Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok I realize that here in Indiana the mulberry trees drop their leaves in the winter so even if I do purchase a tree I will have to do something about the winter months feeding my silkies( I am planning on raising them). They chow you buy(which is pretty expensive) if merely made out of mulberry leaves and other vitamins correct? Well isn't there any way I can make my own chow for the winter months with mulberry leaves and vitamins? It seems like you could and just unfreeze it or something when I need it. Im not saying just freeze the leaves and add vitamins. I am saying does anyone know where to find info on making homemade silkworm chow. That would just be excellent. Thanks a lot!

I'm with Justin on this one. Please someone fill us in on how to make the Silkwork chow...
-----
5 Month Old Ambanja Male I - LESTER
5 Month Old Ambanja Male II - SHOGO

i did not think they told the exact Receipe on making the chow. ill try and find out from the UK silkworm factory.
-----
-Jamie Whitehouse
-corn_snake_123@msn.com
-formally known as corn_snake_123

Yes please do. Thanks Jamie!

I would experiment with it with some mullberry leaves. I think you could proably blend them up in the blender and then freeze them. I don't see why you would have to add a lot of other stuff. You can raise them off of just leaves. I would try that. I am also thinking of raising silkworms.... so I know what you mean about the chow costing a fortune. Do you know how many leaves they would go through if you were to raise them? Would one tree be enough for the year do you think?
I live in an apartment, so I'm probably going to just stick to the chow. I am curious about it though...
~Lindsay

Hi Justin,

I'm afraid you will probably have to buy it. Artifical diets for lepidoptera are created with a lot of science behind it. Knowing just which supplements to include, how much, where will you get them, how will you process the leaves in order to create and maintain a sterile environment so molds don't grow...these are just some of your logistics to consider. Freezing would most likely have a negative impact on the nutritive value and typically you can store the diet (in its dry form) for about one month in the fridge.

Mulberry farms is not the only place that sells it so look around at other sources for different prices. Carolina Biological used to sell it and still might, Niles Biological sells it http://nilesbio.geekmom.net/animalia.php?menu=9

Bio-Quip or Ward's Scientific may sell it, too.

here's one link for you: http://educationalscience.com/silkworms.htm

and here's a page with all sorts of silkworm rearing info:
http://www.pclaunch.com/~kayton/silk.htm

So consider the cost vs. having properly balanced food for your silkies since their health is what goes into your cham. Maybe just buy the chow for the winter months plan on using a tree for the rest. One more thing to consider is that the nutritive value of the leaves will diminish toward the autumn months and won't necessarily be available in the spring. Silkies requirements vary during their instars (stages) in that they feed on different aged leaves to coincide with each stage.

Gee, I feel like I am constantly putting the kibosh on your plans I would just hate for you to depend on homemade food and then lose all your silkies. How many chameleons do you have that you would be feeding?

All this info I pass on to you is not speculation as I am a horticulturist (plants), studying entomolgy (insects) and have been raising lepidoptera (moths/butteflies) for several years.

lele

>>Ok I realize that here in Indiana the mulberry trees drop their leaves in the winter so even if I do purchase a tree I will have to do something about the winter months feeding my silkies( I am planning on raising them). They chow you buy(which is pretty expensive) if merely made out of mulberry leaves and other vitamins correct? Well isn't there any way I can make my own chow for the winter months with mulberry leaves and vitamins? It seems like you could and just unfreeze it or something when I need it. Im not saying just freeze the leaves and add vitamins. I am saying does anyone know where to find info on making homemade silkworm chow. That would just be excellent. Thanks a lot!