Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay..I have a few questions for the silkworm experts.

I saw Joe's pic of the cocooning setup for his silkies. I also saw the image that John has on the chamnews site (http://www.chameleonnews.com/year2003/oct2003/baby_feeding/silkworm_box/silkworm_box.html)where the bottom of the tub/box is covered with the cut up tubes facing up. My question is, if I use John's setup, do i have to put a worm in every container or do I just put them all in and they will find their way into the chambers? With Joe's setup where the tubes are stacked, I assume the worms will find their own container when theyre ready to cocoon? I have a few worms that are about 3 inches and I think may be candidates to save for egglaying.

Oh...and how many should I put in the box? More than the tube count or just enough to fit one per tube? Do more than one use the same tubes? I want to harvest as many eggs as I can to attempt to have a viable supply after the 3 month fridge stage. Should I use a cardboard box or a rubbermaid tub?

Thanks in advance
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Raf

1.2 Jacksons Adults (Frank, Patty, Lucille)
0.0.1 Jackson's baby (George, R.I.P. 11/17/2003)
1.1 Nosy Be's (Mars and Roja)
1.1 Veiled - No Names Yet
0.1 Adult Sulcatta (POOPIE,I bought it from Victor at Kobey's in SD)
0.0.2 Baby Sulcattas (frick and frack)
1.0 Home's Hingeback Tortoise (SPEEDY, From Victor as well)
1.2 Red ear slider babies (Hingis, Dingis and Dorkus)
0.0.1 3 toed box turtle - No Name Yet
0.0.1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle - No Name Yet
1.0 Red Siberian Husky (Harley)
0.1 Black Lab (Krissy)
0.1 English Bulldog (Alice)
0.1 Blue Merle Great Dane (Wednesday)
Saltwater Fish and Inverts too

Raf,

I have a large tub that I put about 100 tubes in. Some laying down, some on their sides. Like it or not, your worms are going to cocoon when they are ready whether in a tube or on on the side of the container. I don't spend much time urging them one way or the other.

It's easier to work with them if you can move them around in a tube. (90% of them will find a tube and cocoon) (the other 10% will just find a corner, and get started)

Yes, more than one can fit in a tube.

The picture I posted is just a community of cocoons that were made in the corner of the tub. I think there's like 15 in that mass of silk.

Let me know if I can help out any further.

Joe

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Joe
- www.silkwormfarm.com-- Site Comes Online 12/21/03

Thanks Joe!! I'm gonna try your method and see what happens. Would you recommend a plastic tub as opposed to a cardboard box?
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Raf

1.2 Jacksons Adults (Frank, Patty, Lucille)
0.0.1 Jackson's baby (George, R.I.P. 11/17/2003)
1.1 Nosy Be's (Mars and Roja)
1.1 Veiled - No Names Yet
0.1 Adult Sulcatta (POOPIE,I bought it from Victor at Kobey's in SD)
0.0.2 Baby Sulcattas (frick and frack)
1.0 Home's Hingeback Tortoise (SPEEDY, From Victor as well)
1.2 Red ear slider babies (Hingis, Dingis and Dorkus)
0.0.1 3 toed box turtle - No Name Yet
0.0.1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle - No Name Yet
1.0 Red Siberian Husky (Harley)
0.1 Black Lab (Krissy)
0.1 English Bulldog (Alice)
0.1 Blue Merle Great Dane (Wednesday)
Saltwater Fish and Inverts too

When the silkworms dump their juices before they cocoon, they'll make a mess out of the cardboard.

I would use plastic. You can use it more than once and it'll be cleaner.
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Joe
- www.silkwormfarm.com-- Site Comes Online 12/21/03

Hi-

I use a cardboard shipping box because right before the worms cocoon, they expel all there built up waste. This makes clean up easy, just through away the box. The box will absorb the liquid and keep the other worms from crawling around in it. For me this is much cheaper then plastic tubs, but you can use plastic tubs they are reusable after you sterilize them. One thing the cardboard box helps in is by providing a dark area, I have found this to be better when the worms are cocooning. The worms will find there own place to cocoon, some will use the tubes some will use the corners of the box. Yes more then one will cocoon in the same tube, I have had 3-4 cocoon in the same tube. The problem with stacking the tubes is they will fall over from the worms crawling on them, with the tubes on the bottom the worms can not knock the tubes over. At 2.5"-3" the worms will start to cocoon or die. Hope this helps!
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John W. Lucas

CHAMELEON PARADISE

CHAMELEONS ONLINE E-ZINE AUTHOR

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