!!! ALL COMMISSIONS TEMPORARILY CLOSED !!!
Check back again in the spring
So, you want to preserve something?
So, you watched a video. You saw a post. Someone referred you to me. You have a beloved pet or rare exotic that you want preserved in some way. You reached out to see if I could provide this service for you. The answer is, most probably yes. However, I have many methods of preserving the memory of lost ones in physical form, so let's talk about all of them to help decide what is right for you. Read and study the methods below (in order of increasing price range) to help find the perfect fit.
Price Range
Obviously there is quite a range of possible animals you may request to bring to me, so these price ranges are just a rough estimate of what I provide. If you wanted just the heart to be made into a wet specimen, I would not charge you full price for the animal. For articulated snake skeletonizations, hatchlings may start at $150, but after 24" the price changes to $75/ft.
While jars for wet specimens are provided, these prices do NOT include cost of materials. For example: shadow box frames for skeletons, display cases/jars and diorama elements for mummification displays, etc. These are case by case depending on your needs, and will be discussed and agreed upon before purchasing.
NONE OF THESE PRICES INCLUDE SHIPPING!
If you are local to the Wasatch front, you need not worry, but shipping costs can and WILL be a significant cost you need to include in your budget. If you are shipping a whole animal to me, you will need to do so in a super insulated container, with lots of frozen cold packs, or it will have to be overnighted. Both of these options are relatively expensive as far as shipping goes, and I would prefer that you do both.
After the commission is complete, you will also cover shipping to get the finished product back to you. If the specimen is in a large display case, frame, or shadowbox, the package may be very large, and require a lot of packaging material to ensure its safe arrival. Depending on how much it is worth may require extra insurance on the package. These will need to be discussed as part of your total budget when we talk about which option you want to choose.
While jars for wet specimens are provided, these prices do NOT include cost of materials. For example: shadow box frames for skeletons, display cases/jars and diorama elements for mummification displays, etc. These are case by case depending on your needs, and will be discussed and agreed upon before purchasing.
NONE OF THESE PRICES INCLUDE SHIPPING!
If you are local to the Wasatch front, you need not worry, but shipping costs can and WILL be a significant cost you need to include in your budget. If you are shipping a whole animal to me, you will need to do so in a super insulated container, with lots of frozen cold packs, or it will have to be overnighted. Both of these options are relatively expensive as far as shipping goes, and I would prefer that you do both.
After the commission is complete, you will also cover shipping to get the finished product back to you. If the specimen is in a large display case, frame, or shadowbox, the package may be very large, and require a lot of packaging material to ensure its safe arrival. Depending on how much it is worth may require extra insurance on the package. These will need to be discussed as part of your total budget when we talk about which option you want to choose.
Turnaround estimates
I have *tentatively* added turnaround estimates to these projects, but be warned- these timelines reflect how long it takes a project to complete from start to finish. These times may NOT reflect how long the queue is. While some projects like Wet Specimens can be done at any time, or in batches, some projects like articulating skeletons may have to wait their turn for the beetles. I may be working on a large project, or filming for my YouTube channel, so each skeleton may have to be done one at a time. If the wait time is more than 3 months for a project, or if I have no additional room in my freezer for storage, I may temporarily mark that section as CLOSED for commissions. That doesn't mean I can't do your project! It means stay in touch, and check back often.
Pelts |
|
$10-30 |
1 month |
(SMALL REPTILE) PELT COMMISSIONS CLOSED
The cheapest option for a reptile preservation, the tanned skin is a good way to preserve the natural color and pattern of your reptile. It can be framed, mounted on leather for leatherworking projects, or displayed however you please.
The cheapest option for a reptile preservation, the tanned skin is a good way to preserve the natural color and pattern of your reptile. It can be framed, mounted on leather for leatherworking projects, or displayed however you please.
Skulls |
|
$20-100 |
2-8 Months |
SKULL ONLY COMMISSIONS CLOSED
Sometimes all you want is a smaller reminder. On a plaque, in a glass case, or free-standing, a skull is the ultimate Shakespearean source of profound reflection. I use only the best methods for skull preparation. I use my flesh eating dermestid beetles for defleshing, and tried-and-true techniques for degreasing the bone. This ensures that the fat in the bone will never resurface to yellow the skull. This is very unsightly and can even be a little smelly. Search for real skulls on etsy and you'll know what I mean by yellow and unsightly. Then, a quick whitening to shine it up, and a layer of sealant for long term protection. This will ensure that your skull remains pristine for 100 years. This method does take a long time, but it's the only way to make perfect skulls with intact nasal turbinates, pristine white purity, with no brittleness or damage.
Plaques/Display cases extra.
Sometimes all you want is a smaller reminder. On a plaque, in a glass case, or free-standing, a skull is the ultimate Shakespearean source of profound reflection. I use only the best methods for skull preparation. I use my flesh eating dermestid beetles for defleshing, and tried-and-true techniques for degreasing the bone. This ensures that the fat in the bone will never resurface to yellow the skull. This is very unsightly and can even be a little smelly. Search for real skulls on etsy and you'll know what I mean by yellow and unsightly. Then, a quick whitening to shine it up, and a layer of sealant for long term protection. This will ensure that your skull remains pristine for 100 years. This method does take a long time, but it's the only way to make perfect skulls with intact nasal turbinates, pristine white purity, with no brittleness or damage.
Plaques/Display cases extra.
Wet Specimen |
|
$30-150 |
2 months + |
WET SPECIMEN COMMISSIONS CLOSED
"Wet specimen" refers to animals that have been fixed by a preservative and stored in jars. It is more complicated than "just putting it in alcohol," and if not done correctly, can lead to the animal rotting from the inside out. Proper technique requires harsh chemicals and a lab environment (including personal protective equipment) and is not recommended to try at home. This WILL preserve an animal for a hundred years or more, but it does leach color over time, so it is not recommended for some of the vibrantly colored species like amphibians or delicate reptiles.
Wet specimens are also available for individual tissues or target organs, and can be used in conjunction with other methods. Would you like a dissected specimen for educational purposes? Would you like a preserved heart in a jar to go along with your articulated skeleton? Anything is possible.
"Wet specimen" refers to animals that have been fixed by a preservative and stored in jars. It is more complicated than "just putting it in alcohol," and if not done correctly, can lead to the animal rotting from the inside out. Proper technique requires harsh chemicals and a lab environment (including personal protective equipment) and is not recommended to try at home. This WILL preserve an animal for a hundred years or more, but it does leach color over time, so it is not recommended for some of the vibrantly colored species like amphibians or delicate reptiles.
Wet specimens are also available for individual tissues or target organs, and can be used in conjunction with other methods. Would you like a dissected specimen for educational purposes? Would you like a preserved heart in a jar to go along with your articulated skeleton? Anything is possible.
Mummification |
|
Wet $ +50% |
4-8 months |
MUMMIFICATION COMMISSIONS CLOSED
"Mummification" is exactly what it sounds like. It is a method of dry preservation where the specimen is posed and permanently dried. I use special methods of fixation to make sure that the animal stays true and does not shrink or deform in the process. This method is extremely lifelike, but there can be some color loss depending on the species. In some cases taxidermy eyes are used as replacements to maintain realism, but you won't be disappointed with the results.
Just like with the wet specimen, different organs and tissues can be dried in conjunction with other methods. Do you want a pelt with a mummified head? Would you like a mummified heart to go next to your diaphonized specimen? Let's talk about it. There are so many options to explore.
Diorama elements are optional for an upcharge.
"Mummification" is exactly what it sounds like. It is a method of dry preservation where the specimen is posed and permanently dried. I use special methods of fixation to make sure that the animal stays true and does not shrink or deform in the process. This method is extremely lifelike, but there can be some color loss depending on the species. In some cases taxidermy eyes are used as replacements to maintain realism, but you won't be disappointed with the results.
Just like with the wet specimen, different organs and tissues can be dried in conjunction with other methods. Do you want a pelt with a mummified head? Would you like a mummified heart to go next to your diaphonized specimen? Let's talk about it. There are so many options to explore.
Diorama elements are optional for an upcharge.
Skeletonization |
|
$200-500+ |
6-12 months + |
SKELETON ARTICULATION COMMISSIONS CLOSED
Let's be honest, that's what brought you here in the first place, right? It's hard to beat the awesomeness of a fully articulated skeleton, am I right? Well, there is a lot of time consuming work that goes into it, so it is a much higher relative cost. This is why I directed you to this commission page, because there are several other methods that might suit your needs (or budget) a lot better. This is a fan favorite, but due to it's popularity and time consuming nature, I take on fewer of these projects. Beetle eating, bone degreasing, whitening, and articulating can take months. I also offer cheaper methods if you want less work done, for example: fully cleaned skeleton that is NOT articulated, or just a few select bones like an amputated leg, or even just the skull.
CLEANED DISARTICULATED COMMISSIONS ($50+) CLOSED
Let's be honest, that's what brought you here in the first place, right? It's hard to beat the awesomeness of a fully articulated skeleton, am I right? Well, there is a lot of time consuming work that goes into it, so it is a much higher relative cost. This is why I directed you to this commission page, because there are several other methods that might suit your needs (or budget) a lot better. This is a fan favorite, but due to it's popularity and time consuming nature, I take on fewer of these projects. Beetle eating, bone degreasing, whitening, and articulating can take months. I also offer cheaper methods if you want less work done, for example: fully cleaned skeleton that is NOT articulated, or just a few select bones like an amputated leg, or even just the skull.
CLEANED DISARTICULATED COMMISSIONS ($50+) CLOSED
Diaphonization |
|
$150-500+ |
2 months + |
DIAPHONIZATION COMMISSIONS CLOSED
This is a highly advanced method using very expensive chemical reagents to biologically stain different tissues within a body. It is only recommended for smaller specimens, baby animals, or fetuses. It is a wonderful tool to help study the internal growing structures of animals at different stages of life. I offer a double stain method- blue dye that highlights cartilage tissues, and a red/purple dye that stains bone. To save on material costs I usually do these commission in batches. If you insist you want diaphonization for your larger specimens, message me and we can talk about it. The turnaround time will be a lot longer, and the price will become a lot steeper.
This is a highly advanced method using very expensive chemical reagents to biologically stain different tissues within a body. It is only recommended for smaller specimens, baby animals, or fetuses. It is a wonderful tool to help study the internal growing structures of animals at different stages of life. I offer a double stain method- blue dye that highlights cartilage tissues, and a red/purple dye that stains bone. To save on material costs I usually do these commission in batches. If you insist you want diaphonization for your larger specimens, message me and we can talk about it. The turnaround time will be a lot longer, and the price will become a lot steeper.