Silkworm journey

[redhorse]

Well!!! The community here are the true silkworm gurus. I still remember comments like, it's to dirty, your food looks old, too much poop etc..... Oh yeah--- most important... You need to put them in the refrigerator (eggs). Note: had no clue what diapause was.. My journey is still in progress with : will the eggs not put in the refrigerator ever hatch- to date they have not but still look okay. Time will tell or they will eventually dry up. WE WILL SEE.
Purpose for the journey (as stated or thought before) ANYONE could do it.. Thanks to all here.
I did see a comment about this being an OLD THREAD--- 1 cycle isn't old. ha ha ha ! I think all threads can be used in someway.
The foods I would use would be the mulberry mix (watered occasionally for moisture) and if I wanted to add more foods the carrots (everything else might bring in bacteria-including the carrots). IMHO those were the foods that minimized mold and the silkworms ate both with minimum issues (all eaten and new food added-- no left overs to rot or mold).
Thanks again for all the help!!!!!!

 

[Sonny13]

It was(still is) a pleasure coming along with you on this journey

 

[bbyoda]

Hi silkworm journey friends - how long do I have to keep the silkworm eggs in the fridge to simulate the diapause? I put them in there then nearly forgot about them.

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi silkworm journey friends - how long do I have to keep the silkworm eggs in the fridge to simulate the diapause? I put them in there then nearly forgot about them.

I keep them in for at least 3 months.

 

[bbyoda]

Thanks @MissSkittles ! According to earlier posts I put mine in my fridge at the end of May so I'll be taking them out soon.

 

[redhorse]

Great question!
1. I tried with no refrigeration--- none hatched ever
2. I did 2 months with about 50% hatch ratio
3. I just pulled more from the fridge 2 days ago and will see what happens. Similar to your time frame ( little over 4 months).
You will have to share some pics when they start hatching. For some reason baby stuff is so cool, even roaches..
This has been one long journey so will update in about a week.

Have a great day

 

[bbyoda]

Oh wow, thanks for the clear breakdown @redhorse ! I'll share what happens with mine as well.

 

[Wain7906]

Just received a order of silkworms. My question is do I dust them with the supplements for my chameleon or just feed them to her plain. I hear they have all nutrients a chameleon needs?

 

[redhorse]

Just my opinion: I do mine plain since I have my critters on a schedule and the worms are more of a treat. Nice and juicy with no gritty after bite. Hope others share their thoughts.

 

[MissSkittles]

Just received a order of silkworms. My question is do I dust them with the supplements for my chameleon or just feed them to her plain. I hear they have all nutrients a chameleon needs?

I dust them the same as I do all other feeders. The only ones I don’t dust is the occasional treats.

 

[Wain7906]

Thanks !

 

[Firewallx]

As far as I know, two months is the minimum requirement. @redhorse, I took out about 40 of the ones that you sent me and 38 hatched. I am holding the last two just in case they are late hatchers.

Look how cute

 

[dinomom]

Just received a order of silkworms. My question is do I dust them with the supplements for my chameleon or just feed them to her plain. I hear they have all nutrients a chameleon needs?

I grab with tweezers and just run the feet through it. It sticks best there and also helps prevent the silk from latching on
to things as well.

 

[redhorse]

we have new babies again

 

[MissSkittles]

we have new babies again

You’re a pro at this now!
I just ordered 500 eggs, but almost all are caved in and look dead. Giving them a chance and a prayer.

 

[redhorse]

What????? I would have sent you some eggs... Hope they turn out i will try and raise a new batch, the last ones became yummy food bites. I would have sent you these ones, since I do stuff just for the heck of it.. Next time---

 

[MissSkittles]

What????? I would have sent you some eggs... Hope they turn out i will try and raise a new batch, the last ones became yummy food bites. I would have sent you these ones, since I do stuff just for the heck of it.. Next time---

That’s so sweet! Thanks! I have some eggs in my mini fridge, but it’s too soon to hatch them. I thought this would give me more silkies than I need and would enable having a nice fresh egg supply for the future, as well as share some silks with others locally. I’ve ordered eggs in the past and 2/3 times they never hatched. Not sure if I’m sent bad eggs or the Florida heat during shipping kills them. I just keep trying.

 

[summerseeking]

we have new babies again

You’re so good with the silkies. They are the one feeder I can seem to find a good groove with breeding. So cool!

 

[redhorse]

You’re so good with the silkies. They are the one feeder I can seem to find a good groove with breeding. So cool!

I feel it is important to constantly remind fellow silky owners, this journey was the doing of others here that guided me to change my ways.
Thanks to all!

 

[redhorse]

3 months in the refrigerator seems to work with this batch.. 100%