[NHCOLL-L:4238] Re: Coelacanth tank.... Further information

[Ramon Andinach]

The Western Australian Museum in Perth had a problem with this for a  
specimen of a large and unusual fish (my brain is not returning what  
it was), that would have needed to be segmented to be stored with the  
rest of the collection. This has been solved, by putting it in a large  
hole, filling in with fluids sealing the top and building a display  
over it. So you stand over the thing and look down into it.

Mind you this thing's a few metres long (at least) so that's probably  
overkill for your coelacanth.

I think Sue Morrision is looking after the collection at the moment  
and could tell you more if you were interested.

-ramon

On 12/03/2009, at 2:40 AM, O'Brien, Mark wrote:

> Wouldn’t it be far more economical to just have a museums display  
> expert make a mold of the actual specimen and recreate it in a  
> molded material, painted  so as to look like the real thing?  It’s  
> done all the time in museums, and objects  can be better exhibited  
> without the worry of preservatives and loss of the actual specimen.   
> It’s done all the time for bones and fossils.  I see no clear reason  
> why it cannot apply to a Coelacanth.
>
> Mark
>
>
> On 03/11/2009 11:56 AM, "Neumann Dirk" <Dirk.Neumann at zsm.mwn.de>  
> wrote:
>
> Hi Nicola,
>
> we had similar problems with storing large deep sea sharks. (up to 120
> cm length). Try to find a  company specialised in producing chemical
> glassware components (such as dessicators, condensers, etc.). For
> production of our large glass containers (up to 1200 mm hight and
> diameter of 250 mm), Schott Duran glass tubes (borosilicate glass) are
> used, which are available up to an diameter of 250 mm. Glasses made  
> from
> these glass tubes look like a big beaker closed with a flat grounded
> glass pane on a surface grinding. With this technique, glasses of all
> sizes are possible, avoiding bottle necks and cracking plastic liners.
>
> Price for large glasses like this are approx. 500,- EUR (local  
> provider
> here in Munich)
> Find below the homepage of our German provider so you get an idea,  
> there
> should be similar companies in the UK. The homepage is in German,  
> sorry.
> Click on the 4th square in the upper first row to display the glass
> tubes ...
> http://www.ggm-glastechnik.de/1280/start1280.htm
>
> Hope this helps
>
> Dirk
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Nicola Newton schrieb:
> > Hello everyone,
> > Thanks to those who have responded to my request for help  
> concerning a tank for my coelacanth. However, what I forgot to say  
> is that the fish will be on display so a stainless steel holding  
> vessel isn't really appropriate. I would like to purchase a glass  
> tank that is preferably moulded form glass. If anyone has any  
> thoughts about this they would be gratefully received.
> > Best wishes
> > Nicola
> >
> > Nicola Newton BSc Zoology(Hons), MA
> > Curatorial Assistant for Biology
> > Great North Museum:Hancock
> > 3-4 Claremont Terrace
> > Newcastle university
> > Newcastle upon Tyne
> > NE2 4AE
> >
> > tel: 0191 2228867
> > email - nicola.newton at newcastle.ac.uk
> >
> > The Great North Museum : Hancock is managed by Tyne and Wear  
> Museums on behalf of Newcastle University.
> >
> > You can Be Part of It and help make a Great Big difference to our  
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> >
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> >
>
>
> --
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Tel: 089 / 8107-111
> Fax: 089 / 8107-300
> email: Dirk.Neumann at zsm.mwn.de
>
> Postanschrift:
>
> Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
> Zoologische Staatssammlung München
> Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Labor
> Münchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 München
>
> Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
> http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/
>
> ---------
>
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Tel: +49-89-8107-111
> Fax: +49-89-8107-300
> email: Dirk.Neumann at zsm.mwn.de
>
> postal address:
>
> Bavarian Natural History Collections
> The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
> Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Lab
> Muenchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 Munich (Germany)
>
> Visit our section at:
> http://www.zsm.mwn.de/ich/
>
>
>
> ===================================
> Mark F. O'Brien, Collection Manager
> UMMZ Insect Division, 1109 Geddes Avenue
> University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079
> 734-647-2199    fax: 734-763-4080
> ===================================
>