dodolah
Retired Moderator
they are good climbers (not on smooth surface however)..
but, how are they gonna escape if they crawl so slow?
SilkWorms 101
- Thread starter Vegas Chad
- Start date
they are good climbers (not on smooth surface however)..
but, how are they gonna escape if they crawl so slow?
chameleon guy
New Member
they are good climbers (not on smooth surface however)..
but, how are they gonna escape if they crawl so slow?
So on a smooth surface are they better or worse at climbing than crickets?
ColorCham427
Avid Member
they dont go anywhere lol
dodolah
Retired Moderator
crickets pretty much cannot climb smooth surface, can they?
So, i would have to opt for silkies.. during the cocooning phase, they somehow manage to climb the top of my glass tank by slowly spinning their silk on the glass. By the time they get to the top corner, they spun themselves into a coccoon..
I don't see how I would be freak out seeing silkies escaping.. it is very unlikely,
Silkies are slow moving caterpillar at least much slower than crickets
...You forgot my notes about silkies? they only know how to do 3 things, eat, poop, and mate.. escaping is not their main forte.. the only time they try to wander is when they are not busy eating.. usually they start wandering when they are about to turn into a cocoon.. even so, they would not wander too far. Plus, the moth cannot fly.. and won't survive without human helps. Silkies destiny is 100% dependent on their human owner.
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
I never use lids on silkworm containers. They are capable of going wherever they like, using their suction cup feet they seem to be able to climb smooth surfaces. But they DONT. If you feed them, they have no reason to go anywhere.
edit: until its time to cocoon. If you keep them that long, ensure they have something to roll up in or indeed they may go looking for a suitable site. I put one or two quarters of a cut up toilet paper rolls into the container, and this is sufficient for them to cocoon on. See last picture in this post: https://www.chameleonforums.com/what-do-you-keep-26605/#post241334 and first pic in next post.
edit: until its time to cocoon. If you keep them that long, ensure they have something to roll up in or indeed they may go looking for a suitable site. I put one or two quarters of a cut up toilet paper rolls into the container, and this is sufficient for them to cocoon on. See last picture in this post: https://www.chameleonforums.com/what-do-you-keep-26605/#post241334 and first pic in next post.
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sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
I would love to raise silkworms. I mean the thought of 1000 silkworm eggs for $15 is tempting. But every time I start to look into this, it all seems like too much work
It really isnt hard at all. Put eggs on top of a piece of paper towel in a plastic container, in a Warm room. Eggs hatch. Feed the silkies and keep them room temp or slightly warmer. Keep feeding. Eventually they will grow big. Give them something to spin cocoons in/or. Wait. Moths come out. They generally figure out how to mate without trouble. I sometimes put a male next to a female if they seem lost. Give moths something to lay eggs on, like paper towel. Repeat.
ColorCham427
Avid Member
how long does it take for the eggs to hatch if u dont stick em in the fridge for a month or so?
CleaTheChameleon
New Member
Ok this thread has been a ton of help but let me get this straight because im a little confused.
I have a ton of eggs in the fridge so i leave them in the fridge for a month and then take them out and put them in room temperature at 77-80 degrees F?
I know this may sound like i no nothing but im so confused.
I have a ton of eggs in the fridge so i leave them in the fridge for a month and then take them out and put them in room temperature at 77-80 degrees F?
I know this may sound like i no nothing but im so confused.
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yup. But if you have "a ton" you might consider taking out only a portion of the eggs and leave the rest in the fridge until you need to hatch out more
dodolah
Retired Moderator
I experimented one batch in early 2008 by not putting them in the fridge. I just got some of them hatched yesterday. So, based on my sole experience, mine hatch about a year later or longer (since I still have a quite few that has not hatched yet).
While the one on the fridge, hatched very soon after the refrigeration period is over.
dodolah
Retired Moderator
Ok this thread has been a ton of help but let me get this straight because im a little confused.
I have a ton of eggs in the fridge so i leave them in the fridge for a month and then take them out and put them in room temperature at 77-80 degrees F?
I know this may sound like i no nothing but im so confused.
sorry if the instruction I wrote was not clear enough.
But, yes.. take them out after a month or longer. They can stay in fridge up to 6 month (some claim up to a year); but, I have never kept mine in the fridge that long since I have 6 hungry chameleons to feed all the time.
You can incubate them if you like; since you live in Florida (as I am in SoCal) where the weather is quite hot, they can stay in room temp.
Have your #2 brush ready to avoid crushing Kegos during handling.
CleaTheChameleon
New Member
Thanks a ton dodlah
Chameleonboy
Avid Member
They may be FULL. Wait till tomorrow and see if they continue to eat. How big are they? If they are big they may be trying to pupate and start to spin there cocoon.
-Clemonde
dakotakleiner
New Member
What's a #2 brush? Where do I get one? How long will it take to get hatchling up to about 1/2 inch or 3/4 or so...... also I hear that silk worms are more healthier than crickets aand make a good staple is this true?
