How to Stuff a Fish Myself Like a Taxidermist

Skin and Gut

• 1

  Cut a straight line along the natural line along the side of the fish, from behind the gill to the tail. Use the tip of a sharp knife or a taxidermy scalpel to separate the skin from the meat.

• 2

  Cut slowly from side to side as you separate the skin from the tail to the gill. Peel the skin away from the middle to the top of the body exposing the midsection of the flesh. Do not cut into the tail.

• 3

  Repeat Step 2 for the bottom half of the body.

• 4

  Use a pair of wire cutters to cut through the bone and flesh at the tail.

• 5

  Turn the fish over, spreading out the two flaps of separated skin.

• 6

  Separate the skin around the fish, starting with the area near the tail. Slowly cut and peel the skin up from the tail toward the head. Pull off all of the skin until you have a hollowed fish with an intact head.

• 7

  Remove all of the flesh from the fish.

• 8

  Clean out and scrape off as much of the remaining flesh as you can from inside the skin.

• 9

  Remove the eyes and the brain. Be sure to remove any remaining meat in the head cavity.

Prepare the Chemicals

• 10

  Inject a large syringe with formaldehyde or other liquid solution used for preservation.

• 11

  Inject the formaldehyde into the main parts of the fish, working from the tail to the fins to the head. Inject the remaining formaldehyde into any remaining fleshy parts to protect and preserve the fish.

• 12

  Sprinkle a generous amount of powdered borax over the entire inside of the fish, from the head to the tail. Only put the borax on the inside, not the outside, of the fish.

• 13

  Rub the borax along the inside surface and pay close attention to any cracks and crevices. Be sure to apply the borax into the head and tail cavity, the mouth and beneath both gills. Do not spend too much time on this step or the fish will dry out.

Stuff the Fish

• 14

  Sew the two flaps of skin together using a needle and fishing line. Tie a small knot at the tail and tuck it inside the fish. Sew up the flesh starting at the tail. Insert the needle along the inside of the flaps and pull it up to join the skin together. Stitches should be about 1/2-inch apart.

• 15

  Sew the flesh together about half way up the length of the fish.

• 16

  Pack sawdust into the end of the tail and continue to fill up the entire body cavity. Use a small, cylinder-shaped stick to push the sawdust into every crevice. Make sure the sawdust is tightly packed into every part of the fish.

• 17

  Sew up the rest of the fish to just below the gills.

• 18

  Finish stuffing the fish with sawdust and sew up the remaining section, ending at the gill. Make sure the sawdust is firmly packed in and the form of the fish is exactly as you want it.

• 19

  Close off and cut the thread. Mold the fish to the position you desire. The sawdust is still malleable inside and can be shaped by pushing down on the body of the fish.

• 20

  Sweep the sawdust off the fish with a brush and use a wet sponge to clean the skin. Be sure to remove all the sawdust and debris from the skin because it is impossible to remove once the fish is completely dried.

• 21

  Prop the fish into the shape you want. Cut pieces of mount cards and set the wet fins in the position you want. Spread out and pin the fins to the mount cards.

• 22

  Stuff fiberglass wool into both eye sockets to set the foundation for the glass eye.

• 23

  Cut off the wire behind the glass eye to the length you want. Push it back into the fish's eye socket.

• 24

  Let the fish dry for at least one month. Allow plenty of time for the fish to slowly dry.

• 25

  After the fish is completely dried, varnish and paint it.

• 26

  Mount the fish on wood or in glass casing.