Preserving a perfect shed

[bigdaddy]

My 5 yr. old just shed and it was a perfect shed.Every time she sheds it is perfect.My question to the forum is,how do I preserve the shed so I can show it with out wripping it everytime I roll it up.

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Dont know if it works on "sheds" but glycerin, diluted w/ a lil alcohol works great on skins.
Rick

[Bartman]

All you need to do is stretch out the skin like you want it to be while its moist and then when it dries, it becomes sort of fragile, but stays preserved for as long as you want. Ive kept very old skins like that :)

[BOA68]

Bartman is correct. Just let it dry and be careful with it.

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

BIGDADDY:

Yup Bartman and BOA68 are correct, if I get lucky to catch a shed and even one still moist then I look it over more to see if eye caps and tail tip came off good then I stretch it out lay it flat best I can and let it dry to get an idea in growth to past sheds. Yes the stretching does give false measurements but I also reduce the numbers by alot to the actual snake being measured. Its more just observation than anything else. I keep certain skins to later see the results from care over a 6 months or a year on some animals. Even my nephews love getting some to take to show and tell and let people learn about there experience in snakes from me :D

Tony

[chaotic]

Good sheds are also a very good way to count scales. Agree with laying out and let dry naturally.

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

BIGDADDY:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/12%20-%20MISCELLANEOUS/boashedskins000.jpg

I just lay them out on a flat surface and let dry, nothing special or complicated :D

Tony

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Hey Tony, How'd the top one retain so much pattern?
Rick

[LdyDrgn]

Ones that I really want to preserve I will spilt at the belly, lay out flat to dry then press between sheets of clear Contac paper. This makes it possible to hang on the wall or to handle without worry of ripping the skin.

We have one large skin from a bci female that was put through a laminater, too. :)

[T-boid]

Lamination is what I`ve always done...