[Nhcoll-l] Moon jellyfish in liquid

[Simon Moore]

Interesting top specimen Bernd which looks like a Periphylla, deep sea jelly.  The conical bit should have some reddish colour of porphyrin which is preserved by formalin but alcohol will leach out any colour over time particularly of tetrapyrrole molecules such as the above.
I know that many museums are nervous of any formalin but at 5% it is an excellent preservative for jellies and it’s non-flammable and doesn’t keep evaporating.

With all good wishes, Simon 

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian.

www.natural-history-conservation.com


> On 17 Aug 2023, at 14:32, Bernhard-leopold.bock at uni-jena.de wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Joosep,
> 
> 
> I can only tell we have jellyfish since decades in the exhibition, in 70 % ethanol. To let them float nicely, some are attached to a fishing line which is hold by the stopper lid. You can see a attached pictures. If any questions feel free to ask.
> 
> Best wishes 
> Bernd 
> 
> 
> -------- Ursprüngliche Nachricht --------
> Von: "Callomon,Paul" <prc44 at drexel.edu>
> Datum: Do., 17. Aug. 2023, 14:37
> An: Joosep Sarapuu <Joosep.Sarapuu at loodusmuuseum.ee>, NHCOLL-new <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
> Betreff: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Moon jellyfish in liquid
> We have a number of jellyfish in 70-80% ethanol that float nicely and have retained retain their shape. It seems to depend on the species, but Nettles (Chrysaora) and Cannonball Jellyfish (Stomolophus) at least are OK. If the specimens float or sink a bit too much, you can adjust the specific gravity of the fluid to some extent by adding water or alcohol until they behave.
>  
> Paul Callomon
> Collection Manager, Malacology and General InvertebratesAcademy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
> 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA
> 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 Joosep Sarapuu
> Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2023 8:32 AM
> To: NHCOLL-new <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
> Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Moon jellyfish in liquid
>  
> External.
> Dear all,
>  
> We have an exhibition coming and we would like to show there a moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) in a liquid. Do someone has any idea what liquid it should be that keeps the specimen „open“ as in sea water. I have heard that EtOH will make jellyfish to contract. Glycerin and formalin might work in this case? What might be the ratio?
>  
>  
> Sincerely,
> Joosep Sarapuu
> Estonian Museum of Natural History
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
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