[Nhcoll-l] Tips for tiny jars?

[Callomon,Paul]

I agree with John’s idea of encapsulating the small jars within larger ones that have modern closures – we often do that to preserve the original vials. One caveat is not to include any original phenolic or bakelite lids, though, as they leach nastiness into the alcohol over time.

Paul Callomon
Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates
________________________________
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia
prc44 at drexel.edu<mailto:prc44 at drexel.edu> / Tel. 215-405-5096


From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of John E Simmons
Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2026 11:35 AM
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.
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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