Silkworm journey

[Sonny13]

In order to fully test the theory you will have to label the cocoons and then see if the resultant moths can reproduce. It may be that they can "survive" on other foods but not live to reproduce. Possibly something due to the protein percentage they require in order to spin.

Interesting point

 

[redhorse]

Yes! I have thought about that and more as we are going along. 1. Is the nutrition value and digestibility for the worms. I know with breeding amphibian if you put them in (and you know) short or long term temp. hibernation, they must have a empty stomach or the food can rot internally killing the animal ( thinking that could happen in the cocoon).
All comments are welcome and this journey is for everyone that wants to add different options.

This is just a curiosity journey and open to logical ideas and some not so.

Note: The instructions were to sprinkle the eggs.. I chose to dump them to see how many eggs would not survive. Yes, I plan to count every one when it is all over. Remember we started with 616.

I am not even sure the new food items can make it a few days without spoiling or flies gathering. But, not sure if the gelatin portion can be helpful in preserving the extra veggies. We will see, I just hope I don't check and the containers are mold.

Have not checked today had appt to get second Covid shot. Now being lazy and relaxing. No issues yet.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Have not checked today had appt to get second Covid shot. Now being lazy and relaxing. No issues yet.

Ditto, but still battling the migraine I woke up with.

 

[Madmango]

@redhorse This is a great post. Super enjoying the macro photos.

I’m looking forward to your food journey with the little guys. I’m interested to see if they eat it and how they grow.
I’ve hatched several groups of eggs and had moths lay eggs both fertile and in fertile. But never thought to feed them anything other then chow.

@Sonny13 it’s great to see larger worms eating food other then chow or leaves.

 

[silkwormgirl]

So, I have used pre-hatched silkworms before but never tried to raise them myself. I have raised mealworms (multiple sizes from mini to large), waxworms, crickets, stick insects, praying mantis, superworm, white worms, brine shrimp, fruit flies and now will try silkworms.

Just wanting to share some pics as we go along. I purchased a zoom lens for camera a few months ago so think it should be fun to get the daily perspective of the silkworm (if all goes well).

Others already know that in the purchase of mix and eggs, the company challenges there are at least 500 eggs. I enlarged a picture and place colored dots on each one. I received a total of 616 eggs, so that is what we are working with. Enjoy!
Note: I learn from experimentation and will be using guides from what others have shared.
But! I will also be trying a few different things and will share only if it works (don't want other likeminded to fail as I may).

I have a question, my silkworm eggs just hatched today when do i start feeding them?

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

I have a question, my silkworm eggs just hatched today when do i start feeding them?

Today, as in right now.

They only exist to eat, make sure they can eat, non stop.

Good luck.

 

[silkwormgirl]

okay, thank you!!

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

They only exist to eat,

...and eat to exist!

 

[redhorse]

Personally I would use the Mulberry mix only if just starting out (I'm just doing some silly stuff). But, this has become a little different as new information is being passed on.

For me this is just a one time thing unless I get moths and fertile eggs (then 2 time thing).

There is no bad odor (or the wife would have stopped my little project).
There is no loss in moisture of the new 3 mixes but still have to add water for the original chow mix.
Don't worry I have extra waiting if it goes bad.

It seems as if the boiled carrot might be something they like, but still to early, as they wonder off the original mix and sometime return.

I am surprised the zucchini has not turned brown or moldy.

 

[Firewallx]

Yes! I have thought about that and more as we are going along. 1. Is the nutrition value and digestibility for the worms. I know with breeding amphibian if you put them in (and you know) short or long term temp. hibernation, they must have a empty stomach or the food can rot internally killing the animal ( thinking that could happen in the cocoon).

Before they cocoon, they will do a gut dump. All caterpillars do that, so internal food rot will not be an issue. When I fed chow only, it was a discolored poop with a bit of a wet spot. When I fed mulberry leaves, it was a very messy wet splat. When I had Swallowtails, it was a huge green wet splat.

 

[redhorse]

Not much of a change but wanted to keep the daily pics coming, just incase someone else sees something new.
The foods are not spoiling yet, but will start to need water soon or be replaced.

 

[Sonny13]

The growth rate is still amazing, it´s almost daily noticeable.

 

[Firewallx]

They are looking great, Redhorse.

 

[redhorse]

Just a little answer to the name Redhorse.
I bred seahorses for almost 8 years and always wanted to get a Red Seahorse.
I did get orange, yellow, black, white and mixed, but never RED. Live goes on....

So, the mix veggies did not do well today.
There was one babies lost during this fuzzy event and it looks like a few eggs started to hatch, so they were transferred.


5th picture shows one of the transferees out of the forest of fur.

 

[MissSkittles]

Here I’ve been thinking your name was Native American.
Was that the zucchini that molded?
Have you noticed any differences in the growth rates of the pure chow silkies vs the veggie/chow mix silkies?

 

[Sonny13]

Just a little answer to the name Redhorse.
I bred seahorses for almost 8 years and always wanted to get a Red Seahorse.
I did get orange, yellow, black, white and mixed, but never RED. Live goes on....

So, the mix veggies did not do well today.
There was one babies lost during this fuzzy event and it looks like a few eggs started to hatch, so they were transferred.


5th picture shows one of the transferees out of the forest of fur.

Personally I would try to leave the veggies unmixed and chopped-up, they’ll keep for days without molding. Just lay the worms top and they will eat their way through. Since you started this thread my worms have doubled in dimensions. Especially leaved veggies they eat at an extreme rate. The big ones are now at least 2” long

 

[Sonny13]

This fella came in really small!

 

[redhorse]

I personally think that the Mulberry chow is having a quicker growth rate. But, the majority of the other mixes the babies are sticking close to the original clump of mulberry chow so not sure how much of the carrot or zucchini they ate. I had some florescent color power that glows in the dark and was going to mix one color with carrot and one color with zucchini but could not find the powers.

I did it with hissers before and it was so cool seeing them light up at night and their poop glowed too.

After reading the @redhorse---- it looked like a Native American name too so wanted to explain. Mredhorse was my screen name used in Seahorse forum and Mr. Ed (not the horse on TV) was what the kids called me during my animal shows, during my animal sharing days... Very simple but complicated at the same time..

Sonne13--- So cool- Thanks for sharing.

 

[Firewallx]

@redhorse, it looks like you have mould in picture #3. You need to get those worms out of there. This happened to me. They were exposed and they all got flacherie and died, except three. It takes a week before the symptoms come. Keep them away from the others.

How do you affect the colour of the sea horses?

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I had some florescent color power that glows in the dark and was going to mix one color with carrot and one color with zucchini but could not find the powers.

I did it with hissers before and it was so cool seeing them light up at night and their poop glowed too.

Fluorescent generally means it glows under ultraviolet.
Luminous means it glows in the dark.

Either way, IDT I'd want to feed anything like that to my reptiles.
Many chameleons exhibit fluorescence on their own.