Preserving an electrophoros electricus

[Ali]

Hello I need to severe an electric eel bilaterally and preserve it for a science project. I've been thikning about using the stuff that you use to create the water look with silk flowers but am afraid that it might deteriorate the flesh of the fish.

Any ideas, suggestions, or comments?

Thanks

 

[guppy]

I don't even know where to start looking for how to do this, most bissected specimins are castings, not real specimens. I would assume you would start by injecting the veins and organs with latex then soaking the specimen is formalin followed by bissection and glycerin soaks. Try getting in touch with a biological supply house that sells bissected pig and dog embryos.

 

[Ali]

It does seem to be very complicated.

Btw I talked to my Bio teacher and asked for formalin and he said that formalin is illeagel in CA. He suggested to simply bisect the specimen and then freeze it and bring it in and use the class' freezer.

I've been thinking of just using alcohol. Would that work? How about the fake flower water idea?

Thanks

 

[rallysman]

you may be able to test the fake flower water ( i assume youre talking about epoxy resin) by trying it with a dead fish (dont kill one just to test)

 

[guppy]

Alcohol at 70% solution with water will work for a while, maybe a few weeks before the tissue starts breaking down.

 

[ShadowVengance]

I just finished disecting pigs all today and yesterday, my hands still smell, even through gloves.

The school keeps pig embryos preserved in flouride <- thats the stuff that you need to preserve in.

Drain the blood, and clean it up, it's also a good idea to inject it with a die, usually blue, that will make the blood mainly transparent and watery, with some blue.

Good luck, im not sure how much flouride costs, or where you can get it.

We also have a bunch of things like insects and whatnot, and chicken embryo's preserved in jars of flouride.

 

[ShadowVengance]

Oh!, i forgot to add. Body Worlds uses a technique called plasticination. I highly doubt you have the resources, but maybe you'll find it interesting to look up.

I went to the exhibit in toronto, very cool. its all so detailed.

I forgot to ask, how are you going to be disecting it?

are you? or just preserving? cross section or what?

 

[Ali]

Oh!, i forgot to add. Body Worlds uses a technique called plasticination. I highly doubt you have the resources, but maybe you'll find it interesting to look up.

I went to the exhibit in toronto, very cool. its all so detailed.

I forgot to ask, how are you going to be disecting it?

are you? or just preserving? cross section or what?

I've actually gone to the exhibit when it was in L.A. Preety amazing stuff.

I'm actually going to go straight down the middle for about 1/5 total length of the fish and then work my weigh around the fish's electrical organs and swim bladder.

I'm only going to need this preserved for about two weeks so the alcohol solution seems to be the best route for my science project.

My group is going to get #1 for sure since I've seen the competition and their all weak sauce compared to mine. But I never underestimate the competition so I'm actually bringing a preserved and live specimen in for people to observe. Any suggestions to spice up my project even more? I'm currently trying to get the eel to light up a light bulb but need help.

Thanks