I suppose an African Rock Python qualifies as an exotic? Well any way, We had this python for just over 6 years. He was found in the Everglades when he was about 5 or 6 years old. We lost him due to a burst blood vessel about 6 weeks ago. He was 14'9" so we decided to try and save the hide. First we had to flesh the hide and there was more to that than I would have thought. It took a few days of scrapping to get it ready to tan. I did some research as to tan such a hide and came up with this. We used glycerin that is available at any good drug store and did a 75/25 mix with rubbing alcohol. The theory is that the alcohol acts as a carrier and as the hide is curing the oils from the glycerin are soaked up and act as a preservative. I saw a rattler that was about 5 foot and he had been done this way a few years ago and he still looks great and has remained soft. So it's been 5 weeks or so now and he has been in the shop with the temps around 90 to 100 every day. We have been soaking him down with the glycerin solution every few days and he is looking great. There has been no odor and he is soft and pliable. We did not stretch the hide any more than a slight tug when we tacked him down. He has now been removed from the boards he was stretched on with out any sign of rot and we just got him rolled up and sitting on a shelf awaiting the construction of a back board to do the finale mount on. We hate loosing the snake but we will gain a nice display with the hide. Our Peep of chickens have seemed relived in his passing.
~Jeff~
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