Silk worm project!!
- Thread starter Whatcamo
- Start date
armyrec1
New Member
We have a batch of worms that are growing at the moment. They are around 1/2" but today we had more eggs hatch out. Our goal is to always have them available, we still have tons of eggs in the refrigerator so hopefully this will will achievable.
We never used anything other than a container and just cleaned them out, they had plastic mesh on a few of the sides and we learnt to be able to see just before they are ready to cocoon. (They kind of change shape, its like they get shorter and stumpy. A little tight looking and they also change color to a kind of browny, yellow tone) when we noticed that then we transferred to another container that was full of the cut up toilet rolls. There they happily built their cocoons
As for your empty cocoons people....you should try selling them on Etsy on Ebay. They make great things to use in crafts. They look so pretty when they are dyed. Plus it can make you some money back
yayyyyy!!
Oh and our eggs have been in the fridge now since Oct 2011 and we are hatching them.....they are hatching perfect.
We never used anything other than a container and just cleaned them out, they had plastic mesh on a few of the sides and we learnt to be able to see just before they are ready to cocoon. (They kind of change shape, its like they get shorter and stumpy. A little tight looking and they also change color to a kind of browny, yellow tone) when we noticed that then we transferred to another container that was full of the cut up toilet rolls. There they happily built their cocoons
As for your empty cocoons people....you should try selling them on Etsy on Ebay. They make great things to use in crafts. They look so pretty when they are dyed. Plus it can make you some money back
yayyyyy!!
Oh and our eggs have been in the fridge now since Oct 2011 and we are hatching them.....they are hatching perfect.
armyrec1
New Member
We've noticed that they kind of get a doughnut shape to them.We got new hatchling silkies this morning and its only been about a week since we took them out the fridge. I think its because the last few days it has been very warm. We just sit our eggs on the top of the fridge as it is under a ledge and very warm and dark. We have a incubator too but choose the fridge over that as we seem to get better results
I have some silks growing on now of all sizes. I can't resist feeding off the big fat juicy ones to my Chams before they spin though.
My plan is to separate some to grow on as moths though so start the cycle again.
How many moths will I need approximately to breed say 100 eggs? How long will they need to be together before mating?
My plan is to separate some to grow on as moths though so start the cycle again.
How many moths will I need approximately to breed say 100 eggs? How long will they need to be together before mating?
Miss Lily
Chameleon Enthusiast
Each female can lay anything up to 250 eggs. They will start to mate immediately after they emerge from the cocoon. The female emits a scent to attract the males and they mate pretty much straight away (no time to waste, lol)! They will stay 'locked' for 24 hours or more before they separate and the female will lay her eggs. Some females will lay instantly whereas others will rest first.
Hoj
Friendly Grasshopper
acctaully now that i think about it, it should be totally legal. Canada has some pretty lax laws on impoting of food and anphibians, ( unless cites regulated) if you are interested in selling a few say 100 or so shoot me a pm and we can discuss a price and shippping cost and waht not.
thx
hoj
chuckd82nd
New Member
do the chams eat the moths too?
Could you help me? I have bred silkworms but Im still having problem with med to adult size. What exactly did you use for screening to keep them off frass? Also in your pictures It looks like a mound of food underneath them.. I dont do because I use incubator and humidity never allows food to dry. Can you tell me how often you clean them?
thanks for you help. I been trying different screening but seems like it must not be the exact thing guys are using so thats why I ask exactly what. Also you did 600 at once im doing 200 and 300 at a time and I dont no what is so difficult.
thanks for you help. I been trying different screening but seems like it must not be the exact thing guys are using so thats why I ask exactly what. Also you did 600 at once im doing 200 and 300 at a time and I dont no what is so difficult.
I forgot to mention Ive used 1/4 metal screen and wasnt good to hard and also they feel through and I lost those and the got dirty. Then I used the petscreen as someone above and frass was too big so im thinking its for small ones. I dont really need anything for small ones. I just need exact name of proper screen for med to adults. Im going nuts.
Miss Lily
Chameleon Enthusiast
I used the largest gauge plastic canvas, although the holes were too small for frass to fall through once they get to the final few days. I just put them on paper towels for the last few days until they started to spin. I also kept mine in the tubs that live food comes in and only kept 3 or 4 of the largest silks in one tub.
Robyrango
New Member
Im not sure what plastic tubs your referring too. I have them in two plastic tupper wear one for newbies and on for adults. There the largest I can do and still fit in incubator Im thinking its larger or around size of sheet of paper. I also did a mesh that was too small petscreen when adults the frass doesnt go through and didnt work. But if i can get them too 3 or 4 days of spinning Il just have to find something else as well thats all.
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You said you only put 3 or 4 in one tub? How do you do that if your doing 200 at a time? I must have missunderstood.
what is plastic gauge canvas called at store? What store? I went the other day and asked what carpenters cloth that whatcamo got and they laughed at me lol.
btw thanks for your input.
whatcamo mentioned something about carpenters cloth wondering if it has any spaces for frass..
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You said you only put 3 or 4 in one tub? How do you do that if your doing 200 at a time? I must have missunderstood.
what is plastic gauge canvas called at store? What store? I went the other day and asked what carpenters cloth that whatcamo got and they laughed at me lol.
btw thanks for your input.
whatcamo mentioned something about carpenters cloth wondering if it has any spaces for frass..
