silkworms

[lysinlight87]

Just ordered my first batch of silkworms. I hope the fussy bugger likes them, cos I don't know what else I can do with 50 silkworms!
Do they only eat mulberry leaves? The supplier has a dried mulberry powder that comes free with the pack, I assume you just add a little water and they munch on that. Does anyone else use this? I can also buy fresh mulberry leaves from the same place, but obviously the powder would keep longer

 

[sandrachameleon]

Just ordered my first batch of silkworms. I hope the fussy bugger likes them, cos I don't know what else I can do with 50 silkworms!
Do they only eat mulberry leaves? The supplier has a dried mulberry powder that comes free with the pack, I assume you just add a little water and they munch on that. Does anyone else use this? I can also buy fresh mulberry leaves from the same place, but obviously the powder would keep longer

You add boiling water to the powder to "cook", let it cool off then they eat that, yes. I find it better to only prepare what I need for a week. Others will cook up a large batch as it does keep for awhile in the fridge. Your chow powder should have come with instructions for cooking it?
Or they eat fresh mulberry tree leaves. They will also eat dandelion leaves, grape vine leaves and more.

 

[Miss Lily]

Like Sandra said, you can make the chow up a little ata time with boiling water. It stinks though! Once it has cooled you can put it into a container and keep it in the fridge. If Neelix doesn't like them then you can always grow them on so they pupate and then he might like to eat the moths! You could also breed them and keep the eggs in the fridge so you can incubate them at a later date and start over again! Where are you buying them from? I have not found a supplier that sells them with powder, only a small amount of ready made chow.

 

[Trillian]

I bought ready-prepared chow in a big tub, and when I clean up the frass I add another few spoonfuls. It keeps really well in the fridge, as long as you keep the lid closed and use a clean spoon each time to keep it as sterile as possible.

I ended up not feeding off most of mine, and they are spinning now, so I'll feed off the moths and hatch the eggs. They grow so slowly, I think I'm going to have to order another batch!

 

[Kate]

The things we buy for our chams get grosser and grosser.roaches, stinky chow and let's not forget the jumbo crickets. Are we wise.lol

 

[lysinlight87]

Like Sandra said, you can make the chow up a little ata time with boiling water. It stinks though! Once it has cooled you can put it into a container and keep it in the fridge. If Neelix doesn't like them then you can always grow them on so they pupate and then he might like to eat the moths! You could also breed them and keep the eggs in the fridge so you can incubate them at a later date and start over again! Where are you buying them from? I have not found a supplier that sells them with powder, only a small amount of ready made chow.

http://www.silkwormstore.co.uk/silkworms.html I got them off here. It says the packs come with food, but doesn't actually specify if it's a pack of it, or just a bit of ready-made like you said. We'll have to see.

If he likes them, I might try breeding them- I'm just wary of my house being full of bugs!

 

[Miss Lily]

I have ordered from there before - it is usually a small amount of food that comes with them. If you want to grow them on then you will need to buy more in powder form as they eat a LOT! I usually buy eggs and let them hatch.

 

[cstorms]

The things we buy for our chams get grosser and grosser.roaches, stinky chow and let's not forget the jumbo crickets. Are we wise.lol

I am totally with you. I just got my cham a couple weeks ago, and my wife is already grossed out by crickets.. I am struggling to find something else to introduce into his diet, but I don't know what my wife will tolerate.. proobbbably not roaches. She sent me a picture yesterday of a cricket by our refrigerator. Do silkworms look gross? Do they get out ever? Can you order live ones or do you have to grow them?

 

[Kate]

Haven't ventured as far as silkworms yet. But the longer you have your Cham you begin to think " well perhaps I could try this". I was dead against roaches but I have put out feelers to get a few for the boy to try. I think if I get them now while it is warm I can keep them in the garage. It will be interesting to see if Neelix likes them, if so perhaps!!!

 

[Trillian]

Silkworms do look pretty gross, well the plain grey ones do, but they also do zebra-striped ones that might be more bearable. She might be swayed if you tell her that the dubia can't climb, so won't escape! Plus they don't smell. I much prefer them.

 

[Zubi]

ya silkies are pretty ugly, they cant really escape, but they do make a mess with the silk. I was so close to buying 200 dubias, but i figured i would try some out first. My boy would not eat a single one of the dozen i bought. So not all chams will like them

 

[lysinlight87]

I have ordered from there before - it is usually a small amount of food that comes with them. If you want to grow them on then you will need to buy more in powder form as they eat a LOT! I usually buy eggs and let them hatch.

oops, better go back & buy some more food for them!

 

[lysinlight87]

I was just pulling the back legs off crickets for Neelix, when I accidently pulled one insideout! I had to sit down for 5 minutes cos I didn't know if I was gonna puke or pass out

 

[Benton1576]

I think silkworms are quite pretty really. They just look like caterpillars. They eat a lot and grow really fast too. Ive just ordered a 250 silkworm colony with food and a storage bin for them. Hopefully they dont die too quickly as they have practically no immune system and get infections really quickly. If you notica ny lingering around the bottom and not moving around much take them out quickly as the rest will also get infected. If one dies, lots die.

 

[Boldie]

http://www.silkwormstore.co.uk/silkworms.html I got them off here. It says the packs come with food, but doesn't actually specify if it's a pack of it, or just a bit of ready-made like you said. We'll have to see.

If he likes them, I might try breeding them- I'm just wary of my house being full of bugs!

I have just ordered from here as well should be getting my delivery today. I also ordered 10 roaches and calci worms as well to see how he takes to them but I have had to hide them from the wife because if she knows I have got roaches in the house she will flip.

How many silkworms can you feed a day?

 

[Kate]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/members/lysinlight87/
That is so gross. Does Neelix like the silk worms?

 

[Kate]

Oops. Don't know what I did there. Ment to copy post about crickets legs.lol

 

[ealizard]

I was just pulling the back legs off crickets for Neelix, when I accidently pulled one insideout! I had to sit down for 5 minutes cos I didn't know if I was gonna puke or pass out

sorry to hear that , it is gross, but you better get use to it ,Ive had the cham, bit it and it squirted on my lip, thats gross, have a good one

 

[Miss Lily]

I was just pulling the back legs off crickets for Neelix, when I accidently pulled one insideout! I had to sit down for 5 minutes cos I didn't know if I was gonna puke or pass out

That's hilarious! I have done that before! Just recently with my baby silkworms I have ripped a few apart by accident when moving them! It really is quite gross! When they are small they go through a stage of getting tangled up in the silk and it is so hard to remove them from it, thus me decapitating a few! Ugh!!

 

[Trillian]

I thought I'd try my big brave dragon with a large one, he chewed the head then ran away. It crawled into his hide to die... ew.