Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was looking at the Mulberry Farm Silkworms, and the chow that goes with it. What I am wondering is if you buy a petri dish with eggs, is it possible to keep some from hatching, i.e. not hatch them all at once, since it would seem to make more sense to hatch 100, then 2-3 days later, have another 100 hatch, and so on. Would this work? How would it be done?

Yes, you can place them in the crisper drawer of your fridge (crisper has more stable temps) for months - as long as 5 years. Then just take out what you think you will need and hatch them. They will hatch at room temp, but best if kept at 75-80 degrees and should hatch in 3-10 days. Just make sure you have chow on hand.

They take a while to get to feeding size (unless you are feeding hatchlings) so you may want to ortder some juvi or sub adult to feed right away.

You may want to consider the distance they are coming (if in east you may want to order from Ohio especially in winter) and you may find that chow thru one place is less expensive thru another. I have ordered from these two sources: www.silkwormfarm.com & www.californiasilkworms.com and recommend them both, but know that Mulberry Farms is just as reputable.

Silkies are easy to raise yourself but the chow can get pricey; the powdered form is ALWAYS cheaper.

Here is an article for you...

hope this helps!
lele
silkworm rearing

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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

If you order the eggs in the dish they will hatch in 7 -10 days...if you refrigerate AFTER you receive them they will die. I've used Mulberry Farm and California Silkworms.

It is possible to have the eggs 'cold' shipped and overnighted--this will allow you to choose how many and when to hatch at a time.

Withing each 'batch' silkworms will grow at different rates...and while some are already cocooning some are not even an inch long yet! They hatched around August 10th.

I tend to wait 3 weeks between batches. I have 2 adult beardies and setting about 50 eggs out at a time works great...but if you leave the REST of the eggs out at roomtemp for a day or 2 you will end up with 1000 silkies at one time like I did!

I'm going to have eggs comming out of my ears in a few weeks!

DM

correct. I guess I assumed he was getting the cold pack in order to not hatch all out - but that was part of his question, wasn't it? lol!

was it you who had about 500 not too long ago??
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

its too bad that it is too hot for me to ship these guys--temps over 100 here.

I have about 200 set aside to cocoon...but the others are catchig up...I've tried pet stores...but they want me to give them away! My beardies have had all-you-can-eat- silkies for a few weeks now!

I've learned my lesson--and will take extra precautions to make sure I don't hatch that many out again!

I only wish I had a mulberry tree!

DM

you might just consider planting one! Where do you live that it is 100 ? Must be southwest...
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha