Abstract:
This study assessed the suitability of room
temperature plastination with locally available silicone paste
and hardener in Ghana for producing plastinates of Tilapia,
Catfish and Bonytongue for use as teaching aids. Fresh fish
samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution
at room temperature, dehydrated in acetone at room
temperature, impregnated with a silicone polymer solution at
room temperature, and then hardened by curing in acidic
fumes under UV light in a dehumidified environment at room
temperature. The weights, morphometric measurements of
Girth-Behind-Operculum (GBO), Girth Medially (GM), Head
Length (HL), Total Length (TL) and StandardLength (SL),
and anatomical proportions of TL/GBO, HL/SL, TL/GM,
HL/TL, GBO/GM, and SL/TL were determined for each fresh
sample and at the end of each plastination stage. Differences
in weights and anatomical dimensions of fresh and plastinated
samples of the three fish species were not significant except
for the Catfish GM and Tilapias weights. Differences in the
anatomical proportions of fresh and plastinated samples were
not significant (P>0.05) with the exception of the Catfish
TL/GBO and TL/GM. Mean weight losses at the end of
plastination were 35.2%, 34.5% and 28.2% for Tilapia,
Catfish and Bonytongue respectively. The plastinates were
well preserved and dry, hard, and odorless, and could be
handled with bare hands. Since the anatomical dimensions
and proportions of the plastinates were not significantly
different from those of the fresh samples it shows that room
temperature plastination is suitable for preserving Tilapia,
Catfish and Bonytongue.
