Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Howdy, i got my second silkworm culture today. I have been feeding my female tamatave about 1-2 a day,in adition with it's normal crickets. In those cultures there is the food, i assume it is the silkworm chow primarily. Can this cause constipation in the cham if they(the silkworms) only eat the food in the culture?(obviuousley too many would do it for sure) I'm getting some mullberry leaves tomorow, so i can vary the diet.

I know, it's an old pick,
but im workin on getting a new one

Silkworms ONLY eat the processed mulberry food (chow) OR actual mulberry tree leaves. Thats it.

Silkworms are the best feeder insect for your cham.

check out: http://www.chameleonnews.com/year2002/sept2002/nutrition/nutrition_sept_02.html

you should not try switching the worms over to mulberry leaves instead of the chow. they are very picky, and 99% of the time will not accept the chow for a few days after having mulberry leaves. the chow is just dehydrated mulberry leaves, and i assume a couple of filler ingredients.
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groups.msn.com/JEChameleons
1.1 Chameleo Calyptratus
1.1 Furcifer Pardalis (Diego Suarez)
1 Chameleo Melleri

Well, it's not obvious to me why too many chow fed silkworms would cause constipation, but maybe I'm missing something. I've fed almost exclusively chow fed silks to veileds and panthers for periods of time with no problems.

just my take,
Joel Fish

If my panther eats a lot of silkworms her poop is more runny I would say. I don't think constipation would be a concern... Theya are actually better as a main feeder than crix.

the chow IS Mulberry leaves They make it with pulverized leaves and other ingredients in order to process it. Silkies sole host plant food is Mulberry leaves - they will not/cannot eat anything else. There are some folks who use the silkies as the primary feeder.

Be careful not to let mold grow on the chow. I don't know how the culture is set up but watch humidity level. just a suggestion...rather than keep buying cultures what about raising your own? There has been much discussion on the forum regarding it. Here is one site with info.

lele
silkworm rearing - and more

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles (Jaida, no name)
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - (still no names)

You should leave the lid off of your culture. This will help prevent mold, which is toxic to your cham (like lele said) and also will help your silkies to thrive. If they get too humid they tend to die. Also, they won't climb out if they have food.

If you have silkworms fed exclusively the chow and then switch them to mulberry leaves, it will be difficult to get them back to eating the chow. Basically, it is always easier to get them to eat the leaves than the chow after they had leaves. I have never raised silkworms fully with the chow before (just leaves and they eat a ton of leaves), but plan to try later. Is there any difference with silk production when fed exclusively chow when it comes to cocooning? (Anyone know?)

Although silkworms can eat other plants, they typically won't and it is not in yours and their best interest to feed them an inappropriate diet. Stick to either mulberry chow or mulberry leaves.
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~ Juli ~
www.Polliwog-Design.com

>>If you have silkworms fed exclusively the chow and then switch them to mulberry leaves, it will be difficult to get them back to eating the chow. Basically, it is always easier to get them to eat the leaves than the chow after they had leaves.

**** My last batch went directly for the chow from leaves. However I don't doubt there are instances where you may have a difficult time getting them to adjust. Some leps are more fussy than others, but since mulberry is the sole host food they don't have much choice. I have had leps starve to death rather then eat artificial diet (lost a few luna that way just this year.)

I have never raised silkworms fully with the chow before (just leaves and they eat a ton of leaves), but plan to try later. Is there any difference with silk production when fed exclusively chow when it comes to cocooning? (Anyone know?)

****here is a link to a supplier who refuses to use or sell artificial diet. www.sericulum.com/artificial-diet.html According to them the quality of the silk is different. But if you are raising them as feeders it shouldn't be a concern.
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>>Although silkworms can eat other plants,

**** Sorry, not true. Some leps caterpillars have a variey of host plants whereas other do not. The Monarch Butterfly is an example. They can only feed on plants in the milkweed family in their larval stage. No milkweed = no monarchs. Silkies are the same, no mulberry = no silkies

lele

they typically won't and it is not in yours and their best interest to feed them an inappropriate diet. Stick to either mulberry chow or mulberry leaves.
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>>~ Juli ~
>>www.Polliwog-Design.com
>>
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles (Jaida, no name)
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - (still no names)

>>**** Sorry, not true. Some leps caterpillars have a variey of host plants whereas other do not. The Monarch Butterfly is an example. They can only feed on plants in the milkweed family in their larval stage. No milkweed = no monarchs. Silkies are the same, no mulberry = no silkies
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>>lele
>>

Silkworms 'can' eat other plants, but if they are not feed mulberry leaves, they can not produce silk, thus no cocoons and inability to complete life cycle. But they 'can' eat other foods when deprived of their natural food source. I don't recommend feeding anything but mulberry leaves, or mulberry chow to silkworms. Silkworms have an enormous appetite. I am always amazed how many leaves they go through in a single day. So my statement is correct since all I said was that they 'can' eat other plants, but never said they can complete their life cycle on anything other than mulberry leaves. Obviously the most nutrious silkworms are fed ONLY mulberry leaves (and the chow).
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~ Juli ~
www.Polliwog-Design.com

I read an article a while ago about silk production. They spin thicker cocoons when raised on leaves, and the silk produced is better, so if you are rearing them for silk you should use leaves. As far as the health of the worm and "goodness" to be used as a feeder, I don't think it really makes a difference chow or leaves.
The mullberry mixes or does something to their saliva and that is what creates the silk, so I think that's why the leaves inwhole make better silk. I'm not really sure though...
Ask lele, she is the silkworm queen

Awesome, i appreciate yur input.I will just leave them on the chow diet. I also will be breeding my own silkworms soon, i went to the website and saw the prices for the eggs and everything, and when i saw the price vs, what i pay. i will DEFINATLEY be raisng my own. Thanks again, Dave

here is the site, figured i'd share.

http://www.mulberryfarms.com/