[Nhcoll-l] Advice on removing specimens from glass tubes

[Callomon,Paul]

I’d be really careful trying to get those bungs out. The rubber tends to harden and weld itself to the glass. My recommendation would be to stand just the bung end of the tube in hot water for a few seconds, then hold the tube in a towel and try to twist the bung using a plumber’s wrench or channel-lock pliers. With any luck it will turn and twist out. Pulling directly is less likely to work, as there isn’t enough to pull on.
If the bung really will not budge, wrap the end of the tube in masking tape and gently crack it with a hammer.


Paul Callomon
Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates
________________________________
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA
prc44 at drexel.edu<mailto:prc44 at drexel.edu> Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax 215-299-1170





From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Simon Moore
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 2:31 PM
To: Luisa Zamora Chavez <lzamorac at asu.edu>
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Advice on removing specimens from glass tubes


External.
Hi Luisa

You will need a blade to cut away the tape and an old fashioned type corkscrew to remove the bungs.
To test the fluid get some Schiff reagent to test for presence of formaldehyde. Extract a few drops of fluid in a beaker add a drop or two of Schiff and if it goes pink or magenta then it’s formalin if not then it’s likely alcohol
However the snakes look well preserved and unfaded, so I would question the need to rehouse them.

With all good wishes, Simon Moore.
Sent from my iPhone



On 28 Feb 2022, at 19:06, Luisa Zamora Chavez <lzamorac at asu.edu<mailto:lzamorac at asu.edu>> wrote:

Hello all,

I have a few liquid-preserved snakes in glass tubes that were donated to our collections sometime ago. The tubes are sealed shut using what appears to be plastic corks, tape, and sealant. We're not sure if the liquid they're in is formalin or something other than ethanol.

I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with this sort of preservation and any advice on how to transfer the specimens to a more stable mode? We'd like to keep some of them but fear the tubes might break. We are unsure of what liquid is typically used for this type of preservation and would like to be as prepared as possible so we can safely remove them from the tubes (if that is at all possible). I have included some pictures of the specimens for reference. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Kind regards,
Luisa


--
Luisa Zamora Chavez
Pronouns: she/they
Research Technician
Arizona State University Biocollections
Lzamorac at asu.edu<mailto:Lzamorac at asu.edu>
602-737-8357
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