[Nhcoll-l] Tips for tiny jars?

[Claire Smith]

Thanks John, we do this with our teaching specimens, and it works very well.
These are display specimens in cylindrical glass jars, topped with a flat glass lid. (Apologies for not being clear!)

I was wondering whether it would help to add a piece of batting to the top of these cylinders?


Best wishes,
Claire



*******

Claire Smith (she/her), AFHEA

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cole Museum of Zoology

University of Reading
claire.smith at reading.ac.uk<mailto:claire.smith at reading.ac.uk>

www.linkedin.com/in/wetconservatrix<http://www.linkedin.com/in/wetconservatrix>
Social media: @wetconservatrix



[cid:e9aaf783-de6e-4399-9128-33e5f9ca6748]
________________________________
From: John E Simmons <simmons.johne at gmail.com>
Sent: 02 July 2026 16:35
To: Claire Smith <claire.smith at reading.ac.uk>
Cc: nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Tips for tiny jars?

External email: Treat content with caution.

Are the tiny containers closed with compressible stoppers, screw-on lids, or snap-on lids?

What is generally recommended for small containers is to use straight-sided vials (often called shell vials) that can be filled with fluid once the specimens are inside and then plugged with polyester fiber or cotton batting (I prefer the former because it does not absorb grease and oils) and housed inside larger jars of fluid with secure screw-on closures. Limiting the number of small containers in the larger jar and good labeling will enable users to quickly find the small containers of specimens needed. Very small containers are usually much more difficult to seal that standard sizes of screw-top jars.

--John

John E. Simmons
US Fulbright Senior Scholar
Writer and Museum Consultant, Museologica
and
Research Associate, Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery, Penn State University
and
Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitología, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima


On Thu, Jul 2, 2026 at 11:22 AM Claire Smith <claire.smith at reading.ac.uk<mailto:claire.smith at reading.ac.uk>> wrote:
Hi everyone (with apologies for cross-posting),

We have a selection of small specimens in our fluid collection, in jars of around 10 to 25 mL, and they evaporate incredibly quickly. We have to top them up almost annually, which isn't great for the specimens. The rate of evaporation doesn't seem to be worse with a particular fluid, or with a particular sealant.

Do those of you who work with fluid collections have any tips for how to prevent these tiny jars from evaporating so quickly?


Best wishes,
Claire



*******

Claire Smith (she/her), AFHEA

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cole Museum of Zoology

University of Reading
claire.smith at reading.ac.uk<mailto:claire.smith at reading.ac.uk>

www.linkedin.com/in/wetconservatrix<http://www.linkedin.com/in/wetconservatrix>
Social media: @wetconservatrix



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