HELP ME! Silkworms dying!

[stompkins12]

So I got silkworms and I plan to breed them for a staple food supply for my little veiled chameleon. I bought a Mulberry tree to feed them, but when I fed a couple of the worms with the leaves, THEY DIED. Does anyone know how to succesfully wash insecticides off of mulberry leaves?!! Pleas eant help would be awesome. Thanks!

 

[RyU]

You should not be using silkworms for a staple diet. They should only be given as treats. Try Dubia roaches and/or crickets.

Sorry, I don't know much about the worms.

 

[pigglett79]

Are you sure they died from the leaves? Did the tree for sure have insecticide on it?

They are pretty fragile and can die for various other reason. They can get bacterial infections and die due to lack of a real immune system. They can also carry the silk worm virus which can be hard to eradicate. If they are turning to black much it is usually the silk worm virus. I had it come to my house with a shipment of worms and it took a while to get it out. I had to keep my house silk worm free for 3 months and bleach all of the surfaces and containers I used. The virus is air borne as well so you want to air your house out as well.

I would first be sure what it is that is killing them and proceed accordingly.

You will know when its the silk worm virus because all silks form any supplier will just start turning to black much and dying in your house.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

You should not be using silkworms for a staple diet. They should only be given as treats. Try Dubia roaches and/or crickets.

Sorry, I don't know much about the worms.

I think that you may be getting silkworms confused with waxworms, which are high in fat and nothing else - Silkworms are an absolutely excellent feeder and are one of the best staples that you can give to a chameleon.

 

[RyU]

I think that you may be getting silkworms confused with waxworms, which are high in fat and nothing else - Silkworms are an absolutely excellent feeder and are one of the best staples that you can give to a chameleon.

I meant silkworms. I've read many posts about them not having any chitin that chameleons need. It's the main reason I never used them as a staple...

 

[stompkins12]

I've done tons of research on silkworms, and they are great staples. And i know it is the leaves. They showed all of the signs of insecticide poisoning. The only ones that died were the ones i seperated into a new clean container with leaves instead of silkworm chow.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

I meant silkworms. I've read many posts about them not having any chitin that chameleons need. It's the main reason I never used them as a staple...

... taken from more than one site as a result of a Google search, so I must disagree with you RyU....

According to many, including Anole expert A. Lanolis, Silkworms are naturally the healthiest insect you can feed your pet. Silkworms are low in fat content and are a high source of Calcium, Vitamins B1, B2, and B3, Protein, Iron, Magnesium and Sodium. As an example.....

Silkworms have 63.8% protein and .34% calcium compared to 11.4% and .08% the same values for crickets.

 

[RyU]

I've done tons of research on silkworms, and they are great staples. And i know it is the leaves. They showed all of the signs of insecticide poisoning. The only ones that died were the ones i seperated into a new clean container with leaves instead of silkworm chow.

I'm just being cautious but I don't think I would use that tree if it poisoned my feeders.

I'll have to research on silkworms again and try breeding them myself. I like them over superworms because they can actually grip stuff and walk around on the vines. The only reason I never used them is because of the "chitin" issue I mentioned earlier.

 

[Lazy Boy]

I would always wash the leaves after I picked them with hot water and rub them. You can fill them lose a slick filling as you clean them. Silks are very good feeders. I breed mine and keep them year around. I use chow over winter and leaves during spring thru fall.

 

[RyU]

... taken from more than one site as a result of a Google search, so I must disagree with you RyU....

According to many, including Anole expert A. Lanolis, Silkworms are naturally the healthiest insect you can feed your pet. Silkworms are low in fat content and are a high source of Calcium, Vitamins B1, B2, and B3, Protein, Iron, Magnesium and Sodium. As an example.....

Silkworms have 63.8% protein and .34% calcium compared to 11.4% and .08% the same values for crickets.

Yea, I read that way and decided to err on the side of caution. I've only ever used them as a treat so I don't know the long term effects of using them as a staple first hand. I will definitely give them a go though, thanks for your input! -=)

 

[ZiggyStardust]

Yea, I read that way and decided to err on the side of caution. I've only ever used them as a treat so I don't know the long term effects of using them as a staple first hand. I will definitely give them a go though, thanks for your input! -=)

Welcome! FWIW I have been feeding them as a staple to both my Chameleons every other day each week for the last 6 months and they are both growing like weeds.

 

[TreyLcham]

is it very humid in the room or container they are in? Humidity can cause them to get fungle and bacterial infections very easy. What i do is i use a pc fan and glued it to the container i keep mine in and have a couple holes on the top of the container and blow the air out to make sure the humidity of the leafs or chow doesnt stay in the container.

 

[kinyonga]

Chitin in silkworms...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20149871
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10704991

 

[RyU]

Chitin in silkworms...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20149871
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10704991

Good to know! Thanks....want to say dude but yea ^^

 

[kinyonga]

No dude here!