Beauty is Perception

[Boneman]

My friends and I produce skeletal fish art. It’s kind of a hybrid between traditional taxidermy and museum preparation with our own brand of artistic expression. I am looking for some input as to what species are big in your area (salt or fresh water) and what would make a cool skeleton. Check out some our work @ Helter Skeletons Limited and let me know what you think.

 

[Nikkey]

Hi Boneman
I like your photo prints and the paintings, they are very interesting. I am curious though as to how you obtain the skeletons?

 

[shoutatthesky]

Hey Boneman, Cool artwork.

I see a fish around these parts called a piper. It doesn't seem to ever get very much bigger than about 200mm at least close to shore where I dive. They have quite a unique snout which could make for an interesting skeleton.

 

[deep thinker]

Wow thats quite interesting stuff...
A kob would be cool like that, they get pretty big too.

 

[Boneman]

First, thanks for the feedback. Next, we get most of our specimens through kind of a grand recycling program (fish processor, commercial fishermen). Someone can catch, fillet (being careful not to remove any bone or damage the skeletal structure) and give us whats left for a one of a kind piece of art. Additionally, a piper look like what I would call a ballyhoo (bait fish), and I agree it would be a pretty cool skeleton. Finally, do you have any images of the last species mentioned. I'll key it out and find out what kind of skeletal structure it has.

 

[deep thinker]

I presume your meaning kob, heres a pic of a 50kg specimen
And one of my own of a 6kg one in the second pic.
The red fish, red roman, and the garrick in the 3rd pic could also possibly do for your needs

 

[ILDiver]

I saw this site a few months ago and I really would love to get a Hogfish. Cleaning the bones must be fun. I guess you could just have a fireant farm and throw them on and let the ants do the work

 

[Lockedin]

And if they have spear holes?

 

[atomichaggis]

Anglerfish and Wolffish... two coolest fish in the sea.

 

[ILDiver]

And if they have spear holes?

Then you cut off an old spear and place it where hole was and it looks like it was coming through from the back of the box!

 

[wet]

Hey boneman, cool stuff indeed. I got an off the wall question. How long do bones last in seawater? I mean fossils and stuff. Sharks teeth and inner ear bones of whales last forever in seawater, but AFAIK no other bones of any animals last, they get dissolved and recycled as minerals pretty quickly. Do you know about that kind of thing? Fishbones, seal bones and seashells have been found in some old dry shore-side caves that are dated to 40,000 to 160,000 years ago in Africa and Asia, left by cave peoples. I'm just wondering if those cave people's bones might be inside of ancient coral reefs, or if they would have dissolved away immediately.

 

[Boneman]

To be honest with you, I'm not sure. Just to speculate, I would think that more dense skeletal structures would maintain their integrity longer than than that of the typical boney fish. Additionally, where the bones are deposited probably plays a major role in how long the long.

 

[wet]

Thanks, my thoughts are that pH is the major factor, low pH (acid) water dissolves bone minerals (Ca, P) quickly, maybe neutral and slightly high pH (basic) water more slowly. Seasonal changes depending on rain can alter the pH, and global warming and cooling can also. Just something I'm checking out. Cheers.
DDeden

 

[Boneman]

Keep the comments coming, they are great.