Dried Snakeskins...shelf life?

[Oliverstacy]

What is the shelf life of a dried snakeskin?

What is the proper way to store a snakeskin if it’s not going to be used right away?

Current condition…dried with scales.

Thanks,

Josh

[Pat B]

As long as it is completely dry you could put it in a baggie to prevent any moisture from getting back in. I have a few dried skins that have been sitting in a box for about a year now and they are just as they were when they went in.

[John Scifres]

I have some that are 10 years old and still useable.  Dermestid beetles will eat them though  

[Oliverstacy]

I guess I'll put them in a bag and keep them that way...I don't want them to go bad.

Thanks,

Josh

[razorback]

Do those little silica packets that seem to come with everything, help or hurt skins, sinew etc. if you put a couple of those in the baggie would it help.

[Pat B]

If your skins are already dry you shouldn't need anything else with them. It gets pretty humid around here in the summer and I haven't had any problems with skins going bad. If they get wet, they will spoil.

[gordonf]

Indefinitely as long as you protect them from moisture, bugs, and pets.

[Tommy Leach]

I roll mine up after they are dried (w/ scales) and put them into a toilet paper tube. I'll write the species and length on the tube and put them up in my closet with my other stuff (sinew, turkey feathers etc.). I just used a pair of Copperheads I'd been saving for the "right" bow for over six years. The tube provides a little protection from getting folded or torn and they are easy to sort.

[Oliverstacy]

Tommy Leach...

That sound like a great way to keep them...plus if they're is a bit of moisture it should absorb it...I'd like to do it this way and then put them in a feezer bag.

Thanks again all.

Josh

[loyd]

mice will eat them i lost about 8 skins that way now i keep them in a ziplock in the freezer. loyd

[Oliverstacy]

Originally posted by loyd:
mice will eat them i lost about 8 skins that way now i keep them in a ziplock in the freezer. loyd

I assume they'd take up less space dried and rolled up in the freezer than if they were whole snakes!!!    

Josh

[Shaun]

Till the mice or bugs eat them or they rot.

[loyd]

had a big water snake crawl out of a sack in the freezer now the wife wont go near it, got a little flack over that. loyd

[Oliverstacy]

Originally posted by loyd:
had a big water snake crawl out of a sack in the freezer now the wife wont go near it, got a little flack over that. loyd

That has to be a hard one to make up!    

What did that end up costing you?

Josh

[Roy Steele]

Completely fleshed,dryed,gallon ziploc push out air.Store warm dry place away from pest.last your life time.Can freeze but never have.

[gordonf]

mice will eat them i lost about 8 skins that way now i keep them in a ziplock in the freezer.  

We have 6 cats in our home and we've never had a problem with mice   :D