Re: NANFA-L-- euthanasia - Clove Oil

Bonnie McNeely (bnmcneely-in-sbcglobal.net)
Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:36:55 -0700 (PDT)

Well, for the best formalin fixed specimens for photography, cold and formalin work well together. I learned this from several older guys, and it is in several publications now. Make up a very strong formaldehyde solution, one part of the 37% formaldehyde stock solution, one part water. Chill the container in cracked ice in a cooler for several hours before use. Drop the specimens as you collect them into the prepared, cold solution. Bing. That's how Barber prepared the fish for his darter book, except he actually put ice into the formaldehyde. For anyone who wants to photograph prepared specimens showing beautiful natural color and details of morphology, it's worth looking at Barber's description of his methods, and following or modifying them.

Of course, the fish can't be released afterword!

Dave

Peter Unmack <peter.lists-in-> wrote:
On Wed, 30 Aug 2006, Todd D. Crail wrote:

> "Much to the bane of some ichthyologists because they don't get the firm
> color reaction or extended fins because the fish aren't struggling."

I totally don't buy that argument, although I've heard it many times. My
specimens come out looking just great most of the time in terms of their
fins. Color fades anyway and I'm not really sure that dieing in formalin
really increases color any. I'd like to see someone do some comparisons
between formalin death and clove oil death to see if it really matters. I
very much doubt it. Of course, if you store you jars of formalin in the
sun / don't fill the jars up then your specimens are screwed anyway. I'm
always amazed by how few ichthyologists actually carry their specimens in
coolers. Once they get heated up for too long then you have just wasted
your time as in the long term as they don't make good specimens.

Cheers
Peter
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