Silkworm journey

[redhorse]

Just like those cats that eat coffee beans then cat droppings are collected, beans removed and sold at a higher price.
Digestive juices are suppose to create something.. No thank you! Somethings I will pass on and the tea idea...PASS!
interesting stuff.
Coffee and Tea, starting to rethink my beverages.

 

[redhorse]

I didn’t look thru all of this yet, but it is interesting. https://hbmahesh.weebly.com/uploads/3/4/2/2/3422804/4.anatomy_of_silkworm_bombyx_mori.pdf

WOW! They have a circulatory system but don't mention or show a heart. I did see this diagram but the words were not in English so didn't know what they were describing.
Plus, there was no written explanations as to functions either.
Thanks!

 

[Crossingtami]

Flacherie.. Although while this was going on, it did make me think of the COVID 19 pandemic; incubation period for infection, separating and quarantining the sick from the well, sterilizing their living space, and the fact that just when everything looked ok several more fall ill or die in a day or two.

The word flacherie makes me laugh. Sounds like a giant fart!

 

[redhorse]

I think my neighbor has it too, he don't know I'm in my yard, but I hear it. Yuck!

 

[Crossingtami]

My silkworm journey is beginning. Got my eggs today. Just trying to decide where to keep them. The warmest room in my house is karmas room, but it is also the most humid. Was thinking of near my beardy's enclosure for warmth, is the uvb light bad for the eggs? (Directions say not to place in sun)

 

[redhorse]

Great! I just placed them in the kitchen. I recently (few hours ago) read other threads with lots more experience than mine but many of the member have been helping me out. My idea was to start with almost no knowledge on raising them. I did not spread the eggs properly, so many did not hatch. I have had only 4 die last week but they were tiny and it looks like they were trampled on. There was a little mold starting last week but that has been cleaned up and everything seems fine. As far as this thread goes, sometimes I take pictures and others direct me in the right direction. Exactly how things should work in an educational forum. Almost everyone's input has been extremely helpful with this journey.
Well, where are your pics?

 

[MissSkittles]

WOW! They have a circulatory system but don't mention or show a heart. I did see this diagram but the words were not in English so didn't know what they were describing.
Plus, there was no written explanations as to functions either.
Thanks!

Really? It was all in English for me. Maybe this will help.

 

[MissSkittles]

My silkworm journey is beginning. Got my eggs today. Just trying to decide where to keep them. The warmest room in my house is karmas room, but it is also the most humid. Was thinking of near my beardy's enclosure for warmth, is the uvb light bad for the eggs? (Directions say not to place in sun)

I’d say keep them in Karma’s room. A little bit of humidity is ok.

 

[redhorse]

MissSkittles--- Thank you very much. I think the link you sent didn't completely download when I was trying to look at it last night. The info you sent was exactly what I need to understand better. Very simple system.

There are 13 left in the original container and started separating the others for space and what the thread has taught me (most of it, not all) Thanks for all the input!

checked out snitz427 thread and learn much from that yesterday along with all the helpers there too (some helping me too). 2019 long time ago.

I put similar numbers in 2 other containers using ideas shared. Thanks again
1st container 13 containing all the little stragglers.
2nd container will continue with fresh mulberry chow mix.
3rd container will have the same but add a few other things and will continue trying different items.

 

[redhorse]

Happy FRIDAY!!!!!
Things are going well but found a few sheddings (qty 4) in the container with the different food items.
There were none found in the other 2 containers. I find this as just a coincidence since the other foods were not eaten.
Just my thought after learning about the anatomy. They have no lungs but breath through the (eye) holes on the side. So I figured on spraying down container #1 to keep the food moist but not wet. Something I have been doing with the water drops earlier (to save the food).
The spray didn't bother them as they continued eating but the food looks good and fresh again (others may already know this but was my first time).
This is actually the first time finding sheds too, also with no head capsule. I will have to go look at other photos, since I have many, and look better to see if I am missing something.
WENT BACK (editing is a great tool) and did see a split head capsule on the skin.... So it is just how things look through the naked eye or regular size pic.
Plus, no deaths after making the changes..

JMO: I am not sure if diseases can be or is caused by other foods. since they have such a simple digestion system.
1. They eat, grow and poop a lot. Meaning the food is digested quickly.
2. Dealing with baby seahorses, it was similar, as they ate a lot all day long, (they have no stomach) so needed to absorb what was coming in quickly.
2.a. The baby seahorses would eat and 20 minutes later pooped, and many of the baby brine shrimp (sea-monkey /sea-dragon packets) were still alive. This is one reason many hobbyists would breed copepods, amphipods and shrimp (feeding larva shrimp/babies) to the baby seahorses (fry).
Have a wonderful day- chameleon family.. Have to go get some good tail pics for Tuesday. Randel gave me some good ones but I did not have my phone/camera.. DARN!

 

[Firewallx]

The discarded head capsules are surely in there somewhere. I imagine that they blend in a bit with the chow since the fourth instar capsule is brown / light brown in color. Those shed cuticles are pretty big at this point. Glad to see them growing so well.

 

[redhorse]

Thanks for all your help and patience. I look back ,when I started and think to myself about myself "what a knucklehead" to wet, to much mold, to much poop. All in a few weeks.. ::::::::rolling my own eyes:::::::::: Thank you all

 

[redhorse]

Just a few days of poop build-up..
Before and after clean-up.

 

[MissSkittles]

Argh! Just had a massive die off of my silkworms! From the symptoms, I suspect flacherie. I try to take such good care of my little silkies. Thinking it was the chow...had a more pungent aroma than usual.

 

[redhorse]

DAMN FLACHERIE!!!! or symptoms of------

Sorry to hear- Can you post some pics? All info is a learning tool for me. I have been pretty reckless but it was part of the learning process and adaptive measures (input by members). Someone shared there was too much poop in my containers, so acted on it.. Thank you!

 

[Spyro]

Argh! Just had a massive die off of my silkworms! From the symptoms, I suspect flacherie. I try to take such good care of my little silkies. Thinking it was the chow...had a more pungent aroma than usual.

As you grow silkies more and more, you’ll experience die offs like this and learn ways to prevent it. Sanitizing everything is huge.

 

[MissSkittles]

DAMN FLACHERIE!!!! or symptoms of------

Sorry to hear- Can you post some pics? All info is a learning tool for me. I have been pretty reckless but it was part of the learning process and adaptive measures (input by members). Someone shared there was too much poop in my containers, so acted on it.. Thank you!

Initially I was going to say I couldn’t take any pics as I disposed of all last night. But checking my remaining survivors, I found more have died/are dying. So, pics and video. It’s sad. I notice they tend to stick their butts in the air as an initial symptom. Then their bodies seem to shrivel and the poor things writhe, seemingly in pain. Last night I noticed some seemed to have been vomiting. The faint yellow stain on the paper towel is what was coming out of them. @Spyro if you have any insight if this is flacherie or something else, please share. I just ordered some fresh silks from you and if this is something contagious, I’ll just toss out all of my silkie bins rather than clean & disinfect them.

 

[Spyro]

Keeping environmental properties stable and in check is probably more important than feeding the worms regularly. This may be the cause of your Flacherie.
Next up would be keeping everything clean. We’ve had good success with professional grade disinfectants such as Benzarid (good stuff!) or basic bleach solutions.
You should be wearing clean gloves each time you mess with the worms too.
Ultimately, everyone who grows silkworms will have issues. We’ve had our share, and I know pretty much everyone else selling online has had issues whether they acknowledge it or not. Periodic resets are not a bad thing.

Edit: here’s a great resource on this silkworm disease including transmission.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/flacherie

 

[MissSkittles]

Keeping environmental properties stable and in check is probably more important than feeding the worms regularly. This may be the cause of your Flacherie.
Next up would be keeping everything clean. We’ve had good success with professional grade disinfectants such as Benzarid (good stuff!) or basic bleach solutions.
You should be wearing clean gloves each time you mess with the worms too.
Ultimately, everyone who grows silkworms will have issues. We’ve had our share, and I know pretty much everyone else selling online has had issues whether they acknowledge it or not. Periodic resets are not a bad thing.

Edit: here’s a great resource on this silkworm disease including transmission.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/flacherie

Thanks so much for your input! Just ordered some Benzarid and might as well get some new bins too.

 

[Firewallx]

Sorry to hear about your silkworms @MissSkittles . Once that starts, it's like a never-ending nightmare. Just when you think you got them all, the next day there are more sick worms.
@redhorse yours are looking very nice!
@Spyro, about flarcherie I remember reading about "chain poops" as a symptom. Is this what is meant by "chain poop"?