Can a skink lizard be mounted?

[Amy]

My 9-year old sister (who loves taxidermy!) called me to say she found a dead blue-tailed skink and put it in the freezer. She was asking if I could mount it for her.

Is it possible to mount a skink? I'm supposing the tiny body could be skinned out and filled, and the legs and toes injected? I know nothing about reptile taxidermy but have done my share of tiny mammal mounts (mice, etc.). Would the colors in the blue tail fade and need to be repainted like a fish?

Just curious! I'm thinking probably the only option would be freeze drying, but I didn't know if something like this could be conventionally mounted with decent results. It doesn't have to be perfect - but it would mean a lot to my sister.

[Becky P]

Amy, yes it can be mounted. Evelyn can give you more details.

[Kerby Ross]

You are braver than me in mounting mice! I hate small things! Yes you can mount a small skink, but I would rather just make a reproduction. Just position the skink the way you want it and then use Jeltrate/Alginate on it. Then fill with bondo. After that I'm sure you will have to use sculpall to rebuild/repair the legs and toes. Add the eyes and then paint.

For a skin mount you could also use the Geltrate/Alginate to make the body/tail only and then  keep the leg bones and fill them with hardening clay.



Kerby...

[Wolf]

I have done baby chameleons, only a few inches long.  Your idea will work Amy, here's some hints.  A ventral incision is best.  Leave the skull in the skin and clean out the brains, eyes and tongue, rebuild with clay (or whatever you prefer) and use a couple glass "seed bead" for eyes.  Skin down those tiny legs as far as possible by inverting to remove the meat from the bone, wire the legs with real fine wire and rebuild with clay.  Run a wire for skull to tail tip for support, and attach the leg wires to it.  Fill the body with clay, or fish filler.  Pose and let dry, inject the toes and feet if you feel like they will shrivel to much.  You may need to brighten the colors if they dull when they dry, you may not?  You have to wait and see on that one.

Howl at you later,
Wolf

[WillinghamsTaxidermy]

Wow, I didn't know it was possible to mount something so small. I'll have to try it next time I find some sort of dead lizard.

[wetnwild]

Yes, I have mounted quite a few of them, but they are difficult. The way the scales are layed out, they are like fish scales especially on the tail. The skin will tear in a heart beat under the slightest stress. The thin membrane between the scales is very thin. When you try sewing through the tail area or belly, the insertion of a needle is enough to separate the tail into two pieces. They can be done, but if you have never done one before, leave it to someone with the experience to do it, or you will end up with a lizard in a million pieces