How to Preserve Black Widow Spiders Properly (Most People Do This Wrong)

Black widows are one of the most difficult spiders to preserve properly — and most people accidentally ruin them without realizing it. In this video, I break down exactly how to preserve black widows step by step, including: • The best alcohol percentage to store them in • Why 90% alcohol causes shriveling • How to rehydrate spiders correctly after alcohol • Why humidity chambers fail for spiders • How to prevent brittle legs and collapsed abdomens • What museums and entomologists actually do • Mistakes I see constantly when people work with black widows This guide is based on real trial, error, and entomology practices, not outdated advice. ⚠️ If you’ve ever had a black widow shrivel, snap, or turn “craft grade,” this video explains why — and how to avoid it next time.