Manduca project modifications???
- Thread starter BIGGUN
- Start date
BIGGUN
Avid Member
Anyone?
I just got three pupae to morph into mothes. I kept them in the plastic cup that the dozen hornworms came in. Once they turned into pupae I wrapped them in toilet paper and put them in the cup on top of my cham cage. They emerged tonight and are now in a paper bag. Hopefully they are opposite sexes.
I guess I'll know in a few days.
Kevin
I just got three pupae to morph into mothes. I kept them in the plastic cup that the dozen hornworms came in. Once they turned into pupae I wrapped them in toilet paper and put them in the cup on top of my cham cage. They emerged tonight and are now in a paper bag. Hopefully they are opposite sexes.
I guess I'll know in a few days.
Kevin
BIGGUN
Avid Member
Have they ever turned to pupa for you?
Once they turned I wrapped them in toilet paper, cleaned out the container, and put them back in. I set it with the lid up and then taped off most of the vent holes. once a week I dribbled a couple drops of water down the sides to give them moisture.......there's probably a better way to do this.
It took mine about 4-4.5 weeks to turn to mothes. If you pick up a pupa once it's totally formed it will wiggle its abdomin very noticably. That way you'll know if they're still alive.
Kevin
Once they turned I wrapped them in toilet paper, cleaned out the container, and put them back in. I set it with the lid up and then taped off most of the vent holes. once a week I dribbled a couple drops of water down the sides to give them moisture.......there's probably a better way to do this.
It took mine about 4-4.5 weeks to turn to mothes. If you pick up a pupa once it's totally formed it will wiggle its abdomin very noticably. That way you'll know if they're still alive.
Kevin
CleanLineChameleons
Avid Member
I have found that if you take them out when they start walking around on bottom, they have more of a chance of pupating. Also I think it is 2 weeks before they emerge if you have your 12 hour light cycle.
-chris
-chris
BIGGUN
Avid Member
Chris,
The life cycle charts show the pupa stage as lasting 19-23 days......I think mine took longer because of temp variations.
You should take them out when they start to roam so they don't bother one another as they change. You can put them in a soda bottle with damp pete in it so they can burrow or just toss them in a container with toilet paper rolls covered in loose paper towels. They'll find a place to settle in.
Kevin
The life cycle charts show the pupa stage as lasting 19-23 days......I think mine took longer because of temp variations.
You should take them out when they start to roam so they don't bother one another as they change. You can put them in a soda bottle with damp pete in it so they can burrow or just toss them in a container with toilet paper rolls covered in loose paper towels. They'll find a place to settle in.
Kevin
BIGGUN
Avid Member
Mika has silkworm chow for sale for $7 a pound if you buy a couple pounds.......here's the link.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/silkworm-chow-10149/
You can make your own but it's pretty much a P.I.T.A. and not worth it in my opinion if you can get some from Mika.
Dodola,
If it's been a week I think I'd dig it out and put it a it's own container with 14 hours of light exposure.....try to have decent humidity.... 40% ???
A 2 liter bottle cut near the top to get him in and out would work well. I'd put a couple of inches of damp pete in the bottom to keep the moisture up and you NEED to have a stick or ? for it to climb on to dry it wings.
If you only have one you won't be getting any eggs or worms. They need to mate while they're mothes to lay the eggs. It looks like mine are all the same sex.
They've been together for the full day and still no eggs. I should know for sure tomorrow.
Good luck,
Kevin
https://www.chameleonforums.com/silkworm-chow-10149/
You can make your own but it's pretty much a P.I.T.A. and not worth it in my opinion if you can get some from Mika.
Dodola,
If it's been a week I think I'd dig it out and put it a it's own container with 14 hours of light exposure.....try to have decent humidity.... 40% ???
A 2 liter bottle cut near the top to get him in and out would work well. I'd put a couple of inches of damp pete in the bottom to keep the moisture up and you NEED to have a stick or ? for it to climb on to dry it wings.
If you only have one you won't be getting any eggs or worms. They need to mate while they're mothes to lay the eggs. It looks like mine are all the same sex.
They've been together for the full day and still no eggs. I should know for sure tomorrow.Good luck,
Kevin
dodolah
Retired Moderator
Mika has silkworm chow for sale for $7 a pound if you buy a couple pounds.......here's the link.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/silkworm-chow-10149/
You can make your own but it's pretty much a P.I.T.A. and not worth it in my opinion if you can get some from Mika.
Dodola,
If it's been a week I think I'd dig it out and put it a it's own container with 14 hours of light exposure.....try to have decent humidity.... 40% ???
A 2 liter bottle cut near the top to get him in and out would work well. I'd put a couple of inches of damp pete in the bottom to keep the moisture up and you NEED to have a stick or ? for it to climb on to dry it wings.
If you only have one you won't be getting any eggs or worms. They need to mate while they're mothes to lay the eggs. It looks like mine are all the same sex.
Good luck,
Kevin
thanks, dude.
Actually i have 3 (and i think i will have about 11 more since my chameleon finally start to eat crickets again and ignoring his horn worms.)
I'll get the moss right away
With that kind of appetite mood swing from my cham, I think rearing my own hornworms will be best. At least, i'll have hornworms available for me all year around.
skajari1
New Member
Horn worms
Im glad to hear informations about raising horn worms. I buy the smallest horn worms i can get. They grow fast. last batch i bought with 12 worms cost me $8. My cham ate them in a couple days. He ate no crickets, then he went into a worm mood. I got one of the big fat horm worm, but now i know what to do to try and get it to turn into a moth thanks.
Im glad to hear informations about raising horn worms. I buy the smallest horn worms i can get. They grow fast. last batch i bought with 12 worms cost me $8. My cham ate them in a couple days. He ate no crickets, then he went into a worm mood. I got one of the big fat horm worm, but now i know what to do to try and get it to turn into a moth thanks.
BIGGUN
Avid Member
When they start walking and walking and walking I'd pull them out and either put them in a container with a bunch of paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls covered in layers of paper towels, or a container with 6 or so inches of pete in it they don't eat at this time and will walk around until they dig in and morph.
After a few weeks, I'd say about 17-18 days, you can take them out and give them that 14 hour light exposure. Don't let the temps drop too much during any of this or you could trigger diapause.
Good luck,
Kevin
I'd pull them out and either put them in a container with a bunch of paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls covered in layers of paper towels, or a container with 6 or so inches of pete in it they don't eat at this time and will walk around until they dig in and morph.After a few weeks, I'd say about 17-18 days, you can take them out and give them that 14 hour light exposure. Don't let the temps drop too much during any of this or you could trigger diapause.
Good luck,
Kevin
