I need tips on taxidermy on a hissing cockroach.

[Buglover420]

My cockroach died today, she was the sweetest roach I've had and I want to preserve her, I can't put her in my freezer because I live in a bus and I usually don't have power. her body would get gross... how would I taxidermy her? I was thinking of putting her in a picture frame.

 

[TheraMygale]

Youll have to empty her out then.

i need to research this a bit, but these are fatty animals. with moths we can use acetone to remove the grease spots.

but cockroach is different.

so first step would be to open it, and remove all gut.

then stuff it with cotton balls. Borax is used to dry and sanitize, alcohol to. But these elements dry and harden shell. So you will need to act quick.

for a wet specimen, a jar of 70%+ alcohol. With time youll need to top it. Alcohol does change over time. So it might need to be refreshed. I dont like formyl, its disguting and dangerous.

if you decide to gut it, clean it well. Then dust inside with borax, add the coton balls, and seal with glue.

 

[MysteryInc]

I agree with the last reply, but I also usually use formalin for initial fixing (I use it very commonly at work anyway) and swap to alcohol for storage, which has worked well IME. I use PPE & heavy ventilation and inject formalin into any meaty areas of the specimen you want to preserve, but it IS dangerous so I would advise caution.

Cleaning out the specimen and drying / pinning as described above I would say is much more beginner friendly, cheaper and safer.

 

[TheraMygale]

I agree with the last reply, but I also usually use formalin for initial fixing (I use it very commonly at work anyway) and swap to alcohol for storage, which has worked well IME. I use PPE & heavy ventilation and inject formalin into any meaty areas of the specimen you want to preserve, but it IS dangerous so I would advise caution.

Cleaning out the specimen and drying / pinning as described above I would say is much more beginner friendly, cheaper and safer.

if you work with formalin, then you could use it for personal work as you aware of the risk.

i dont use this in my day to day work, and i wouldnt want to be exposed to it; its a personal choice.

i would use it if i had training and experience. But i am just a pick up dead animals on the highway person. And i dont want to use chemicals. I think i am exposed enough, because of pesticides, in my work.

but if you have access to it, it might work for your roach.

but the dry method is good. Its how they do bugs in general, because how else could you sell bugs internationaly, for pinning. Borax will work.

when i mentioned acetone, its for extra fatty bugs, like saturnids. Once dipped in acetone, the black spots are removed. But its not permanent.

the perfect solution is an illusion.