Dealing with silkworms

[majahawt]

I'm wondering how everyone else is "handling" their silkworms? We have real problems with the tubs getting too humid and the worms then dying. Last week I had two tubs of 25 silkworms, now I have 2 tubs probably containing 10...

 

[kvnsu]

How I kept my silkworms alive...

3 things to get: 16 qt tub or any tub (bigger the better), gutter guard (from your local hardware store) and mulberry chow or leaves. I used the 20 ft vinyl Roll Gutter guard from Lowes for 3 bucks.

Poke air holes in your tub. Basically tape the gutter guard in the tubs slightly elevated and place all the worms and food in there. Therefore when they poop.. it goes through the holes. The less you touch/open the silkworm tub the better.. KEEP THINGS SANITARY!! I cleaned the poop about 3-4 days till a week depending on the amount of poop and refilled the food every 3-4 days as well.

Disclaimer: This is the way I did it successfully, obviously people have varying opinions. Do the method that accommodates you the most.

 

[hmarie186]

I don't keep lids on mine anymore and am done doing the fresh mulberry leaves. I lost 400 to flacherie late this summer. It was devastating and an expensive loss. Feeding minimal food so it does not have a chance to ferment/spoil and mix with feces also helps. If yours are sick and have a virus you will continue to lose them. Can you post pics?

 

[majahawt]

I don't keep lids on mine anymore and am done doing the fresh mulberry leaves. I lost 400 to flacherie late this summer. It was devastating and an expensive loss. Feeding minimal food so it does not have a chance to ferment/spoil and mix with feces also helps. If yours are sick and have a virus you will continue to lose them. Can you post pics?

I just moved the remaining ones over into a larger tub with better ventilation. It's honestly our fault as we've been keeping them in the tubs they came in, in a drawer... There were so many dead ones. I think the remaining count is about 6. Next time we get them, we'll immediately move them over to the large tub and I'm gonna cut a piece of mesh to keep in there so that they're not sitting right in their poo :/

 

[hmarie186]

They are great feeders but a royal pain to maintain!

 

[Tongue Flicker]

I'd suggest the gutter method too. Wire mesh works the same. Well ventilation is the key.

 

[majahawt]

Must have been a virus or something, the ones that were still healthy were moved to a new, well-ventilated container with food and next day half of them were dead still. Ah well

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi ~

Any recommendations for grid size of the wire mesh/hardware cloth to let silkworm poop pass through? Would 1/8 inch grid work?

I've added some of your feedback right here: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...ues/68584-silkworm-guidelines.html#post391395