Silkworm Gutloading & Dusting

[Yessabub]

Im a little confused as to how the silkworm gutloading works i thought that if you fed them something other than mulberry they would die? Also do i have to dust with calcium or do they have enough in them already?

 

[nick barta]

Silks do not need to be gut loaded, the mulberry food (or leaves) is all they eat. You could dust them with calcium, but as far as feeders go, the Silks have about 21% calcium, so I would just follow your regular supplement schedule, and not dust them in addition.

Nick

 

[boj3434]

Yes there is no need to dust silkies but make sure to keep offering crickets, dubia, or some supers

 

[CleaTheChameleon]

Agreed with the posts above..

Silkworms mulberry leave or chow is already a gutload and that's really all they eat plus they a;; ready have good nutritional value.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Im a little confused as to how the silkworm gutloading works i thought that if you fed them something other than mulberry they would die? Also do i have to dust with calcium or do they have enough in them already?

the mulberry leaves (or chow) they eat is sufficient gutload. however you CAN also feed them dandelion, carrot, squash, romaine, etc. They actually like dandelion quite a lot. but these alternatives should not form the basis of their diet - mulberry must be their primary diet.

I do not dust silkies.

 

[Yessabub]

Yes there is no need to dust silkies but make sure to keep offering crickets, dubia, or some supers

Yeh i do, i offer dubias, supers, and hornworms along with the silkies

 

[boj3434]

Yeh i do, i offer dubias, supers, and hornworms along with the silkies

Yes then you are fine i would stick to dusting the supers and dubia