Soldier Fly Larvae & Silk Worms

[Charliefoxtrot98]

So I just ordered some silk worms along with Soldier Fly Larvae from one of our sponsors. My question being, what do I feed both of them? I read that the Silk Worms need Mulberry leaves and I can feed the Soldier Fly Larvae scraps and such? Anyone have some input so I can ensure they are gut loaded properly to ensure my chameleon gets the most nutrition needed? Thank you very much!

 

[CamoChameleonsHuman]

BSFL will eat anything. Silkworms will only eat mulberry leaves or silkworm chow

 

[Charliefoxtrot98]

BSFL will eat anything. Silkworms will only eat mulberry leaves or silkworm chow

Thank you very much! As far as storing them, what would you recommend?

 

[CamoChameleonsHuman]

Thank you very much! As far as storing them, what would you recommend?

BSFL store at room temp. Silkworms like humidity and 80* temps. I put my silks in my cham room next to his lights.

 

[Chameleomom]

Make sure you have a locking lid because they will and do turn into flies. Blueberry loves the flies and the chase

 

[Charliefoxtrot98]

Make sure you have a locking lid because they will and do turn into flies. Blueberry loves the flies and the chase

I went ahead and got me one! Do you know where I could find Mulberry leaves or should I just buy the silkworm chow?

 

[CamoChameleonsHuman]

I went ahead and got me one! Do you know where I could find Mulberry leaves or should I just buy the silkworm chow?

Unless you have your own tree or access to one you're better off with the chow

 

[Charliefoxtrot98]

Unless you have your own tree or access to one you're better off with the chow

Sounds good!

 

[snitz427]

Coastal silkworms has good chow, @Spyro sells some too. If you only bought enough to feed then they were probably shipped with enough to feed them for about a week.

If you want to pupate them, they eat a LOT. I probably used a 1/2lb of dry food for 25 or so to pupate. With about 3-400 worms right now they eat 1/2lb of dry chow per week. Easily!

You dont need a locking container for BSFL. The flies won’t push the lid open. Just open the container slowly and you’ll see if there’s a fly. They are slow so you’ll have plent of time to close the lid and let them loose in your cham’s cage.

 

[snitz427]

Oh and BSFL will eat almost anything. The only exception may be bones! So if you need to dispose of a body, you’re SOL, but otherwise you can feed them some produce scraps.

 

[Rst_Cham]

I just got two pounds of the chow from Morifeeders.com (@Spyro), good price, fast shipping, chameleon forums member.

 

[Daesie11]

BSFL store at room temp. Silkworms like humidity and 80* temps. I put my silks in my cham room next to his lights.

How would you store them if you want to speed up the pupating process? Is there a way?

 

[CamoChameleonsHuman]

How would you store them if you want to speed up the pupating process? Is there a way?

@jamest0o0 would know. I haven't made flies yet.

 

[salty dog]

Warm or warmer temps and good food, mangos, carrots, spinach, bee pollen,kale organic stuff...will promote pupating, I get flies (pupated bsfl) from my bin every other day. I keep mine in my cham room, so they are at 65 night and 87 day

 

[Chameleomom]

Make sure you have a locking lid because they will and do turn into flies

Ok I should have not said LOCKING lid. I put my BSFL in mason jars and then cover the top with a paper towel and put the outer metal ring back on. The flies can escape thru tiny holes. @jajeanpierre taught me this long ago

 

[salty dog]

I use a plastic bin and drilled very very small holes in the top, very thin drill bit, and don't have any problems, my bin is kind of tall

 

[GoodKarma19]

Word of advice: keep your BSFL in a clear bin/with a mesh lid so you can see those flies... I just brought home ~20 pupating BSFL yesterday (in the original Phoenix black cup), and whipped the lid off without thinking. Flies EVERYWHERE! Thankfully I was right by Lily's cage with the door open, and most of them flocked to the lights.

I keep mine on a clear Tupperware with coconut coir as bedding, and throw them scraps and occasionally some Bug Burger. My local pet store has started saving the pupating larvae for me, so most of mine are beyond the point of needing food.

 

[Daesie11]

Word of advice: keep your BSFL in a clear bin/with a mesh lid so you can see those flies... I just brought home ~20 pupating BSFL yesterday (in the original Phoenix black cup), and whipped the lid off without thinking. Flies EVERYWHERE! Thankfully I was right by Lily's cage with the door open, and most of them flocked to the lights.

I keep mine on a clear Tupperware with coconut coir as bedding, and throw them scraps and occasionally some Bug Burger. My local pet store has started saving the pupating larvae for me, so most of mine are beyond the point of needing food.

Hmm, I wonder if I can work out a deal like that with my pet store!

 

[GoodKarma19]

Hmm, I wonder if I can work out a deal like that with my pet store!

Can't hurt to ask! It helps that I'm friendly with the manager, haha! I'm pretty well liked, there, and with their permission I occasionally hang around for a few hours and help answer husbandry questions.