Silkworms!

[Eltortu]

I was going to feed them all to my pets, but then I thought of start another breeding project. And now there are fruitless mulberries trees everywhere here, and this is the prime time for picking them and saving them for later use. This silkworms were from FroggtheCham, in Wisconsin. Thanks Frannie!

 

[Eltortu]

Anyone else trying to get a colony of silkworms going?

 

[Ace]

your trees are fruitless? my mullberry tree bears fruit each year and i'm planning to try out silkworms from the egg

 

[Eltortu]

your trees are fruitless? my mullberry tree bears fruit each year and i'm planning to try out silkworms from the egg

Well, most of the ones around here are fruitless. I think to feed silkworms you must give them the fruitless kind. Years ago I had a cycle going for over a year. But before you start make sure you have either the chow or leaves. One fun thing to do when they reach 1.5-2.0" or just about to cocoon, feed them beets and carrots and watch them spin red silk!

 

[Ace]

Well, most of the ones around here are fruitless. I think to feed silkworms you must give them the fruitless kind. Years ago I had a cycle going for over a year. But before you start make sure you have either the chow or leaves. One fun thing to do when they reach 1.5-2.0" or just about to cocoon, feed them beets and carrots and watch them spin red silk!

awsome!!! and i never tried silk chow before, always used leaves and last my silks for a long long time

 

[Leroux2008]

I accidently killed mine =[[ I had some pretty small ones and I put them in a 10 gallon aquarium with the fish lid kind that has the built in light well.... I forgot the light on while I went to work.. -_- got back and tehy werent moving anymore... I think I fried them T_TTT I wanted them to get big like that =[[

 

[Eltortu]

I accidently killed mine =[[ I had some pretty small ones and I put them in a 10 gallon aquarium with the fish lid kind that has the built in light well.... I forgot the light on while I went to work.. -_- got back and tehy werent moving anymore... I think I fried them T_TTT I wanted them to get big like that =[[

They are very delicate worms, specially very subseptible to bacteria. Are you getting some more?

 

[Leroux2008]

I want to but I have to wait til pay check... which is in another couple days.. right now just giving them hornworms and crickets.... Their soo much harder than hornworms -_- for one they were so small I couldnt really.. take them off their chow to move them onto the leaves? so I just put the chow in there with them.... and then I was turning on the light everynow and again because I really didnt know if heat is a good thing like it is for the hornworms... helps them grow faster because they eat more... welll I forgot it on so I messed up -_- so mad at myself.

 

[Miss Lily]

I have recently hatched some eggs that were in diapause since the end of last year. Franie has been very helpful, and so far, one week in, I haven't lost any worms yet! Here's a couple of links to my threads:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-silkworm-babies-59650/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/silkworms-comparison-pics-59874/

 

[Leroux2008]

So jealous -_- XD Their eggs look like pills XD

Come to find out I have some hornworms that are ready to pupate so maybe.... I can successfully get them through the stages and get them to breed and have more hornworms...

 

[suzi]

Anyone else trying to get a colony of silkworms going?

Yep, I just witnessed my first successful mating... Wahoooo. How long before the egg laying? And how fun to feed beets and carrots for colorful silk , can't wait to try that!

 

[pssh]

ladysilkworm.com sells color chow too. it turns them purple, pink, or blue (not just the silk! The worms change color too!)

fruit bearing trees work too.

 

[suzi]

ladysilkworm.com sells color chow too. it turns them purple, pink, or blue (not just the silk! The worms change color too!)

fruit bearing trees work too.

No way!!!! I am stoked lol! Does it get any more fun than that lmao! That is sooo cool I had no idea!

 

[pssh]

I wouldn't feed them to your lizards though...

 

[suzi]

I wouldn't feed them to your lizards though...

Why? Which colored food would be toxic? Not beets or carrots right? Or is it some other reason?

 

[pssh]

The color chow has not been studied. We dont know how it would affect the animals. It's more for fun than anything.

 

[suzi]

The color chow has not been studied. We dont know how it would affect the animals. It's more for fun than anything.

Oh ok thanks.

 

[Psi]

fruit bearing trees work too.

Fruit Bearing Trees are Males, while the non-Fruit trees are females.
Both the leaves are the exact same for feeding.
Yes, as odd as trees that are sexed are ...

 

[Leroux2008]

lol @ psi when I explained that to my mom she was like NOO wayy!

 

[Eltortu]

Why? Which colored food would be toxic? Not beets or carrots right? Or is it some other reason?

I have read about that coloring food, but I rather just use beets and carrots. I have fed the worms and moths to reptiles with no problems that I noticed...