Wet specimens are typically pretty hardy specimens and can last lifetimes if properly cared for. The most common issue for wet specimens is the liquid evaporating. If your jar isn’t air tight you will experience evaporation. When you notice your liquid evaporating it is imperative that you don’t simply “top off” the jar with more alcohol. It’s important to realize that your ideal solution is 70% alcohol, with the remaining 30% being water. Alcohol evaporates faster than water, so each time you top it off your overall alcohol percentage is lessening. When you see evaporation you need to completely replace the solution with fresh alcohol.
It is also not uncommon for your alcohol solution to become slightly cloudy or discolored- most often a yellow color. This is most likely more leeching taking place over time. It won’t harm your specimen to leave it in this solution, but if you want to replace the alcohol with fresh clear alcohol you absolutely can. It may take a few alcohol changes before the leeching completely stops and your alcohol remains clear.
If your specimen floats when you first add it to the alcohol there is likely an air bubble trapped in it. Try submerging the specimen and gently squeezing it or turning it to release any air bubbles.
If your specimen (commonly fetuses) begins to “leak” a whitish yellow substance from parts of its body, do not panic. This is another sign of excess leeching and is most commonly seen at the injection sites. Simply rinsing the specimen off with water and replacing the alcohol should fix this issue, though it may take a few alcohol changes before it completely stops.