What is the shelf life of a dried snakeskin?

What is the proper way to store a snakeskin if it's not going to be used right away?

Current condition...dried with scales.

Thanks,

Josh

As long as it is completely dry you could put it in a baggie to prevent any moisture from getting back in. I have a few dried skins that have been sitting in a box for about a year now and they are just as they were when they went in.

I have some that are 10 years old and still useable.  Dermestid beetles will eat them though  

I guess I'll put them in a bag and keep them that way...I don't want them to go bad.

Thanks,

Josh

Do those little silica packets that seem to come with everything, help or hurt skins, sinew etc. if you put a couple of those in the baggie would it help.

If your skins are already dry you shouldn't need anything else with them. It gets pretty humid around here in the summer and I haven't had any problems with skins going bad. If they get wet, they will spoil.

Indefinitely as long as you protect them from moisture, bugs, and pets.

I roll mine up after they are dried (w/ scales) and put them into a toilet paper tube. I'll write the species and length on the tube and put them up in my closet with my other stuff (sinew, turkey feathers etc.). I just used a pair of Copperheads I'd been saving for the "right" bow for over six years. The tube provides a little protection from getting folded or torn and they are easy to sort.

Tommy Leach...

That sound like a great way to keep them...plus if they're is a bit of moisture it should absorb it...I'd like to do it this way and then put them in a feezer bag.

Thanks again all.

Josh

mice will eat them i lost about 8 skins that way now i keep them in a ziplock in the freezer. loyd

QuoteOriginally posted by loyd:
mice will eat them i lost about 8 skins that way now i keep them in a ziplock in the freezer. loyd

I assume they'd take up less space dried and rolled up in the freezer than if they were whole snakes!!!    

Josh

Till the mice or bugs eat them or they rot.

had a big water snake crawl out of a sack in the freezer now the wife wont go near it, got a little flack over that. loyd

QuoteOriginally posted by loyd:
had a big water snake crawl out of a sack in the freezer now the wife wont go near it, got a little flack over that. loyd

That has to be a hard one to make up!    

What did that end up costing you?

Josh

Completely fleshed,dryed,gallon ziploc push out air.Store warm dry place away from pest.last your life time.Can freeze but never have.

Quotemice will eat them i lost about 8 skins that way now i keep them in a ziplock in the freezer.  

We have 6 cats in our home and we've never had a problem with mice   :D