Thinking about switching from crickets to silkworms

[nightanole]

I got super worms and dubia. And working on my first home grown batch of crickets (2 weeks old). However crickets pose a problem in winter due to escapes (even with the cricket death trap) which is why they are normally an out door playpen feeder only. I would like to try out raising some silky eggs and powdered mulberry food. Any pointers other that keep everything clean and wash hands? It looks the same as raising crickets other than the incubator period and just feeding them mush. My main concern was how to regulate eggs, since he will be only eating 1-2 a day.

If i by several 100 eggs, how do i keep them from not hatching for months?

Also once the silkys get to the perfect size at 80f, can i just drop them to 68f so they last a long time? This works with dubia and crickets.

 

[Kate]

Popeye went off silkies and I was left with large worms which cocooned and hatched. I have in excess of 700 eggs which I have in the fridge. I have taken one batch out and am waiting to see what happens. That's as far as I have got. Someone perhaps can add more.

 

[pssh]

Keep the eggs in the fridge and take out as many as you need. They will last a while (several months) in the fridge without any significant decrease in hatch rate. You could try keeping them at lower temps but they might start to die depending on the size and exactly how cold.

 

[shaunaroxanne]

They are great feeders, but I had to give them up because I am terribly allergic to the chow

 

[nightanole]

How do you unglue the eggs from the perti dish? I dont want 500-1000 hatching at once, but it seems only 1000 count and up come loose. This seems economical if i buy 500 eggs and 1 pound of dry food.

 

[shaunaroxanne]

How do you unglue the eggs from the perti dish? I dont want 500-1000 hatching at once, but it seems only 1000 count and up come loose. This seems economical if i buy 500 eggs and 1 pound of dry food.

You will need more than one pound of food for 500.

 

[nightanole]

You will need more than one pound of food for 500.

So how much dry do i need to make almost cocoon worms? Most of the sites selling said a half pound dry was good for a 1000 worms to 2" or 200 or more to cocoon stage.

 

[shaunaroxanne]

So how much dry do i need to make almost cocoon worms? Most of the sites selling said a half pound dry was good for a 1000 worms to 2" or 200 or more to cocoon stage.

This is directly from Mulberry Farms......

How many silkworms can I raise from 1 pound of silkworm chow?
You can raise up to 1000, to about 1 1/2 inches long on the amount of food made from 1 pound of powdered chow (or about 100 silkworms to full size, ready to cocoon). Each pound makes 4 pounds of ready to feed Chow. Our powdered Silkworm Chow is prepackaged in 1/2 pound bags (unless ordered in bulk).

 

[crocky]

Tagging along. So I assume that once the eggs hatch you can store the worms in the fridge one day on one day off to slow growing down like horns?

Ordering a couple of pods so just curious. I store horns in the fridge all the time with good success but wanted to check on silks. I have never fed them

 

[shaunaroxanne]

Tagging along. So I assume that once the eggs hatch you can store the worms in the fridge one day on one day off to slow growing down like horns?

Ordering a couple of pods so just curious. I store horns in the fridge all the time with good success but wanted to check on silks. I have never fed them

Nope, they will die. You can slow growth by withholding food, not by cooling them.

 

[pigglett79]

Nope, they will die. You can slow growth by withholding food, not by cooling them.

Yeah, I try to withhold food for a day at a time when they get close to the size I want.

 

[crocky]

Thanks. I am also used to the pods but seems you get much more for your money without on the silks. Is it best to keep them in the dish they come in and add chow while feeding them off. Mulberry is out of stock so wanting to find another reputable site.

Again sorry for hijacking but hated to start another thread since some good info is here already

 

[pigglett79]

I hatch my eggs in petri dishes and once they get a little bigger I move them to tupperware containers with the gutter guard just like I do with my horn worms.

 

[crocky]

Gotcha! I contacted coastal silkworms as I am not sure if I need heat packs or not. Getting down to 32-38 the next few nights but 50's during the day.