Dying silkworms, what am I doing wrong?

[growing zoo]

I have managed to rear about 200 silkworms from eggs which is an achievement to a novice but since they have reached about 1.5 - 2 inches long they have started dying, almost 8 died today

I clean them, I feed them, I keep them warm and even talk to them but they just keep dying

I have placed some cut up tissue roll tubes in recently in case they are getting ready to cocoon.

Anyone any ideas?

 

[Miss Lily]

Firstly, well done on raising the eggs! I haven't got that far yet! They could have the 'grasserie' disease that makes them go all mushy. Ugh! Make sure that everything is clean and once one is removed, don't put it back in with the others. They have no immune system and need to be kept really really clean. I keep mine in cricket tubs wiith a piece of plastic canvas wedged in to create a false floor for their poop to fall through. I handle them very carefully with tweezers that have been sterilised in boiling water (letting them cool first though!) When I feed my two, I offer Tommy one first as I know if he refuses it then Amy will snap it up so I don't have to put it back in the box with the others. I find the ones from the silkwormstore are hardier than when I bought them elsewhere.

 

[carol5208]

are you washing your hands before handlinig them? I was reading that it is very important to wash your hands when moving them to clean out their containers or what have you that you can pass bacteria onto them.

 

[pssh]

Are they over crowded? The more you handle them the more likely they are to get sick.

 

[Todnedo]

1) don't put all your eggs in one basket.
2) wash your hands
3) use the netting up method.
4) wash your hands.
5 don't over feed them.
6) wash your hands.
7) move them to a new clean container every 3 days.
8) wash your hands.

 

[Miss Lily]

What is the 'netting up method'? Never heard of that before!

 

[Todnedo]

http://frogglemedia.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/silkworms.pdf