They have been moved over!

[Andee]

So some of the silkworm hybrid cocoons have finally become firm enough to safely move over to a new enclosure and remove any possibly dangerous stuff. Even the white ones are actually a pale yellow. I have about 5 more waiting to switched over (I think it will take about 3-4 days at most) and I have another worm currently covered in the golden silk threads and spinning.

 

[JacksJill]

Are you cutting the ends of your cocoons open now or do you wait a certain amount of time?

 

[Andee]

Why would I cut them open?

 

[JacksJill]

Silkworms aren't very good at getting out of their cocoons on their own. Your hybrids may not have that problem.
I carefully cut an x across one end of the cocoon so they can hatch out easier.
Pretty sure I found that in this thread. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/silkworms-101.7906/

 

[Andee]

I have never had an issue with them ever getting out, they take a minimum of around 2 weeks for sure (this is for all my silkworms I have ever had, everything from whites to zebras) and I have only had maybe 5 out of the hundreds I have come out ever get stuck. What you have to make sure is they just are pressed up against something like a cardboard egg crate or tube when they spray the cocoonase on the silk. If they come out the wrong side of the cocoon and are like that then they can't get out. Which is why I keep my guys like I do. I have never cut them open ever.

 

[Andee]

Arent* realized that either got auto corrected or mistyped

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

I have kept silkworms in South Africa a pets as a child and never had them struggle to get out of the cocoons! Now I have been keeping and breeding silk worms to feed to my chameleons and I still do not have this problem! Every now and then I have had some moths that do not emerge out of the cocoon. When I open the cocoon the chrysalis has obviously been dead for s while since it is all dried up.

 

[Andee]

Well and the thing is (this may sound really harsh) I would never help a silk worm with something that it is supposed to be able to do with no issues or help needed. That's asking to introduce weak genes into your genetic line and that could lead to more illnesses etc down the line. I have done a lot of things similar to my silkworms currently to get them where they are. If moths I raise don't breed currently and a couple of them for some reason lay a couple fertile eggs but everything else is infertile when it shouldn't be. I freeze the eggs and throw them out. I will not introduce that back.

 

[JacksJill]

Mine are usually near the end of their genetic line if you know what I mean.

 

[Andee]

A new cocoon joined the ranks today, I think I am up to 7 now... maybe have 8 that are waiting in that bin, I have a few cocoons that were spun just in the last few days and I definitely am not moving them yet. Patiently waiting for everyone else who is still happily munching away to catch up

 

[Andee]

@JacksJill so you asked about cutting the ends of the cocoon open and how it might not be necessary because these guys are hybrids? I think you might be a bit right. Their cocoons are much much thinner in general, even the thicker ones compared to the commercial ones that spin only silk cocoons. It's amazing... But they are much more flexible too in a way. I have had some I wait around 1 and half weeks to harden and they didn't to the point that when I touched them they didn't kind of do that popping thing like paper, but they also show no damage to the pupae inside and several moths have hatch from cocoons like that. it's just kind of cool <3