Preserving my cray :(

[VinceC_69]

I am sad to say i woke up this morning to find my P.clarkii dead. I have no clue why he died

My question is, i want to preserve his body, is there a way to harden him up and turn him into statue? i was thinking of spraying him with hairspray or somthing? ... I really want to remeber him he was the best

 

[Twixy]

Coat of a matt varnish?

 

[EVAN YUNCK]

LEAVIT OUTSIDE FOR A FEW WEEKS FOR THE BUGS TO EAT THETISSUES WHEN YOU SEE NO BUGS IN THE CARCAS ITS DONE THE USE SPRAY VARNISH OR NOTHING. IVE DONE THIS TO SEVRAL BIG BOYS N THEY STILL LOOK GOOD SEVRAL YEARS LATER

 

[Noto]

There are two ways:

1) Inject a 10% solution of formalin into all the meaty areas, prop it up in the position you want it, then let it dry and harden.

2) Freeze dry it. You can probably get a local taxidermist to do this for you. There is also a home freeze-drying method: put the crayfish in a freezer (preferably the old-fashioned kind that develops lots of ice crystals inside) in an open container for a few weeks or months, until it is dry and stiff.

Either way you'll lose the color, so if you want it to look lifelike you'll need to paint it. Model paint and an airbrush works well. Be sure to use some reference pics.

 

[Otto_VonBacon]

There are two ways:

1) Inject a 10% solution of formalin into all the meaty areas, prop it up in the position you want it, then let it dry and harden.

2) Freeze dry it. You can probably get a local taxidermist to do this for you. There is also a home freeze-drying method: put the crayfish in a freezer (preferably the old-fashioned kind that develops lots of ice crystals inside) in an open container for a few weeks or months, until it is dry and stiff.

Either way you'll lose the color, so if you want it to look lifelike you'll need to paint it. Model paint and an airbrush works well. Be sure to use some reference pics.

I have three blue crayfish in my deep freezer in a tupperware. One day when i was admiring my losese I droped the container and broke my Daves (profile pictures) claws off.