How to preserve a deceased stingray?

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Cheyenne4

Feeder Fish
Nov 27, 2010
4
0
0
MASS
Hi everyone!
My name is Cheyenne, I am from MA, and I am not exactly a monster fish keeper :P HOWEVER, I am very interested in Marine Life, and hope to in the future be a marine biologist (As I am still just 16) Anyways, I was visiting Cape Cod, and came across a dead stingray! I decided to take it home, and was hoping to find online a way to preserve the creature just to admire its interesting qualities. I know you all are not exactly here to answer such questions, but I can't seem to find anything online about it, and I figured if anyone has done it, a forum is the way to go! I am a member of forums for my other critters, such as hermit crabs, gerbils and sugar gliders.

Hopefully someone can help me out :)
Thanks so much!
Cheyenne

ps: Although Horshoe crabs do not smell nearly as bad as the stingray, does anyone have any similar ideas for them, as I also collect them (deceased of course)
 
Go to your local drug store and ask if they have ethyl alcohol and if it's at 95% then you would need to dilute it to about 75%. You need it from any where from 70-75% ethyl alcohol. Remember to wear safety glasses and work in a well ventilated room.
 
Stored in a sealed jar of alcohol is the most common.

I'm not sure of any sort of aquarist taxidermy. But it's an interesting thought. Those big marlins on the walls in Hawaii come to mind.
 
If you have a biology teacher in your school, you might be able to get some pointers on the preservation process from them. It's worth a try, when you return to school again. They may even help you do it if you need it. Just my thoughts. Good luck.
 
Thank you all so much! I PMed King-eL and if he does not have any ideas, I will ask my biology teacher, who has lots of creatures around the room.
 
Muni;4659775; said:
Stored in a sealed jar of alcohol is the most common.

I'm not sure of any sort of aquarist taxidermy. But it's an interesting thought. Those big marlins on the walls in Hawaii come to mind.
Click to expand...
The fish you see on walls are usually reproductions of the fish you caught.
 
As for the alcohol method, would I be forever leaving the ray in a jar with the alcohol? Or do I just soak it for a while, and it'll dehydrate the ray and harden when I take it out of the alcohol? I'm just a bit confused on that part. thanks!
 
Cheyenne4;4661403; said:
As for the alcohol method, would I be forever leaving the ray in a jar with the alcohol? Or do I just soak it for a while, and it'll dehydrate the ray and harden when I take it out of the alcohol? I'm just a bit confused on that part. thanks!
Click to expand...

It would be stored permanently. Make sure it seals well or the alcohol will evaporate over time.


Like so.
jar_ray.jpg
 
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