Deer Skull

colleen0309 · Nov 14, 2011

My nephew found a deer skull in the woods over the weekend. He wants to use it as decoration in his fish tank. He has been boiling it for the whole weekend and wants to know if it is safe. I told him I wouldn't do it, but that may just be because the thing creeps me out just a little. So, after boiling for a weekend, would it be safe as a tank decoration?

mike455555 · Nov 14, 2011

bones fall into rivers all the time? i know there not as conc but its going to be made out of calcium carbonate which is also what chalk is made out of.

it might effect the pH of the water a little

Tom499 · Nov 14, 2011

Probably not a good idea.

Even when you have got rid of the cartilage, ligaments etc, the bone itself will not last long, being broken down by bacteria in the tank. The skull may last a year or so, but would be playing hell with the water parameters, which regular water changes may help with, but overall it will probably be more effort than what its worth.

I have read however that you can get pretty good fake ones now, that with a month or so in the tank get a bit of algae/dirt on them and look very much like the real deal, but without all the hassle.