Silkworms the best food?
- Thread starter MattandRicco
- Start date
MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Actually I believe roaches are considered to be the healthiest feeder...they didn’t put them on that list.
My vet told me that silkworms are the second best feeder though.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
I don't know how to define either "healthiest" or "best"—they're both weasel words.
IMO, and from everything I've read, a varied diet (variety) is preferred. This doesn't necessarily mean both silkies & dubias in the same meal together (although some do that). There are lots of ways one could vary it up—rotate staples, supplement with occasional treats, etc. YMMV.
IMO, and from everything I've read, a varied diet (variety) is preferred. This doesn't necessarily mean both silkies & dubias in the same meal together (although some do that). There are lots of ways one could vary it up—rotate staples, supplement with occasional treats, etc. YMMV.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
they are bags of water with a calcium shell. You would starve to death on a full stomach...
Spinach is densest vegetarian source at 49% protein by calorie. Spinach is 23 Calories (per 100g). 4 calories per gram of protein. So for your pet human to get in 150g of protein per day, they would have to eat 4 pounds of spinach a day.
Caterpillars are similar. they look great on paper.
Spinach is densest vegetarian source at 49% protein by calorie. Spinach is 23 Calories (per 100g). 4 calories per gram of protein. So for your pet human to get in 150g of protein per day, they would have to eat 4 pounds of spinach a day.
Caterpillars are similar. they look great on paper.
saradoggy10
Established Member
Following! I would love to hear more. I would love to breed maybe one or two bugs only and buy the variety of the rest.
I was thinking having silkworms mainly and maybe dubia roaches but they hardcore creep me out
I was thinking having silkworms mainly and maybe dubia roaches but they hardcore creep me out
DocZ
Chameleon Enthusiast
So from what I’ve read One of silkworms advantage is that they do have some natural Vitamin A content, but similar poor Calcium to phosphorus ratio as the other common feeders
https://www.completecritter.com/feeder-insects.html
Black soldier fly larvae are one of few commonly available feeders with a positive Ca : P ratios that I’m aware of
As far As gut loading goes, Finke 2003 Showed cricket Calcium And vitamin A content and Silkworm calcium content increased linearly with gut load supplements
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/zoo.10082
Interestingly, some studies have shown UVB exposure in locusts, crickets, mealworms, and BSFL showed increases in D2 and D3 content.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-29232-w
It would be interesting to see if this increase in D2,D3 from UVB exposure affected calcium uptake and Ca : P ratios in UVB exposed feeders
get ready to make UVB enclosures for all your feeders
https://www.completecritter.com/feeder-insects.html
Black soldier fly larvae are one of few commonly available feeders with a positive Ca : P ratios that I’m aware of
As far As gut loading goes, Finke 2003 Showed cricket Calcium And vitamin A content and Silkworm calcium content increased linearly with gut load supplements
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/zoo.10082
Interestingly, some studies have shown UVB exposure in locusts, crickets, mealworms, and BSFL showed increases in D2 and D3 content.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-29232-w
It would be interesting to see if this increase in D2,D3 from UVB exposure affected calcium uptake and Ca : P ratios in UVB exposed feeders
get ready to make UVB enclosures for all your feeders
SauceGandhi
Avid Member
This chart only lists 4 "nutrients" and 5 feeders lol. This tells us nothing other than silkworms are high in protein relative to these worms selected for comparison. Before getting too hyped, let's remember that this is an advertisement, and at the end of the day, "healthiest and most nutritious" is not really a thing for animals that eat a wide range of small creatures with various nutritional profiles.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
I agree I wouldn't usually rely on data from a vendor, but it's not like there isn't more or better information out there...
nutritional data Bombyx mori
Ridick
Member
I'm not sure if best, but discoids and dubias are great feeders (staple IMHO). BSFL calcium to phosphorus ratio cannot be beat, hornworms the best for hydration, and you can go on and on, the best is in variety as they would have it in nature where they eat bugs, flies, bees, lizards, birds etc, etc.
