
and to this day i still talk to her *yes, anny is crazy* lol
having her cremated was perfect for me as now i can take her everywhere i go.
:D:D
 
well, I guess I just gave you the answer....

check out www.taxidermy.net

there they have a reptile taxidermy forum...by reading the old topics you can learn a lot...

I would advise you to get rittel's snake tanning kit...(search at google or something about where to get it...it's not ereally expensive)

This is includes a special oil, which stops the skin from rotting, youo have to treat it several times, after you removed the flesh and cleaned the skin...it will preserve your snake's skin, after that, you could use it for a belt or watch or something....

but I'm not an expert, and have not done this myself, so I recommend you to visit the taxidermy fora, everything will be a lot clearer...I like to work on skeletons, so I don't really use the skin, I don't have a tanning kit either, but maybe I will buy one soon...

there are people who paint their snakes, but I don't like it, the oil of the rittel's snake tanning kit preserves the colors of the snake too

regards,

Robin Heinen

Ps.

The picture is of an Amazon tree boa (corallus hortulanus)
 

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