Saving your deceased snake's skin?

I just ran into a guy at Daytona who uses the skins or bones to make awesome things. He had wallets, money clips, lots of things. All the skins come from animals that died accidentally, such as zoo animals that die, or people's pets who die and they send them in to him.

www.dragonbackbone.com

He seemed super nice. I brought him my frozen dead adult male tegu lizard that died a couple years ago. It actually made me a bit sad, since I had raised Gracie from a little hatchling dude. Since I couldn't bury him here, I had to keep him in the freezer since I couldn't bring myself to just throw him in the trash or burn him. Now I feel a little better, knowing there's a possibility that he could be made into some beautiful things.

Not sure.

The horrible thing that comes to mind is the fact that BP morphs on objects might become 'mainstream' to a degree, or even 'trendy', and could pose the issue of creating demand for those products. The last thing I'd want is for someone to associate ball python pets with fashion items. Maybe it's just me, but we know how people can be when they decide they 'want' something.

Not sure I could do it to my crew. I love skeletons myself, so I have thought about getting any of my animals done up with an armature and having it's bones cleaned and bleached.

I can see the appeal. But, I can also see how morbid it is as well. It's a different kind of thing to wear the skin of your deceased pet. People will argue: "Do you wear leather?" Yes, I do. And we've raised cows. And I can appreciate that they were raised specifically to be meat and products. Having a pet made into items is hovering on that line of respect for our animals and having a love for them and their beauty, and the emotional attachment that would constantly remind us that we only have bits and pieces left from this animal's body now.

I have considered getting some of my larger boa girls taxidermy-d after they pass.. these would be 10 to 11 foot around that time. If not that then I have also considered getting them articulated.. at least a few of my favorites.

My fiance and I joke about getting our Cat taxidermy-d because she is the weirdest looking cat ever... we can't decide on pose though so its probly out of the question. :P:P:P

I'm nuts about skeleton articulating, so I'd more likely save the skin till I could find someone to tan it properly for me, and set up a skeleton in a display case or something (a snake skeleton necklace would be cool! But delicate). I find it creepy when people get mammals mounted, it's extraordinarily difficult/expensive to get an animal lifelike anyway, and the cheaper services aimed at mourning pet owners never capture the pet in question. Somehow keeping a skin or bones from a reptile doesn't bother me as much though... Not that mammals aren't beautiful, I've loved all my pets, but reptiles and amphibians just seem like living works of art.

If I do end up getting any of them mounted you can bet your :cens0r: I'll be shopping around for the best taxidermist. So so expensive, but absolutely worth getting it done correctly the first time

This was my lab partner 2 years ago in my Biology course. Not the best Taxidermy work, but it is a ball python. lol....
He was a little stiff to work with.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...f/IMAG0677.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...f/IMAG0679.jpg

Where do you learn how to do quality taxidermy on reptiles? Ive seen some work in videos on youtube, But I wouldnt absolutely self taxidermy one of my more beloved snakes, if they passed away. I wouldnt never kill a snake just to taxidermy, but personally immortalizing the image would mean everything to me. My dad passed away when I was a kid, and over the last 11 years ive forgotten what he even really looked like(dont have any pictures really) and that really bothers me how things like that fade over time. I feel like always having that snakes likeness to remind you exactly how they were would be nothing short of invaluble.

-Riveran

I have no idea where you would learn. I imagine the stuffed snake that was in my lab is really old and techniques have probably improved today. You can probably get an apprenticeship from a professional.





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That might be a fun little side hobby to explore.

-Riveran

I honestly don't think I'd be able to stop crying enough to skin my baby and salt her down. I am pretty sure I wouldn't have the money to send her to get 'stuffed' so I will probably end up with a tiny urn for my snake, or a big one if (i hope) I have a lot of snakes.