Silkworms INSTEAD OF Crickets?
- Thread starter Mesnik
- Start date
Yes, and very much yes. You can see the nutritional value for both here
http://www.mulberryfarms.com/faq.htm
http://www.mulberryfarms.com/faq.htm
Mesnik
New Member
I saw that table!! That is impressive when you compare the numbers!
So the next question that begs an answer is why are crickets so much more widely used? Price? It can't be for care, cause I have just received my first batch or crix, 500 of them, and I don't think is going to be much fun...
It almost feel like the hobby is to take care of the crickets and not the cham!!!
Thanks for the insights!
Roberto.
So the next question that begs an answer is why are crickets so much more widely used? Price? It can't be for care, cause I have just received my first batch or crix, 500 of them, and I don't think is going to be much fun...
It almost feel like the hobby is to take care of the crickets and not the cham!!!
Thanks for the insights!
Roberto.
Mesnik
New Member
Well, I just ordered my first batch of silkworm from Mulberrys... Also ordered the "chow". Lets see how it goes.
I spoke with someone there and I was told these worms don't need to be dusted with Calcium... now that I am sure is another big debate, no?
And how about other foods for the worms? I can't believe that the "chow" is the only thing we need feed them, right?
Questions, questions, and more questions... when you think you got one figured out, 3 more pop up!!
I think I might go back to having a dog...HE!HE!
I spoke with someone there and I was told these worms don't need to be dusted with Calcium... now that I am sure is another big debate, no?
And how about other foods for the worms? I can't believe that the "chow" is the only thing we need feed them, right?
Questions, questions, and more questions... when you think you got one figured out, 3 more pop up!!
I think I might go back to having a dog...HE!HE!
Jeweledchameleons
Avid Member
but it's best to give them lots of different kinds of food
and have them hunt around the cage for it
you'll find that they'll be healthier
both mentally and physically.
Due to their high water content I believe
it's possible to over hydrate a hungry pet
on either silk or hornworms and they'll quickly turn off to them
If you feed them silkies, mix their diet up with some papaya beetles
and have them hunt around the cage for it
you'll find that they'll be healthier
both mentally and physically.
Due to their high water content I believe
it's possible to over hydrate a hungry pet
on either silk or hornworms and they'll quickly turn off to them
If you feed them silkies, mix their diet up with some papaya beetles
PardalisGirl
Avid Member
Variety like nature provides..........
Silkworms are an excellent choice for chams........I am, however,firm in my belief that we should provide our chams with a variety of foods like nature provides. Silkworms are high in calcium and protein and low in fat. Gut loaded crickets are high in other nutrients that the silkworms don't have. Roaches have other nutrients that none of these other things have. Butterworms are high in calcium too. Each food item has something the others don't have. Also, think about this. Your chams are stuck in a cage all day with the same view. Sure they are safe from predators, but their world is pretty limited. I think adding a variety of foods and having crickets to chase adds interest to their life in captivity. Don't get me wrong. I feed out a lot of silkworms. I just got six hundred medium and large silkworms from Mulberry the other day. I use them as a way to interact with my chams. I have a lot of fun feeding the silkworms individually to my chams. They see me carrying the container I keep them in and race up to the cage door to get ready for their treat. Even the most fiesty cham will usually eat one from my fingers. I have a blast feeding them out. They are excellent for gravid females too
Silkworms are an excellent choice for chams........I am, however,firm in my belief that we should provide our chams with a variety of foods like nature provides. Silkworms are high in calcium and protein and low in fat. Gut loaded crickets are high in other nutrients that the silkworms don't have. Roaches have other nutrients that none of these other things have. Butterworms are high in calcium too. Each food item has something the others don't have. Also, think about this. Your chams are stuck in a cage all day with the same view. Sure they are safe from predators, but their world is pretty limited. I think adding a variety of foods and having crickets to chase adds interest to their life in captivity. Don't get me wrong. I feed out a lot of silkworms. I just got six hundred medium and large silkworms from Mulberry the other day. I use them as a way to interact with my chams. I have a lot of fun feeding the silkworms individually to my chams. They see me carrying the container I keep them in and race up to the cage door to get ready for their treat. Even the most fiesty cham will usually eat one from my fingers. I have a blast feeding them out. They are excellent for gravid females too
As far as I know silkworms will only eat the chow and/or Mulberry leaves. A Vet told me that she feeds them vegetables etc but I'm not so sure she knew what shes talking about. I do dust mine with Calcium still, not sure why one would not as they are about equal in Calcium as a cricket.
Sara270
New Member
I found this chart that compares prices for different companies for all different feeders. http://www.ciar.org/feedercharts/insect.html
Although, may be a bit out dated.
Although, may be a bit out dated.
Jeweledchameleons
Avid Member
Yeah I would be REAL INTERESTED in WTF she's talking about
that premade chow took some real fine tuning before it those silkworms would eat it
and they'll still turn their nose up at it if mulberry leaves have been recently available.
I found a source a few years ago for BULK silkworm / hornworm chow
it was expensive as they only sold it in bulk.
I'll see what I can do about digging up that link and offering a group buy option for people
that way we might save a bit of $$$ but that's another thread.
