What’s the Strangest Thing You Can Find in Amber?
- Ryan Zschomler
- Jun 21
- 3 min read
What’s the Strangest Thing You Can Find in Amber?
Meet Jake.
He saw part of a livestream where someone bought a fossilized tick sealed in a glowing piece of green amber. A few minutes later, someone else grabbed an ENHYDRO bubble with debris and legs inside. He thought amber was just about pretty golden stones—but now he’s hooked.
So he reached out to ask: What else is hiding inside this stuff?
🤯 Jake: “Okay, so… what’s the
weirdest
thing you’ve ever seen in amber?”
Me (Amber Expert):
Oh man, hard to choose. Some of the weirdest and rarest things I’ve sold or seen include:
A snail (unheard of—I’ve only had a couple)
Ticks with bloated bellies—probably feeding when trapped
Spider dens—with baby spiders and plant matter
Green amber with vivid neon hues from young tree resin
ENHYDROs with floating debris, insect legs, or resin flakes inside
One piece had what looked like a centipede mid-motion, frozen in time
It’s one of the best parts of amber collecting—you never know what ancient oddity you’re going to find.
🛒 We showcase these pieces live and make them available at AmberBugs.com, including ENHYDROs, spider clusters, and more.
🧪 Jake: “What exactly is an ENHYDRO again?”
Me:
An ENHYDRO is a piece of amber that contains trapped liquid or air bubbles—often water from 100 million years ago. Some of them move. Some stay still. Some have insect legs, resin flakes, or dust particles floating inside.
🎥 We test them under the light live on stream. If you tilt the piece and see something shift inside—it’s probably an ENHYDRO.
Some are huge and obvious. Others are microbubbles only visible under the scope. Either way, collectors go nuts for them.
🕸️ Jake: “You mentioned spider dens… like, more than one spider in a piece?”
Me:
Yes! That’s what we call a swarm inclusion—a cluster of tiny spiders or bugs trapped together. Sometimes it’s a spider with webbing or leaves. Other times it’s a spider with its prey still in its fangs.
I once had a piece with five spiders, a beetle, and a plant fiber. It was like a prehistoric group photo.
Pro Tip: Swarms, mixed inclusions, and predator-prey pieces are highly collectible and rare. They don’t just look cool—they’re scientifically significant.
🟢 Jake: “What’s the deal with green amber? That stuff looks radioactive.”
Me:
Haha, it really does. Green amber happens when young trees—under 20 years old—produce resin that hasn’t oxidized much yet. It also depends on soil chemistry. The result is a luminous, sometimes neon-like green glow, especially under UV light.
Most green amber comes from Mexico or Indonesia, though some Myanmar pieces have hints of it too. We usually set green amber into cabochons or sell them raw with natural edges.
✨ They’re super photogenic—and great for jewelry or display.
🔍 Jake: “How do I tell if a piece is worth collecting?”
Me:
Start by looking for:
A clear insect inclusion (wings, legs, hairs visible)
Flow lines – resin patterns showing age and movement
Unusual features – bubbles, plant matter, multi-species
Color clarity – rich tones, glow under UV, no surface clouding
We grade all our pieces and mark the best ones as Museum Grade. Those are often set aside for serious collectors, but sometimes they show up in our $55 livestream sales too.
📦 Jake: “Can I get something rare without spending a fortune?”
Me:
Totally. In fact, some of the most unique inclusions (like ticks, spiderlings, or ENHYDROs) are still affordable. We’ve had incredible pieces go for under $100—especially in livestream auctions.
🛒 Check the “Museum Grade” section on AmberBugs.com
🔴 Or catch the next livestream to grab something unique before it’s listed
Final Thoughts
Amber is more than a gemstone—it’s a prehistoric archive, sealed in golden light. From bizarre bugs to ancient bubbles, no two pieces are the same. That’s what makes collecting so addictive.
If you’re new to the hobby, start small—look for something clear, strange, and full of stories. You might end up with a 100-million-year-old tick or a floating air bubble from the dinosaur age.
👉 Explore the full collection at AmberBugs.com
📺 Or join the next live show to experience the thrill of discovery in real time
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