Preserving a Huntsman

[DoobiaDave]

My huntsman spider is starting to reach the end of her life and i wanted to preserve her, was hoping someone could point me in a decent direction or give me some resources on how to preserve her.

 

[Aracnoenthusiast]

There are a few ways to do it. Would you prefer a more taxidermied style? Or is putting it in a bottle of alcohol acceptable for you?

 

[DoobiaDave]

i think id like a display

 

[Aracnoenthusiast]

i think id like a display

Cool, you have a few options there, you can taxidermy it for a shadow box type display. Or you can prep it and cast it in epoxy. Either way, you want to pose it on some foam using pins to hold legs where you want them. Not through the legs but crisscross over them to hold. Let it dry. You may want to get the guts out of the abdomen. Then stuff with cotton ball and glue shut again. Or just leave abdomen empty. After that. Once dry the legs should stay in place. Put in a box or cast in epoxy. I hope that helps

 

[DoobiaDave]

i can just put it in the box after pinning it to foam to dry?
i can cut the abdomen out i didnt think their would be much since shes not a big huntsman specimen

 

[Aracnoenthusiast]

i can just put it in the box after pinning it to foam to dry?
i can cut the abdomen out i didnt think their would be much since shes not a big huntsman specimen

Yea, you can leave it in the box to dry

 

[Aracnoenthusiast]

Yea if it's small pry nothing much in abdomen. It will teach you a lot the first few times you do it

 

[DoobiaDave]

what size pins should i buy?

 

[DoobiaDave]

thanks for the help too im excited to do this

 

[Aracnoenthusiast]

what size pins should i buy?

They sell insect pins on Amazon. I get an assortment so I have whatever size I want on hand.

 

[Oursapoil]

Hi,
I would pin it as described (adding a photo of how I pin my molts as well as our dead criters) but I would start by doing it on foam. Once done let it dry in open air (I wouldn’t recommend in the box), I use my boiler room for this. After a day or two for molts, longer for a dead spider, remove the pins and place it on the back plate of your shadow box with a drop of glue. Once dry put the backplate in then hand on the wall or display on shelves, all mines are for my son’s bedroom
Cheers.

 

[Aracnoenthusiast]

Hi,
I would pin it as described (adding a photo of how I pin my molts as well as our dead criters) but I would start by doing it on foam. Once done let it dry in open air (I wouldn’t recommend in the box), I use my boiler room for this. After a day or two for molts, longer for a dead spider, remove the pins and place it on the back plate of your shadow box with a drop of glue. Once dry put the backplate in then hand on the wall or display on shelves, all mines are for my son’s bedroom
Cheers.View attachment 52536View attachment 52537View attachment 52538View attachment 52539View attachment 52540View attachment 52541

I'd have to say it looks like you are more experienced than I am at this. Nice work

 

[Oursapoil]

I'd have to say it looks like you are more experienced than I am at this. Nice work

I am getting better over time, thank you. It helps that we have now a lot of Ts providing a lot of molts to practice

 

[DoobiaDave]

i appreciate both of you thanks so much

 

[Oursapoil]

i appreciate both of you thanks so much

Anytime Dave,
Here are the latest frames I finished yesterday evening:

You can find theses shadow boxes/frames at Michael’s or on Amazon. The brand is Studio Decor.

 

[ArachnoHorn]

Anytime Dave,
Here are the latest frames I finished yesterday evening:
View attachment 52688View attachment 52689View attachment 52690
You can find theses shadow boxes/frames at Michael’s or on Amazon. The brand is Studio Decor.

Yup that’s what I do. It’s good for display