Cat Skeleton

I began the ammonia soaking yesterday, but I think I should have waited a little longer...

I completely forgot that there was probably stuff still INSIDE the skull. I hosed it out today, and it basically looked like the poor kitty sneezed out an ounce of gunk. Major nasty moment of the day. It's almost completely flushed out now. I think the bones contain tannins as well, the water was tea colored when I changed it, kinda funny.

Biomajorstudent, I have even more respect for the work you're doing now more than ever.
 
Yeah, the brain was the nastiest part imo too.
 
Yeah, brain is smelly. I usually take it out early on, since it's easier to do it early on. If you ever do anything fresher, just stick a bent wire in the foramen magnum and twirl it around. This will break up the brain. Then you can use a hose or squirt bottle, depending on the size of the head, to wash the brain out. That way you can get it before it gets too stinky or leaves stuff inside the cranium that is hard to get out.

Also, that is definitely not tannins. :D More like blood, fat and decay. Its normal for the water to change color, it means that stuff is coming off. It should also start smelling worse and worse, as bacteria colonize the skeleton and continue to break down more of the organic material. This process is called "maceration". You can actually do a specimen fresh to skeleton just by macerating it, but it's very slow and very stinky. I did a little sparrow head once, and it took 2 months.
 
biomajorstudent said:
Yeah, brain is smelly. I usually take it out early on, since it's easier to do it early on. If you ever do anything fresher, just stick a bent wire in the foramen magnum and twirl it around. This will break up the brain. Then you can use a hose or squirt bottle, depending on the size of the head, to wash the brain out. That way you can get it before it gets too stinky or leaves stuff inside the cranium that is hard to get out.

Also, that is definitely not tannins. :D More like blood, fat and decay. Its normal for the water to change color, it means that stuff is coming off. It should also start smelling worse and worse, as bacteria colonize the skeleton and continue to break down more of the organic material. This process is called "maceration". You can actually do a specimen fresh to skeleton just by macerating it, but it's very slow and very stinky. I did a little sparrow head once, and it took 2 months.
Click to expand...

I have no clue if I got the brain out or not... I'll check it out tomorrow when I change the water.

I had a feeling it was more like that. There were quite a few carrion worms still inside the skull. Luckily, the rest of the skeleton doesn't have nearly as much internal stuff.
 
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