Silkworm Questions

[mudshark1971]

I feed Zebra Silworms to my Chams now as a Primary source. Is there any difference between species of Silkworms when it comes to nutrients. I was thinking of buying Zebra Gold eggs, or maybe one of the other 5 choices I have to purchase eggs. Just wondering if there is a diference other than price?

 

[sandrachameleon]

If you will be feeding them the same stuff, and as both are very similar bugs, there is likely not much difference nutritionally. Might be something seemingly different to the cham, and therefore more interesting, if you switch it up now and then.

You can also change up what you feed the silkworms, regardless of type, to try to vary their nutritional value as feeders/prey

 

[ladysilkworm]

hello,

the nutrients are all the same in silkworms. The zebra and the blacks (tiger silks) are just a genetic coding that probably happened as mutation long time ago and were isolated by the scientists and now commercially bred to be offered as varieties.

The ones that you buy from the big sellers are hybrid strains, meaning that if you bred them they won't be true 100% to their parents. The reverse zebra (aka blacks, tiger silks) especially, is a cross between a pure line and a hybrid line.. and are thus called F1.. and their offsprings are F2 F3 and so forth, and as it further propagates, you will see that it begin to lose the original phenotype that you bought them as. They are commercialized for you to bring more interesting variety to your herps.

The chow are a gutload in itself. It consists of binders, fillers, but also essential vitamins.

The silkworms spin different color silks due to a different genome in them as well. Basically, the white cocoon ones lack a certain enzyme which causes them not to produce a certain color.

 

[ladysilkworm]

I feed Zebra Silworms to my Chams now as a Primary source. Is there any difference between species of Silkworms when it comes to nutrients. I was thinking of buying Zebra Gold eggs, or maybe one of the other 5 choices I have to purchase eggs. Just wondering if there is a diference other than price?

btw, the zebras are marketed to be hardier. Yes that is true, I spoke with their overseas supplier. They are a bivoltine strain which spins smaller cocoons, poorer quality silk, but are stronger. They tolerate heat and humidity well.

THey are specifically bred.

The white ones are bred for silk purpose, but are harder to keep, and are massively bred.

The black ones are also a stronger strain. Also specifically bred. Therefore, commands higher price.