Lima Sovelnose Catfish Skull

[ColeFishing]

I decided to use my dead LSN for science after seeing necrocanis's catfish skulls. He helped me out through IM and I kind of got a basic idea of how it works. I well show a series of pictures from the LSN, to cutting it open, to preserving the skull. I'm going to add one thing though, I messed up by not cutting out enough skin from the skull before starting the acidic procedure so the bone was dissolving at the same rate the skin was and the mouth and eye bones melted off.


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[ColeFishing]

Here he is when he was alive.


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[ColeFishing]

Here is cutting him open. The dot looking thing is its eye.


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[ColeFishing]

Skull preparation. Notice how much skin I left on it. Next time ill know to take more off.


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[ColeFishing]

Here it is sitting in the hydrochloric acid after spending two days in peroxide.


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[ColeFishing]

Here is the final product. It's my first time doing this so it kinda sucks but you get the idea and it still looks cool. You can still feel and see the underside of the bill. I didn't think it was actually bone. Next time ill have a better one.


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[Xotesi]

Haha looks awesome


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[greenbud]

I'm really not sure If i should think this cool or sick. Due to it starting as a pet. But cool as can be for show and tell. Might try this with a bullhead next summer.

 

[necrocanis]

Looks like you did pretty good. I forgot to mention when I was telling you how to do it that you should remove the smaller bones before starting like the mandibles(lower jaw) Do them seperate holding on to them with tweezers. For a first time I'd say you did well. I'll have to post up a pic of a lima skull I did soon. Maybe I will do my big one. Kind of inspiring me to do some more lol. I'll look and see what pics I have of some catfish I have done with this method and if you don't mind post them up here. I think I have an old thread called catfish anatomy or something I'll dig around and see.

 

[necrocanis]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...tfish-anatomy/page3&highlight=catfish+anatomy

Here's a link. I'm sure we can revive the old thread. Feel free to post up your pics in there as well.