How to Presreve a Snake Skin

Preserve a snake skin by drying and tanning.

Preserving a snake skin allows you to keep the snake skin in a more supple state and prevent it from drying out, breaking down into dust, or tearing or cracking. Tanning is the best form of preserving a snake skin. The snake skin tanning process works by applying a mixture of formaldehyde, glycerin and rubbing alcohol. These materials work to preserve the skin, keeping it from deteriorating. They also help maintain a proper shape to the skin so it does not curl. Arrange and dry out the skin before applying the tanning oil.

Things You'll Need

• 2 Slats of wooden boards
• Pins
• String
• Formaldehyde
• Glycerin
• Rubbing alcohol
• Container
• Paintbrush
• Paper towels

Instructions

1. Pin the snake skin in place on one wooden board, pinning in the middle of the skin at the left and right ends. Tie a string across these pins to create a horizontal guideline for additional pinning. Pin the skin into the wood board, pinning just under the string in the middle of the snake skin, placing pins about one inch apart. This will shape the skin into a straight line.

2. Place additional pins along the top and bottom edges of the skin as well as the tips of the head and tail so that they are one-half inch apart. Do not stretch out the skin, but smooth it so the skin lays against the board. Remove the pins under the string. Let the skin dry for 10 hours.

3. Mix a tanning solution into a container that is one part formaldehyde, eight parts glycerin, and four parts rubbing alcohol. Stir with a paintbrush. Brush the mixture over the dried snake skin. Let it soak in for another 10 hours.

4. Remove the pins and turn the skin onto the other side. You do not need to pin this side down, as the skin is already dried into a straight line. Brush the mixture over the other side. Let it soak in for 10 more hours.

5. Lay pieces of paper towels below and above the tanned skin and place between two wooden boards until the towels have absorbed the excess tanning oil.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan this project ahead of time, as it takes over a day to complete.

References

• Lawrence M. Klauber Memorial Rattlesnake Homepage: Tanning Snake Skins