moviemanmania
Avid Member
How long can silkworms go without food?
How Long can silkworms go without food?
- Thread starter moviemanmania
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stevenelvin
New Member
Not sure.
But you should always be gutloading your feeders. The nutrients they gain from the food you give them will be transfered to your cham via ingestion. Gut loading is essential to keeping chameleons healthy.
But you should always be gutloading your feeders. The nutrients they gain from the food you give them will be transfered to your cham via ingestion. Gut loading is essential to keeping chameleons healthy.
Texas Ranger
Avid Member
Not long. There life cycle as a worm is basically constent eating.
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
This info is from the Silkwormshop who breed and sell silks.:
How to Grow Your Worms to the Perfect Size
Silkworm Eggs and Moth The great thing about silkworms is that they only grow as much as you feed them, and they can go for up to a week without food. Keep in mind, however, that silkworms become dehydrated after a few days without food, and should be feed at least once daily in order to remain healthy. But, in general, if you have too many silkworms you can feed them a few times per week and they'll stay alive until you need them without growing too much larger.
How to Grow Your Worms to the Perfect Size
Silkworm Eggs and Moth The great thing about silkworms is that they only grow as much as you feed them, and they can go for up to a week without food. Keep in mind, however, that silkworms become dehydrated after a few days without food, and should be feed at least once daily in order to remain healthy. But, in general, if you have too many silkworms you can feed them a few times per week and they'll stay alive until you need them without growing too much larger.
the thing with silkies is they ONLY eat mulberry leaves or a chow made up of mulberry leaves, there is no special gutloading technique for silkies besides keeping them fed with mulberry - so if he or anyone has silk worms, they are ALWAYS gutloaded.....you CAN give them shaved carrots or beats, but from my experience, if you try feeding only vegetables with no mulberry in their diet they die off quickly.
to answer your question based on my experience is that after not being fed for 48 hours would notice die-off, smaller ones going first...
Dez and Delilah
New Member
From my experience, silks die off pretty quickly if they run out of food. It's best to keep enough on hand that you'll be able to feed them until you can feed them all off to your chameleons.
Besides, gutloading is really important for your chams, as previously stated.
Besides, gutloading is really important for your chams, as previously stated.
moviemanmania
Avid Member
Ok great! Thanks for the info guys. They can live alote longer than I thought. But a good idea to keep them hydrated. I noticed that they were starting to get low on food today when I checked on them in the incubator today. I would say they have 1.5 days left so I ordered more food that arrives in two days. Once they get about .75" long they really start to grow fast!
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Incorrect. Silkworms will also eat dandelion leaves, soft squash, romaine lettuce and thin shaved carrot. Their diet must be at least 50% mulberry based, but they grow and thrive on a mixed diet just fine.
Older larva can last a week without food.
Younger larva will not last long, maybe a couple days, without food of some kind.
moviemanmania
Avid Member
fascinating info sandra! I will shave them some carrots if the chow doesn't arrive soon enough.
stevenelvin
New Member
Sorry, I misread the post for "superworms" instead of "silkworms"
God, I feel so smart right now. >.<
God, I feel so smart right now. >.<
pssh
Avid Member
Superworms can go forever! they start eating eachother though...
Anywho, CARRRROTS! They nibble the carrots when they get hungry enough. They can't live off of carrots, but it will sustain them temporarily AND gutload them with something different. I've also had them eat romain, I haven't tried dandelion and squash yet though.
Anywho, CARRRROTS! They nibble the carrots when they get hungry enough. They can't live off of carrots, but it will sustain them temporarily AND gutload them with something different. I've also had them eat romain, I haven't tried dandelion and squash yet though.
stevenelvin
New Member
I don't think I've even had one go cannibal on me yet, lol. Way too easy to maintain.
