Hi to all silkworms experts,
I need a lot of help, my silkworms never cocoon.
I have been trying to raise silkworms in the last ten years, they all end up stop eating, stop moving, and starve to death.
I have tried different mulberry trees and even grow my own to make sure there is no insecticides.
I bought silkworms from gumtree.com.au. Usually around 30 of them in 2-3 instar.
Pick mulberry leaves, wash and dry them before feeding them. Half of the leaves are keep in fridge (will that changes its chemical?)
Silkworms are kept in plastic box, with normal A4 paper at the bottom, replace everyday. The lid is 10% opened to let air in.
I feed them 2 - 4times a day (there was one year, I fed them 10+ times a day).
During the cold night (15 C), I leave a electic blanket under the box to keep them warm (up to 25C).
Everyday, I pick them up and pat them (will that kill them?)
The silkworms all happily eat and grow fast. In less than a month, they are all big and fat, almost 9 cm long.
After that month, they start to eat less and move less. I thought they are just too fat to move.
Then about two weeks later, they will start to die, not in one go, but in a period of two weeks.
Their poo becomes brown watery, and often blocked their bottom (I think one of the cause of death)
They will shrink and dehydrate. The dead body is stiff and the dead body will slowly turn black <-- the living one still white.
I have read a lot of material. I can't find any reason. They don't look diseased to me. I have attached a photo of them, when they start not eating much.
Help! I have two more months to try another patch.
What have I done wrong?
I need a lot of help, my silkworms never cocoon.
I have been trying to raise silkworms in the last ten years, they all end up stop eating, stop moving, and starve to death.
I have tried different mulberry trees and even grow my own to make sure there is no insecticides.
I bought silkworms from gumtree.com.au. Usually around 30 of them in 2-3 instar.
Pick mulberry leaves, wash and dry them before feeding them. Half of the leaves are keep in fridge (will that changes its chemical?)
Silkworms are kept in plastic box, with normal A4 paper at the bottom, replace everyday. The lid is 10% opened to let air in.
I feed them 2 - 4times a day (there was one year, I fed them 10+ times a day).
During the cold night (15 C), I leave a electic blanket under the box to keep them warm (up to 25C).
Everyday, I pick them up and pat them (will that kill them?)
The silkworms all happily eat and grow fast. In less than a month, they are all big and fat, almost 9 cm long.
After that month, they start to eat less and move less. I thought they are just too fat to move.
Then about two weeks later, they will start to die, not in one go, but in a period of two weeks.
Their poo becomes brown watery, and often blocked their bottom (I think one of the cause of death)
They will shrink and dehydrate. The dead body is stiff and the dead body will slowly turn black <-- the living one still white.
I have read a lot of material. I can't find any reason. They don't look diseased to me. I have attached a photo of them, when they start not eating much.
Help! I have two more months to try another patch.
What have I done wrong?
That is hard. I will wear stenciled glove before I move them to a clean box then.
