supplementing while feeding silkworms (and help breeding them)

[amanda509]

Okay, i know silkworms have enough calcium in them so you dont have to dust them. But what about vitamin D3? I'm going to attempt to breed my current lot of silkworms so i can keep them as a staple for charlie (any tips or links to blogs to help me with this, my largest silk is about 2 inches now). As most should know, Charlie has mbd, its why i adopted him. He was on liquid calcium for a couple weeks but then he started missing his food, which indicated a calcium imbalance. He is now off the liquid calcium and on silkworms (he doesnt like crickets and occasionally eats a dusted superworm). So how would i supplement him in regards to his current diet?

 

[sandrachameleon]

if you are going to use silkworms as a major part of your chameleons diet, I recommend you DO lightly dust with calcium as much as half the time. And use calcium with D3 or a vitamin powder with D3 periodically as well (how often depends on your gutloading, whether the cham goes outside, etc.)
You'll also want to ensure you provide some crunchy foods, like superworms, mealworms, terrestrial isopods. Too many soft bodied feeders without the roughage of other feeders to balance is not a good plan.
that he "doesn't like" crickets seems a bit silly to me - I suspect he will eat crickets if he is hungry enough.

lots of links to info about breeding silkworms can be found here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

 

[pigglett79]

I agree with everything Sandra said. I just took on a panther with some issues and he has tongue issues such as aim being way off. I can get him to eat many different insects, it just takes hand feeding help and lots of patience. But I would dust the worms as she described.

 

[amanda509]

if you are going to use silkworms as a major part of your chameleons diet, I recommend you DO lightly dust with calcium as much as half the time. And use calcium with D3 or a vitamin powder with D3 periodically as well (how often depends on your gutloading, whether the cham goes outside, etc.)
You'll also want to ensure you provide some crunchy foods, like superworms, mealworms, terrestrial isopods. Too many soft bodied feeders without the roughage of other feeders to balance is not a good plan.
that he "doesn't like" crickets seems a bit silly to me - I suspect he will eat crickets if he is hungry enough.

lots of links to info about breeding silkworms can be found here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

Thanks! Just trying to make sure he gets what he needs. As of right now, its winter here in PA and he cant go outside until spring So does vitamin power with D3 every other week sound okay? Like i said, he will snag a superworm now and then, but for the first few weeks ive had him, he touched maybe 3 crickets, in 2 weeks. He wont touch his cup or eat them free range...hopefully he will grow out of it. I'm hoping come spring i can start a isopod colony.

Thanks for the link!

 

[CarlC]

Im glad enough made it that you can start breeding them!

Carl

 

[amanda509]

Im glad enough made it that you can start breeding them!

Carl

Almost all of them made it! They're some hardy buggers! I really appreciate it, they're awesome and Charlie absolutely loves them!

 

[sandrachameleon]

So does vitamin power with D3 every other week sound okay?

what brand are you using?

 

[fuzzhc]

if you are going to use silkworms as a major part of your chameleons diet, I recommend you DO lightly dust with calcium as much as half the time. And use calcium with D3 or a vitamin powder with D3 periodically as well (how often depends on your gutloading, whether the cham goes outside, etc.)
You'll also want to ensure you provide some crunchy foods, like superworms, mealworms, terrestrial isopods. Too many soft bodied feeders without the roughage of other feeders to balance is not a good plan.
that he "doesn't like" crickets seems a bit silly to me - I suspect he will eat crickets if he is hungry enough.

lots of links to info about breeding silkworms can be found here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/74-feeders.html

I dont think its all that silly to suggest hw doesnt like crickets. Ive had a veiled for 2years now and hes not touched a cricket in around 18months. Under no circumstances will he touch black/Brown crickets or even roaches. Even if starved for 5 days or so. I think thw darker colours can be off putting to some animals because its always been the same with my Savannah monitor although hes too big for crickets now lol.