How to Preserve and Condition a Dry Snake Skin

Preserving a snake skin can be interesting as well as educational. Snakes shed their skin regularly and usually in one continuous piece. Snakes shed their skin as they grow and also to remove parasites from their bodies. If you come across a snake skin that you'd like to preserve, there are simple steps to follow in order to make sure you preserve and dry the snake skin correctly.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Glycerin
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Damp cloth

Instructions

Preserving Snake Skin

1. Wearing gloves, remove any debris or dirt found on the snake skin. Make sure to take extreme care doing this so you do not disrupt or tear the skin, as it is very fragile.

2. Lay out the skin very carefully in a safe spot where it will not be disturbed. Keep the skin out of direct sunlight so that it doesn't crack.

3. Keep the dried snake skin in a closed jar to preserve the skin. The lack of air will keep the snake skin intact for many years. You may also choose to mount the snake skin for display, in which case you can wet the snake skin and mount it while the skin is still moist to avoid any cracking.

Conditioning a Snake Skin

1. Mix together one part glycerin and one part rubbing alcohol in a medium container. Use enough of these ingredients to be able to cover the whole snake skin.

2. Wear gloves and wrap the snake skin in a coil so that it can fit in the container and soak the snake skin in the solution.

3. Cover the container with a lid and set it in an undisturbed dark area. Leave the snake skin in the container for three days. At the beginning of each day, open the container and gently stir the snake skin in the mixture.

4. Remove the snake skin from the container after the third day and gently wash off the solution with cool water. Rub glycerin on the inside of the snake skin and hang it in order to dry thoroughly. Use a damp cloth to wipe off any excess residue.

References

• Reptile Knowledge: Snake Shedding 101 - Why Snakes Shed Their Skin
• The Tannery, Inc.: How To Tan a Snakeskin