Letting feeders go (silkworms)?

Probably a strange question, but are there any adverse effects from releasing feeders outside?

In this case, I am specifically talking about silkworms in the state of Florida. The one's that were ordered are too big for our cham to eat, but I don't have the heart to kill them myself.

Would they cause an environmental issue or be considered an invasive species?

why would you kill them off?... just keep them and let them breed and feed the baby bugs to your cham when the time comes.. you could benefit off them later on instead of releasing them.. but i do not have an answer to your question about letting them go in florida..

Catahoula said:

Probably a strange question, but are there any adverse effects from releasing feeders outside?

In this case, I am specifically talking about silkworms in the state of Florida. The one's that were ordered are too big for our cham to eat, but I don't have the heart to kill them myself.

Would they cause an environmental issue or be considered an invasive species?

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Depends on the type of bug and the environment to which you release them.
With silkworms, have you considered giving them to someone else?

I agree with Beeek, feed them with mulberry leaves or silkworm chow, they'll cocoon after a while, few weeks later will hatch out as moths, lay eggs, then you can feed them to your chameleon, and you can keep the eggs which will hatch into a nice small size!

sandrachameleon said:

Depends on the type of bug and the environment to which you release them.
With silkworms, have you considered giving them to someone else?

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yes or give them to another forum member in florida, there are a whole bunch! I wouldn't release them I don't know if they are native to florida it could cause a big problem.

My opinion is that is just bad practice to ever release any feeder insects for whatever reason. While in this instance they likely wouldn't cause any issues and would more than likely just die with no mulberry around it is just a bad habit.

The herp hobby gets a bad reputation when invasive insects or animals are released and just fuels more regulation against us. I for one hat being regulated so we need to just adopt responsible practices before we are even more.

In this instance the reality is it probably isn't a big deal though.

If you're looking to humanely dispose of them a brick is more humane than releasing them to slowly starve to death anyway...

I vote for a breeding attempt.

Try to pupate into moths and feed or attempt to breed them.
I thought the domestic silkworm was unable to survive in the wild. The moths are flightless.

Flightless and so cute and fuzzy!

beeek0 said:

why would you kill them off?... just keep them and let them breed and feed the baby bugs to your cham when the time comes.. you could benefit off them later on instead of releasing them.. but i do not have an answer to your question about letting them go in florida..

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I appreciate the suggestion of breeding them, but I am very new to chameleons. Most of my time is spent making sure I am maintaining the proper husbandry for Capernicus. I'm not ready to take on the proper husbandry for his food.

justjumpit621 said:

yes or give them to another forum member in florida, there are a whole bunch! I wouldn't release them I don't know if they are native to florida it could cause a big problem.

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I don't know any other cham owner in Florida, at least not personally. However, this did get me thinking... I have a friend with a 2 year old Tegu and 5 year old beardie. She is going to take them from me to give to her lizards.

DanSB said:

My opinion is that is just bad practice to ever release any feeder insects for whatever reason. While in this instance they likely wouldn't cause any issues and would more than likely just die with no mulberry around it is just a bad habit.

The herp hobby gets a bad reputation when invasive insects or animals are released and just fuels more regulation against us. I for one hat being regulated so we need to just adopt responsible practices before we are even more.

In this instance the reality is it probably isn't a big deal though.

If you're looking to humanely dispose of them a brick is more humane than releasing them to slowly starve to death anyway...

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I definitely don't want to be part of the problem, which is why I asked in the first place. Being in Florida, I am well aware of the invasive species (mostly reptiles) that are causing issues for our natives. I love all animals, but understand each has it's own place in the ecosystem.

where do you live in Florida? We are all friendly people here(well most of us lol) you might live very close to someone and don't even know it! The people I am friends with on this forum I did not know either when I joined. Just asking where you are at cause you never know when you or someone else will need a chameleon buddy!

Silkworms (bombyx mori) have been domesticated to a degree that they are no longer present in the wild and would most likely not survive in the wild. That said, releasing anything is a bad idea (sometimes even if you found it in the wild!!) Problems arrise from a number of things from being invasive, having a different locality than the current wild life, to just not being able to adjust.

Im glad you found a way to dispose of them that you are comfortable with. I would also like to just point this out for anyone who doesnt know, feeders are only too big if they are wider than the animal's mouth (width) you are feeding. With soft foods like silkworms they can even be a little wider sometimes because they squish when eaten.

Ill take them my order of feeders has been delayed:/

I live in Canada so I am not sure what it is like in Florida but up here real sing stuff into the wild usually falls under different bylaws, so it depends from area to area what is allowed and not. I do know in some areas here releasing none native species is illegal. And in a lot of places releasing native species is illegal. Sometimes taking something from the wild(which is also generally illegal) it then becomes illegal to replace it back into the wild becuae it could have taken in a disease or parasite that is only common in captive animals and then it could release that disease into the wild if put back.

I was also wondering if some one could explain more I depth(or knows a link that will) on how to breed the silk worms. It might be something I would be willing to give a go at if it isn't too much hassle. I breed my own meal worms and love saving the money off it.

carol5208 said:

where do you live in Florida? We are all friendly people here(well most of us lol) you might live very close to someone and don't even know it! The people I am friends with on this forum I did not know either when I joined. Just asking where you are at cause you never know when you or someone else will need a chameleon buddy!

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I'm just on the North East border of Orlando, about 5 minutes away from the University of Central Florida (UCF)

It'd be nice to find other hobbiest close by. I'm part of the Central Florida Herpitalogical Society, but most of those guys are snake people. Don't think I've met one that's a cham keeper yet.

RealIzeRecognIze said:

Ill take them my order of feeders has been delayed:/

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Our order actually came in from Georgia...LOL

pssh said:

Im glad you found a way to dispose of them that you are comfortable with. I would also like to just point this out for anyone who doesnt know, feeders are only too big if they are wider than the animal's mouth (width) you are feeding. With soft foods like silkworms they can even be a little wider sometimes because they squish when eaten.

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The silkworms body length was actually bigger than Capernicus' body length. I doubt he could have eaten even just one worm. But that's definitely good information to know. Thanks!

Just an FYI, I live in Boca Raton and I know several people down in my part of the state. There are quite a few of us in FL. Our advantage is we can have our chammy friends outside all year (unless it really gets cold) and they love it. It makes it easy to water them and keep their cages clean