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[jeffalaska]

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~

[bucknaked40]

This may be off subject but you can also use antifreeze to tan hides. Especially snake hides.

[ADKBEAR]

Holy Moley that is one heack of a hat band!

[backwoodhunter_1988]

that nice what cuased the burst if u know im kinda an animal buff not that i dont hunt im into all animals and it had a nice size to it

[jeffalaska]

We just don't know what caused it. We had not fed him for over a week. so I doubt it was anything he ate. There was no visible damage to internal organs either. The morning I walked in and found him dead he had blood flowing from his mouth. This is really all I know. Things like this happen with snakes, It's always a heartbreaker. The rate he was growing he would have made 20ft inside the next year. We have about 12 other larger snakes (10ft+) but he was the only African Rock and they grow the biggest. I am going to upload another photo of interest here. I didn't take it but I have been working on the image trying to make a little more out of it. This event took place here in the Everglades about 2 years ago.

PS:
How you doing on the food plot info?
You and your dad ready to get up to Alaska and chase a Brown Bear? I have a few bear photos on my website if you have yet to look. It's at JeffAlaska.Com


~Jeff~

[bitmasher]

What I want to know is what that cat is in the background (rocky_x.jpg)? Saber tooth tiger?

:o

P.S. I'm months behind in responding. :wink:

[jeffalaska]

Hey Bit meet Tex



He's the mascot of our Everglades hunting camp. He's fiberglass and about 35 foot long.
It's a replica of your typical mountain lion or cougar. He was dubbed with the name Tex when the local park service which heads up the management of the cougars here imported cougars from Texas to correct defects in the local population. Of course locally they refer to these cougars as the unique but mythical species called the Florida Panther.

[bitmasher]

Tex, nice!

I thought because of the size that perhaps you were trying to make a realistic saber tooth.

Yeah it is interesting, how you can move an animal a few thousand miles and its no longer a mountain lion, but a panther.