Morbid thoughts?

Is it wierd to be interested in owning dead specimins of snakes/lizards you like/own live specimins of? I am thinking of looking for deceased snakes, possibly a ball python to use the skull/skeleton and skin for educational/personal type purposes.

I collect other dead things and sometimes save bones from the feeders my snakes don't eat, so this would be a continuation of my anatomy fascination. I never purposfully purchase anything that was killed solely for it's corpse. For the most part, dead snakes are cheaper than live snakes, at least any I want to buy, so I won't be asking anyone to slaughter their pets, lol.
It's just nice to show off how cool the animals are when someone does lose one.
I am curious about any opinions?

I have no problem with it.

I actually think it's pretty cool, I've got a few freezer snakes that I've thought about turning into some art form/skeletal display if I ever get a chance.

Have preserved the skin from one of my larger snakes that was blue.... turned silvery after drying process. Still haven't decided what to make from that skin.

I find that more honorable to a dead herp than burying it.

Originally Posted by CurtisF

I find that more honorable to a dead herp than burying it.

I never thought of that, but I guess i feel the same way. I have always wanted to have the skulls from my dogs preserved when they passed, it just seems more appropriate and meaningful to me than saving their ashes. I feel the same way about my snakes and other animal bones/items I collect- i am constantly amazed by the beauty and complexity of animal anatomy.

Glad it isn't too wierd sounding, a lot of my non-herping friends think it is creepy to want to keep parts of your dead pets. I think the freeze dried "life-like" ones creep me out more, heh.

i was watching a friends dog and her dog and mine got into the grave of my dog who passed a year ago. the full skull was exposed but not ready to remove, i couldn't stand it anymore and covered him back up, but thought about the same thing, keeping his skull on my mantle, and might just do that a few more years down the road.

I think that would be pretty neat. It's pretty tough dealing with the passing of a pet, I don't know that i could dig them up knowing what the bodies of small dead animals I find outside look like. I know that some beginning vets will practice defleshing on patients who have died- with the owner's permission of course. My boss has several full dog skeletons and cat skulls from the learning days. I imagine it would be expensive to get it done, either by a vet or taxidermist.
anyways, nice to think about anyhow...