New Zebra Silkworms

[Dyesub Dave]

Hey .. has anybody heard of these or tried them yet. Apparently they are hardier and grow faster than regular silkworms. I can't seem to find much info on the net however the price is almost twice that of regular silkworms/eggs.

Just wondering if it's worth the extra expense.

Thanks ... Dyesub Dave.

 

[ChromaChameleons]

If it improves the hatch rate and survivability , then that might justify the higher cost.

What Ive also heard, is that only one sex is striped. the other is white.

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Yeah ... I was thinking the same thing. I was hoping to see if anybody has experience with them to verify this.

I don't think that the sexes would come into play unless you're trying to breed the moths to get your own eggs but it would certainly be nice to know for sure.

Thanks ... Dyesub Dave.

 

[Tygerr]

We've had zebra silkworms over here for years. In fact, I didn't even know there was anything special about them, because that's just what silkworms have always looked like to me ever since I was a kid.

They cost exactly the same over here as plain white silkworms.
And in my experience with them as feeder worms so far, they don't seem to be any different to the white ones. Not in eating habits or growth rate, nor hardiness, nor reproductive ability.
I can't say for sure what the hatch rate is since I've never really tracked it, but I haven't noticed any remarkable difference.

In my opinion, I would be wary of paying double for something that for all intents and purposes seems to be exactly the same thing...

But as I said, I've never really been looking for differences. So I'll be sure to try a relatively controlled experiment with them next time I get in some silkworm batches - I'm now curious to see if there really is any difference, especially in the growth rates.

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Hey Tygerr ... thanks for your response. I was wondering the same things.

I've found that the regular ones we get here are quite often subject to just dying off for no apparent reason. I'm certainly no expert in raising these guys but some batches seem to be fine while others have a significant mortality rate.

I've read several articles talking about various diseases/bacteria that infect them and was wondering if these ZEBRA silkies would perhaps not be so susceptible to such ailments. Of course an increased hatch and growth rate would be a bonus.

I don't think I'm going to spend any extra on these worms unless I hear some conclusive reports of some advantage to getting them.

Thanks ... Dyesub Dave.

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Coastal is selling them for the same price right now. It's fattening up season form my deremensis, so I figured I'd get them some silkworms. If they're easier to sex, it'll help me in getting some eggs - I dont' want to have to hold back too many males if I want more females.

I dont' have problems with silkworms dying off as long as I keep them somewhat clean. I dont' even cook the food. Last time, I fed them food from a package that was opened for two years. Just mixed it with warm water and fed it off. Didn't lose many at all.

Still have th erest of that package - it's gotta be 3 years old by now!

 

[Treetop Chameleons]

i orderd a bunch of eggs not to long ago but i havent hatched any out yet they are still sitting next to the milk. im trying to use up the rest of my regular silkys but i will let you know if i see any differince.

 

[dodolah]

supposedly, the striped one is female. While the male is just white.

 

[CammieNLeno]

I think i just got an e-newsletter from coastal and If i remember correctly..they have reduced their price to the reg silkworm cost - I THINK.. i deleted it after skimming through it

 

[Dave]

Was there ever any conclusion to this? Are Zebras better? Did anyone's trials come out?

-Dave

 

[dodolah]

i just receive 2 batch of this zebra silkie.
so far, it's not much different. we'll see.

 

[Dankmeleon]

i think silkworms are so freaking gross

 

[Nicodemayo]

yeah they do smell pretty sick. I use them because they dont escape and my chams seems more hydrated than ever when i use them, even though i have a herp mist that mists 4x daily for 2min each.

 

[Tygerr]

i think silkworms are so freaking gross

What a meanie! Silkworms are cute little buggers
With their caterpillar loping and their little suction cup feet that stick onto you when you pick them up... Then there is the way they all stick their heads up in the air when you pass your hand over them (some people say it's a defensive posture, but I think it's 'cause they are bowing to me as their ruler...)
How could you not like them?

 

[dodolah]

What a meanie! Silkworms are cute little buggers
With their caterpillar loping and their little suction cup feet that stick onto you when you pick them up... Then there is the way they all stick their heads up in the air when you pass your hand over them (some people say it's a defensive posture, but I think it's 'cause they are bowing to me as their ruler...)
How could you not like them?

i read from a silkies breeder site that it was their way to ask for food. They are one animal that totally dependent on human to survive.

 

[Jamie]

Then there is the way they all stick their heads up in the air when you pass your hand over them (some people say it's a defensive posture, but I think it's 'cause they are bowing to me as their ruler...)
How could you not like them?

LMAO!!

I just got some of the Zebra's and don't see much difference... yet...

 

[Dave Weldon]

Was there ever any conclusion to this? Are Zebras better? Did anyone's trials come out?

Howdy Dave,
For me, the real test is making it through the year without any batches of Zebra silkworms going into liquification . Like I said before, when a silkworm batch is good they seem to stay good and when a batch is bad, there is nothing you can do to save them. I've had a batch or two with no problems but it is too early for me to say whether they are better or not. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Scott85]

I've been looking at getting a batch of worms myself. Having never cared for them before I went on a search for info. While looking for info on raising them I came across an explaination for the liquidification Dave is speaking of. Its a disease called grasserie, and that ooze is infectious to the other worms. The pictures are kinda gross...

http://www.wormspit.com/grasserie.htm

They also offer a method that was taken from Indian text to remove the worms that are infected, without spreading the ooze. Even before they show the outward signs of infection.

http://www.wormspit.com/netting.htm

 

[FaunaBgirl]

I've been using the zebra silkies for a few months or so. Unfirtunately, they are as volatile as the originals. The only difference being that my guys don't seem to care for their taste as much. They have that little spike thing I see on hornworms backside, when they are bigger. I miss the old silkies but am thankful to have any at all.

 

[Tygerr]

They also offer a method that was taken from Indian text to remove the worms that are infected, without spreading the ooze. Even before they show the outward signs of infection.

http://www.wormspit.com/netting.htm

That is such a great technique. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.