jamncristian
Established Member
they are naturally healthier than crickets because of the mulberry they eat. they can be staple but i would use roaches, superworms, crickets, and other feeders with small amount of chitin
SilkWorms 101
- Thread starter Vegas Chad
- Start date
they are naturally healthier than crickets because of the mulberry they eat. they can be staple but i would use roaches, superworms, crickets, and other feeders with small amount of chitin
dakotakleiner
New Member
So silkworms have a lot of chitin?
Vegas Chad
Avid Member
A lobster, cricket or hissing roach has alot, silkworms... Not so much with that soft body and all.
jamncristian
Established Member
no what i meant is add some feeders with some chitin to your chams diet. it probably wont be good for your cham to eat only soft body feeders
dakotakleiner
New Member
Well so far I feed crickets main a hornworm or 2. A week and a wax worm occasionally I want to also start feeding silkworms often as my cham is young 6-7 months but hasn't grown much since I bought him almost 5 months ago he doesn't get meal worms down verywell and superworms are usually to big...everyone tells me variety is they key...... to what I'm not so sure I'm just trying to mix it up for the guy he eats relentlessly.... do chameleons get full? I know not to feed him to many wax worms but what about crickets or silk worms will he eat them til he's full or non-stop?
dodolah
Retired Moderator
Find any watercolor or acrylic brush #2 (the smallest brush) at any arts and crafts store such as Michaels or Joan's.
Chamster
New Member
my silkworms are almost 3 inches long and theyre not eating much.....but they isnt much sign of silk being made therefore no sign of cocoon making.... i dont know maybe theyre gay.... theyre so fat i feel theyre going to explode or something.... anyone have any insignt on this........????
Tputtwhatwhat
New Member
Just wanted to thank the OP for this thread. Great info.
ScubaSteve318
New Member
yea this will be a very useful thread for the future
ColorCham427
Avid Member
lol u think they're gay? i dont get it... anyways...
... they'll eventually spin their cocoons, so dont worry. if theyrnt eating thats a good sign since theyre at the 3 inch mark or almost at it.toss in 2 inch long pieces of paper towel rolls, a bunch too. they'll go in there and spin.
ladysilkworm
Established Member
This is a good thread, a lot of good information..
Just want to add something though:
1. a silkmoth lays her eggs on paper and the eggs never overlap. When you buy them in a petri dish, the eggs sometimes land on the wrong edge and some kego can't get out.
2. Sometimes the eggs take a year to hatch, that is only because it is in tune with the seasons.. there is no leaves then there is no reason for the silkworms to hatch..they will wait till next year
3. I successfully bred silkworms more than 30 years ago. I didnt have to refrigerate them. It all depends on what time of the season they are laid. Earlier in the season they will hatch.
Just want to add something though:
1. a silkmoth lays her eggs on paper and the eggs never overlap. When you buy them in a petri dish, the eggs sometimes land on the wrong edge and some kego can't get out.
2. Sometimes the eggs take a year to hatch, that is only because it is in tune with the seasons.. there is no leaves then there is no reason for the silkworms to hatch..they will wait till next year
3. I successfully bred silkworms more than 30 years ago. I didnt have to refrigerate them. It all depends on what time of the season they are laid. Earlier in the season they will hatch.
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ladysilkworm
Established Member
i take that back.
The US market uses a specific type of strain that produces only one generation of silkworms a year, unless subject to winterization for 3 months.. so, no one can be a breeder that does continuous hatching... they monopolize the market this way.. they make you buy the eggs from them and you cannot get into this breeding business if you don't have a continuous supply.
That is why on certain posts it says "If they don't hatch within 2-3 weeks, chances are they won't hatch till next Spring"..
even if the eggs are laid in the middle of June..
It's an industry secret. However, there are ways to trick the eggs into hatching sooner without winterization... again, industry secret, and is NOT worth the effort. So, they just import eggs during the winter time and store and hatch as they come...
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ladysilkworm
Established Member
To be honest, i really don't have time to get fancy.
I just use toilet paper rolls.
This is where my experience tells me something different than the one that i read from wormspit.com (it might just be a coincidence).
Mike is a pro in rearing this feeder, so i say go with him first.
Mike basically use paper clips and clip the toilet paper rolls together for stability and put it vertically (so, when you look down to the cricket keeper from above, you'll see circles).
I tried to do that, but they end up making their cocoon outside of the rolls and i try putting the silkies inside the rolls.. they all climb out, and again start spinning outside of the rolls.
So here is what i did differently: I put the rolls horizontal and tape the sides with masking tape for extra stability so the roll won't rolling around when your silky spinning the cocoon. So far, with the exception of one naughty silky, all of them have manage to spin the cocoon inside the roll.
Ideally you want one cocoon inside the paper roll.. but if you have 2 or 3, i say it will be fine too.
Actually, I have a cocooning kit that solves all these problems. It utilizes tissue rolls that you need to provide as well. It is a lightweight plastic container with 12 pockets. You take the roll and cut it in halves and place each half into the 'pocket' and close the lid. Voila! The rolls are now covered top to bottom and the rolls fit PERFECTLY. Each cut roll can hold at least 2 cocoons, and they can't climb out of it
It's the perfect cocoon condo without you having to do any paper clipping or taping. All the rolls are neatly tucked in and sits in place. I stack them in the corner of the room vertically and each container is reusable too! Great space and effort saver. I have several hundreds of them and give them out as bonus. 
It sure beats just laying rolls in the housing..!
A Beginner Cham Question...
Sorry to rehash and ask a beginner question. I have read this entire thread and here's my question. I have a 5 month old panther cham. It's the only cham I have. My husband keeps and breeds many frogs so we have used exclusively crickets up until this point. I'm concerned about the recent issues with crickets in the US and want to begin offering other insects (as that is more benificial to the cham anyway). I'm not sure i'm ready to start keeping silkies and breeding them. So can I just purchase small silkies and feed from them without the intent to keep/breed them beyond that? And if that is possible, what basic set up can I use to just keep the worms alive long enough to feed with them? Could I just keep them in what they are shipped in? Do I still need to purchase some mush/chow to sustain them for awhile or could I just provide some fresh mulberry leaves? Oh and is there any other insect beyond these that others offer for variety? Sorry for the nub question but I appreciate any help.
Sorry to rehash and ask a beginner question. I have read this entire thread and here's my question. I have a 5 month old panther cham. It's the only cham I have. My husband keeps and breeds many frogs so we have used exclusively crickets up until this point. I'm concerned about the recent issues with crickets in the US and want to begin offering other insects (as that is more benificial to the cham anyway). I'm not sure i'm ready to start keeping silkies and breeding them. So can I just purchase small silkies and feed from them without the intent to keep/breed them beyond that? And if that is possible, what basic set up can I use to just keep the worms alive long enough to feed with them? Could I just keep them in what they are shipped in? Do I still need to purchase some mush/chow to sustain them for awhile or could I just provide some fresh mulberry leaves? Oh and is there any other insect beyond these that others offer for variety? Sorry for the nub question but I appreciate any help.
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
yes absolutely a good idea.
takes nothing in terms of a set-up accept something to keep them in. You dont even need a lid really. See this thread for what I keep them in:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/what-do-you-keep-your-silkworms-26605/
fresh leaves are even better than chow. So long as you have something to feed them for as long as you keep them until you've fed them all off.
yes. for a list of commonly used prey see:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html
summoner12
Avid Member
What a jolly fine thread!
Something is puzzling me though....
What is this 'glueing' process you sometimes mention? Could someone please elaborate, perhaps with pics?
If the reference is about holding the eggs down... you simply use a glue stick, smear some glue and then drizzle some eggs onto the glue. I have had good luck using scotch tape. Dip the sticky side of the tape into the eggs and you'll get a nice even spread of eggs on the tape.
AsiaKauffman
Member
awesome thread! I have tiny silk worms I ordered, and this is a great help! I may even look into breeding one day/hatching the eggs so I can save some money in the long run! Thanks again!!!!
