How to Preserve A Lobster Molt?

[Blesum]

Can't seem to find any info on this via google, thought I'd try here.

I have a pet lobster that molted the night before. I retrived the shell and want to preserve it in pristine condition for display. What should I do to it to get rid of any odor and especially strengthen the hair on the legs, feelers, etc? The molt will be handled by students which is why I want it strengthened. The last one was broken when I dropped it in front of a class. :crutch

-Blesum

 

[Shadowkiller]

hmmmmmm

Youre kinda stuck with a fragile specimen there...

I dry Lobster shells out in front of the heater, paint with formalin (neutral formaldehyde) to preserve.

And they still get trashed by students.

Encasing in plastic is the ultimate way to preserve for posterity.

 

[IB Boyd]

Go to home depot and get some spray on polyeurathane. I had one molt in my bag a couple seasons ago...took home the shell and sprayed it after it dried out for a couple weeks in the garage. dont know if it would handle the rigors of a class, but it withstands the ocasional curious poke by various knucklheads at the office....although somebody did drop a VHF radio on it a wgile back, which broke off an antennae. Stevedore Supt. office can be rough environment.

 

[IB Boyd]

here is a picture

 

[IB Boyd]

and another