i have a snake i need to tan but first i have some questions. how much room should be in-between the nails when i stretch it out to salt it? do i need to salt it? if i do salt it do i fold it and how long should it stay that way? thats all.
Jared,
First thing, 'salting' a hide is 'NOT' tanning it. In the tanning process, the purpose of applying salt to a raw hide is to draw out unwanted fluids in the flesh. This causes the skin to dry and snug up on the hair roots. In short, salting prevents hair slippage. This process would not apply to a reptile skin. I would suggest purchasing a 'reptile tanning kit' from WASCO . The kit is very affordable and comes complete with everything you'll need, to include instructions. Somthing else that might make your job easier: Forget the nails. I normally place the tanned snake skin (flesh side up) onto a long piece of cardboard with a centerline drawn onto it. The centerline aids me in keeping the snake skin centered on the cardboard. Use a stapler to attach the skin to the cardboard backing. Place the staples extremely close to each other along the very edges of the skin. Don't worry about staple holes at this point. These holes will be trimmed off once the skin is removed from the cardboard backing. Once the skin has been tanned and is attached to the cardboard, a tanning oil or glycerin should be applied. Apply as much oil as the skin will absorb. Once the skin has dried ( a week or two ), remove from the cardboard backing and trim the edges where the staple holes are. You should now have a properly tanned and very flexible snake hide for display. Good luck.
Headhanger
P.S. If in doubt, take it to your local Taxidermist
Too late, i already called my local taxidermist and he told me how to do it with borax. I did it that way and so far it looks real good. I already did the nails and the board too. Ohh well ,i'll know what to do next time.
didn,t use the salt
I was told by person at a local hobby shop, that they have a tanning kit for animal hides ( with hair) and that it should work on rattlesnake skin also. The skin was removed from the snake only several hours ago, (4-5 hours). I cleaned the meat off really good and put the skin in a lock type baggie and place it in a refrigerator. How long will it keep that way. In regards to the kit from the hobbyshop will that work or do I have to have a special type tanning kit?.
I was told by person at a local hobby shop, that they have a tanning kit for animal hides ( with hair) and that it should work on rattlesnake skin also. The skin was removed from the snake only several hours ago, (4-5 hours). I cleaned the meat off really good and put the skin in a lock type baggie and place it in a refrigerator. How long will it keep that way. In regards to the kit from the hobbyshop will that work or do I have to have a special type tanning kit?.