Best way to preserve a tarantula without altering coloration

[MrsHaas]

So, I’ve tried doing shadow boxes with dead Ts, and I had a method that worked decently well a couple times: I would “freeze dry” the dead T in the freezer for a few weeks, take it out and defrost/pull out out the extra moisture from the body under a hot lamp, allow to dry a few days in room temperature, then pin it down and… ta-daaa!

However, I’ve only done this methods on males because their abdomens are smaller and easier to freeze, defrost, and dry without having to cut them open or add a cotton ball inside the skin.

I looked up how to do T preservation in resin, but it looks like the resin method turns all colors and patterns on the dead T to a dark brown or black once finished, no matter how vibrant or diverse.

It seems that preserving them in alcohol also rids the T of any natural coloring too.

I have about a good 15ish perfectly preserved Ts (mostly AF) in my freezer and have been wanting to frame them, but I don’t know how to do so while still keeping them as beautiful as when they were alive.

Any tips, ideas, knowledge?? I’m open to anything!

Thanks guys!

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I have one saved my mom tossed the rest i should’ve hid them. I don’t know what type of display case or box to buy to Place it in. But I did the same thing except I just air dried the t and it mummified I wish I remembered 100% what I did. Bone dry substrate worked for fireleg but it got tossed again not by me.

 

[MrsHaas]

@Ultum4Spiderz Yeah, I supposed I would also consider my method more of a mummification of sorts.
…but I have yet to try that method with an AF carcass bc the abdomen are really big and I’m not sure it would rot or how I would make sure the insides would be actually dry (as I don’t know a good way how to remove the inners and replace it with a cotton ball, etc.)

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

@Ultum4Spiderz Yeah, I supposed I would also consider my method more of a mummification of sorts.
…but I have yet to try that method with an AF carcass bc the abdomen are really big and I’m not sure it would rot or how I would make sure the insides would be actually dry (as I don’t know a good way how to remove the inners and replace it with a cotton ball, etc.)

That’s were I failed the abdomen and I didn’t have a box to put it in so switching bedrooms broke the specimen I tried to save. Forgot it was stored there..
Turns out I’ll just have to try again , what can I buy to display them in? I’ll probably still keep this broken one.

 

[MrsHaas]

That’s were I failed the abdomen and I didn’t have a box to put it in so switching bedrooms broke the specimen I tried to save. Forgot it was stored there..
Turns out I’ll just have to try again , what can I buy to display them in? I’ll probably still keep this broken one.
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You can keep it so you can reference it and not make the same mistakes maybe? I’d do that.