Breeding Silkworms...worth it?

CDN-Cresties · 12-01-04, 12:41 AM

I have read some caresheets and I just have a few questions. How difficult is it to breed them? and how much money would it cost for food? Please feel free to add any tips as well or pics of your silkworm breeding operation.

Im asking these question because im looking to save money on buying crix. I know I could breed crix but they smell terrible.

Thanks for your help.

Slannesh · 12-01-04, 01:20 AM

I'm about to try this myself.

the food isn't cheap but then again buying silkworms from the local pet stores is a whole lot less cheap

Thankfully we do have a silkworm breeder locally who sells at a pretty decent price. Still, i'll probably give the breeding a try but according to said breeder newly hatched silkworms are VERY fragile. He mentioned that in a batch of ~40,000 hatched eggs he loses ~6000 worms in the first 10 days. After 10 days they seem to be a lot more forgiving.

Unfortunately I won't be much more help than that for the next few weeks till I get some eggs of my own. I'll definately let you know though.

CDN-Cresties · 12-01-04, 06:10 PM

How much is the food anyway, the sites that I've seen dont list the price.
Thanks

spidergecko · 12-01-04, 06:21 PM

From what I understand, you can get a mulberry tree and just make a diet out of the leaves. I'm not sure how much you would need to keep up a silkworm stock. Anyway, it's something to consider. I really can't offer much more than that

Not sure if you want a mulberry tree in your backyard.

CDN-Cresties · 12-01-04, 06:24 PM

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. After this winter Im going to drive around and see if there is any in the area.

Slannesh · 12-01-04, 10:02 PM

I've been able to get the powdered chow for $25/lb

I'm pretty sure we don't have mulberry trees in northern Alberta, but to be honest I wouldn't know a mulberry tree if it bit me on the butt

CDN-Cresties · 12-01-04, 10:04 PM

How long does that chow last you? and for how many worms?

blazinreps · 12-01-04, 10:22 PM

i tryed doing this. got the worms to pupate and moths to emerge and breed and lay eggs never could get the eggs to hatch. =(

CDN-Cresties · 12-01-04, 10:23 PM

Did you cool the eggs?

Pirranha · 12-01-04, 10:49 PM

i have a mulberry tree in my backyard and i raised some catterpillars this spring to see if i could get a colony goin,but only 1 cocoon hatched out of a dozen.- i think it was to dry for them and they got stuck in the cocoons.
i was wondering if anyone knew how well leaves keep cause id have to pretty much clean off the tree to keep any amount of caterpillars goin all winter.they eat like little pigs!
Can i pick leaves and freeze them?

CDN-Cresties · 12-01-04, 10:56 PM

From what I have read, you can pick them, clean them and then you can freeze them.

12-01-04, 10:56 PM

I just bought part of a silkworm shipment comming in for a friend. For 1000 adults, 10 000 eggs, and 5 pounds of food the bill was very close to $500. Hope this helps.

the_frog_man · 12-05-04, 12:34 AM

OMG u guys have horible luck i have 20 adult worms all pupated and hached and layd eggs i had like 4000 bbs and they all grew up how did i do it whats my secrit i have non it was all fluke LMFAO

thanx froggy

kjay · 12-05-04, 05:04 PM

i have a styro cooler heat tape dimmer keep eggs at 85. bought 500 eggs half pound of food, mist once aday i dont handle, now i have about 400 silkies easiest thing i have done yet, i have had more luck with these than melies,, buy from canadian feeders, he is the cheapest anywhere and great customer servie, tell him kevin and windsor directed you, cant go wrong

peterm15 · 12-05-04, 05:56 PM

how do you deal with moths