Mulberry trees

[Bmjo]

I’ve been thinking about breeding silkworms and i think I’m going to do it but the chow costs way too much so i was thinking about ordering a dwarf mulberry tree from coastal silkworms and i was wondering howBig do dwarf trees get

 

[bobcochran]

Not big enough to support a silk worm colony. They eat a lot! You'll need more than one. I have 4 weeping Mulberry trees that are ~10 years old, still not enough.

 

[Bmjo]

Not big enough to support a silk worm colony. They eat a lot! You'll need more than one. I have 4 weeping Mulberry trees that are ~10 years old, still not enough.

Welp looks like I’m not breeding silkworms lol

 

[Bmjo]

If i use wild mulberry leaves could i chance giving my chameleon something

 

[NickTide]

If i use wild mulberry leaves could i chance giving my chameleon something

"Something" meaning disease or a chemical? I doubt disease but a chemical is always possible. I always try to feed my bugs after I feed my chams (or on an off day)... particularly if it is a new bag of carrots, apples etc.. That way the bugs have a day or two to die before I feed my chams should there be chemicals on them.

As for the trees... pretty much the entire US has some species of them. Learn to recognize it and keep an eye out. Schools around here don't spray anything and friends and neighbors could be asked. You definitely could supplement your own supply and you may still need to feed some commercial feed if you are raising a lot. I have read that you can also feed carrot shavings. If I remember correctly (look it up to be sure), they grow nicely but when they are young they really need leaves or feed and for cacooning they need it... but you supplement with it in there mid life.

If you are just raising them for a cham or too, it may be more cost effective to buy eggs.

 

[Longhorn1234]

Not big enough to support a silk worm colony. They eat a lot! You'll need more than one. I have 4 weeping Mulberry trees that are ~10 years old, still not enough.

What's the size of your colony? :0

 

[bobcochran]

What's the size of your colony? :0

Good question! I raise about 1,000 silkworms at a time. About a week after the eggs hatch I start another 1,000 eggs, so I have a continuous supply. The very young worms take quite some time to grow to a useable size, but after they grow to 1/2-3/4 of an inch they start consuming a lot of leaves or chow and really growing fast. But like all other feeders, the chams get tired of silk worms. Then I take a break from them.