Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well i ordered 50 more silkies. Moved the container to my room where it is dryer and warmer. One day later they look like they are rotting.Turning dark. What gives?!
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Nick and Drayko

i can't tell you the answer but i can tell you i had the exact same problem. i gave up on them. i'm now going to try setting up a colony of discoid roaches. in the meantime i'm back to using crickets!

www.badassbeardies.com

its really getting frustrating. I've had juvies that live for a while but for some reason i can't keep the sub adults. I can't afford to keep feeding juvies. I'll probably go back to crickets as well unfortunately.
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Nick and Drayko

Sorry to hear about your bug problems. I have some lobster roaches that I ordered (mix sizes) and have my first "litter" of babies running around now. I keep them in my laundry room and don't have any supplimental heat on them atm and they are all doing fine. I just have them in a tupperware type container w/ papertowel rolls & straws (did I mention those new babies are small?! some dog food & cricket drink mix with a t-shirt covering the top (taped down) and I smeared an area of vasoline around the top & have had no escapees yet *knock on wood*

So far, they are easier than the crickets & smell less.

Good luck.

-Bonnie

1.0 husband
1.3 2-legged kids
1.1 maltese & husky
1.0 tabby cat
1.0 pionus parrot
1.0 bearded dragon (waiting on 0.1)
0.0.1 crested gecko

Have you considered that possibly your air is bacteria filled or mold filled. In moist climates you sometimes tend to have more bacteria and mold in the air. One solution I have heard of working is putting several layers of paper towels over the top to act as a filter....might try that. It is strange that you are having so many problems, I really have found silkies to be the easiest thing to raise and use. Sorry it isnt going so well for you. Good luck!

Sounds like they might have a bacteria, clean everything you use for them with 90% isopropyl alcohol (sp) and make sure you wash your hands EVERYTIME you touch them or their food. Also don't move/handle them too much, they can get sick from that too. Who are you ordering your silkies from? maybe you should try a different supplier. I know of a good one if you are interested, she is great about help you through any problems too.

When I have a group of silkies that start to 'go bad' I place them on papertowels for a substrate--usually 2 layers. This helps to dry them out. Next I cut back on the amount of food I'm giving them. It is best if ALL food is consumed in a 30 minute period (not having left-overs cuts down on potential mold). Also do not cover the silkies...I found that even if I just lay plastic wrap lightly over the container moisture still builds up to dangerous levels. I only cover for a few minutes while they eat. I will sometimes feed small amounts twice a day.

I have had one bunch go 'bad' a day or two after they arrived--in summer. They were most likely stressed due to temperature extremes and poor handling. I had one bunch arrive last year in a UGLY wad. Both of these shipments were quickly replaced by the dealers.

If you have powdered chow handy I'd suggest that you try raising some from eggs...this has been the most successful for me. You can get a petri dish of 200 eggs very inexpensively. I had 100% hatch rate with my first batch this way...being summer I did not use an incubator.

Sorry you are having so much trouble with silkies...
DM

its ok. You ahve to try to see how it works ya know?

I think it does have to do with the heat because they have only been dying lately and it has been almost 100 degrees.
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Nick and Drayko