What is the Best Method of Preserving a T: Acrylic Resin or Taxidermy?

[UndergroundArachnid]

Recently, my first tarantula, (Carter, a wild-caught mature male A. Hentzi) has passed away of unknown causes (I think it was age, but I'm not sure!) and, since he was my first tarantula, I'd like to preserve him somehow.

My father has found a taxidermist who can taxidermize him, but I have bought many bugs and arachnids that were preserved via acrylic resin.

I'm scared that if he's taxidermied, he'll begin to rot eventually, or his body will breakdown over time, but I've also heard that casting him in resin could cause discoloration and the water in his body could leak out and it'd be ruined. (Did that sentence even make sense..?)

I'm a complete newcomer to Ts and I don't want my first baby to be destroyed in an attempt to preserve him. What is the best method of preserving a T?

His body is wrapped in paper towels, in a box, in a plastic bag in the freezer and it will remain there until we decide what we're doing with him.

The taxidermist says that it'd be $100, but I figure it'll cost about that much to get all the stuff needed to cast him in resin. I plan to ask the taxidermist if he knows anything about casting in resin, but before I make the choice, I'd like to know which is the better option.

Thank you for reading! <3

 

[dragonfire1577]

Well I simply pin, air dry, and frame insects to preserve them and it works well although I'd worry about the abdomen shriveling on a T which isn't really problem with the stuff I've preserved such as mantids, beetles, cicadas, grasshoppers eat which don't have any areas that would really shrivel.

 

[Trenor]

Disclaimer: I've never done any of these things with Ts.

My father has found a taxidermist who can taxidermize him, but I have bought many bugs and arachnids that were preserved via acrylic resin.

I have a friend who uses resin molds and polymers to make sculpture cast molds. She had trouble getting all the air bubbles out when she first started. She ended up using a vacuum chamber to remove the air after pouring before the resin/polymer set up. I would recommend this method over taxidermy because it'll last a lot longer IMO.

I'm scared that if he's taxidermied, he'll begin to rot eventually, or his body will breakdown over time, but I've also heard that casting him in resin could cause discoloration and the water in his body could leak out and it'd be ruined. (Did that sentence even make sense..?)

A friend of my Dads used to be into taxidermy when I was a kid. The problem with this method is your spider's body is fragile. They use a spray to set hairs and other pieces so they don't fall out. Even with that, your T can be damaged by anything hitting it or dusty over time cause they are hard to clean etc. Some things last a long time using taxidermy, other fragile things don't fair so well. I would only use this option if you are planning on sealing the T in a shadow box or a bug collector box after it it is done. Even then it can be damaged by dropping it or banging it.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

Even then it can be damaged by dropping it or banging it.

Just a note. We here at Arachnoboards do not recommend banging your tarantulas. Be they living or dead, there should be limits to how much you love your pet. If you insist...well, it IS the internet and we are sure that there are other websites that endorse that sort of behaviour.*


*PM me for details. Have a credit card handy.

 

[EulersK]

I researched heavily into casting T's in resin myself, and I tried it once. Turns out drying resin produces a lot of heat, and that heat causes the setae (the major source of color for tarantulas) to denature and decolor. So, yes, you can do this and it is surprisingly easy, but don't expect your T to look anything like when it was alive. Even the dull brown C. andersoni that I set in resin turned a deep brown, almost black.

 

[Sarkhan42]

One of the problems that comes with beetles cast in resin in my experience is removing all the air without damaging the specimen, made very difficult by finer hairs, and I assume you would run into similar problems with casting a tarantula.

 

[Blackout14]

A way to help remove bobble when casting thing like this that have a lot of hairs and places that like to catch them if to take a paint brush and paint the resin on the body first making sure to use the brush to make sure you get it on and pushed on around the hairs so it doesn't creat those bubble then pour the resin over it. Helps a lot with bubbles. Also the longer curing resins tend to build less heat so if the heat is indeed causing the color change they should help. I have been casting trinkets and making fishing lure for years so have gotten pretty good at it I would try the alumilight clear resin I have used it on lures and other stuff it hold up well and doesn't seem to yellow this sight is for making fishing lure but has a lot of great products and Larry dahlberg has some great videos on mold making and the like on it
http://www.makelure.com/store/pg/64-MakeLure-Casting-Resins.aspx

 

[MrsHaas]

I frame and preserve my dad tarantulas myself. All you have to do is put the corpse in the freezer for two weeks to freeze dry it. Then thaw it out under a light like a lamp that provides direct heat for a few hours until The body is malleable. Then use glue and pins to position the tarantula as you wish, And frame it. It's very simple if you want to do it on your own. I have never found any problems with the body rotting and the abdomen seem to just dry up all on their own. If you want to specific instructions you can send me a PM. Good luck

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

I've had my deceased G. rosea in the freezer for over a year now. I haven't been able to bring myself to check on it, it's kind of a bummer. But I may give that a try sometime if it is still in any condition to do so with.

Your "dad" tarantulas?