Silkworm experts?

[Greenhorn]

This was my first try at raising silkworms from eggs. Of the 500 eggs i removed from the refrigerator only about 200 hatched and of the 200 that hatched only 10 now survive. I don't have access to silkworm artificial food so i have to use leaves.

Any ideas on how to get a better rate to survive ?

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy,

Take a peek at this article and see if it helps:
http://www.chameleonnews.com/silkworms.html

I'm assuming that you were using Mulberry leaves. Baby silkies would need "baby" leaves. They are the really tender leaves.

No access to chow? All it takes is money . Usually anyone who is selling you eggs can sell you chow. If not then try www.mulberryfarms.com as one example. Chow makes egg hatching/rearing fairly straightforward.

 

[Greenhorn]

Well, I live in South Africa and if i needed silkworm chow it would have to be imported. Does anyone know if i can get it locally from South Africa?

I read the article and it helped lots, for the moment i have ordered some chow from Costal Silkworms.