dinomom
Chameleon Enthusiast
I needed to reinvigorate my stock so I ordered 250 eggs each of normal, zebra, and black zebra silkworms. Had them sent fedex but forgot to request the ice pack so I could hatch them at my leisure. SO since they were on a Fedex truck all day in 100 degree weather I had no choice but to hatch all at once. WOW what a difference. (I only had regular ones before)
Had I realized how interesting this would be I would have done scientific measurements but oh well..
First of all, the hatch rate of the blacks was way lower.-maybe 20-25% compared to the others. Their growth rate was about 20% of the other two; at 3 (?) weeks some are still only an inch long. I have had only 2 cocoons, looks like maybe I'll get a dozen if I am lucky.
The BIG shock is the zebra ones. Almost 100% hatch rate, and HUGE bugs. At least 25-30% larger/heavier than the normals. Started cocooning about 7 days earlier than the normals, and they are making big fat dense cocoons. They are still way ahead on the number of cocoons compared to the regulars 34-7.
I have not fed the blacks since I am "conserving" them to cocoon, but between the zebra and normals the chams show no taste preference.
I have to conclude, although it is very unusual for a mutation of any animal, that the zebra silks are way more vigorous and prolific than the normals. I could see that anyone keeping the larger chams like Parson's would be well served by feeding them as they can indeed get quite large.
PS of course I do not know the age/generation of the eggs and maybe for example the black zebra eggs were older and therefore less viable. I am interested in whether or not anyone else has experienced this!
Had I realized how interesting this would be I would have done scientific measurements but oh well..
First of all, the hatch rate of the blacks was way lower.-maybe 20-25% compared to the others. Their growth rate was about 20% of the other two; at 3 (?) weeks some are still only an inch long. I have had only 2 cocoons, looks like maybe I'll get a dozen if I am lucky.
The BIG shock is the zebra ones. Almost 100% hatch rate, and HUGE bugs. At least 25-30% larger/heavier than the normals. Started cocooning about 7 days earlier than the normals, and they are making big fat dense cocoons. They are still way ahead on the number of cocoons compared to the regulars 34-7.
I have not fed the blacks since I am "conserving" them to cocoon, but between the zebra and normals the chams show no taste preference.
I have to conclude, although it is very unusual for a mutation of any animal, that the zebra silks are way more vigorous and prolific than the normals. I could see that anyone keeping the larger chams like Parson's would be well served by feeding them as they can indeed get quite large.
PS of course I do not know the age/generation of the eggs and maybe for example the black zebra eggs were older and therefore less viable. I am interested in whether or not anyone else has experienced this!
