Live Silkworms Care Sheet
LIVE SILKWORMS
PetWave’s Premium Quality Silkworms can be kept as interesting pets, studied, or added to the diets of your pets’ diets, helping provide a balanced and natural, nutritious diet.
Live Silkworms are an incredibly healthy choice for your pet - they are high in calcium, protein, iron, magnesium, sodium and vitamins B1, B2 and B3 - all while being low in fat. They are a soft food, making them easy to digest compared to other feeder insects, even for delicate pets.
Silkworms are suitable for feeding to the following pets:
- Lizards, including Bearded Dragons
- Chickens
- Frogs & Turtles
- Predatory Fish such as Large Cichlid, Barramundi and Oscars
- Insect eating birds, including soft-billed
- Rats & Mice
- Spiders
- Wildlife
Live Silkworm Life Cycle
Egg
Silkworm eggs are tiny - about the size of an ink dot. They are initially light yellow, turning darkening to a blue-gray in a few days.
Larva
The larva molts four times during its growth cycle, experiencing four growth cycles called ‘instars’. The larva stage lasts approximately 27 days.
Cocoon
The silkworms protect themselves by spinning a protective cocoon, in shades of white, cream and yellow. This silk cocoon, about the size of a small cotton ball, protects them from predators.
Pupa
The Pupa is the final stage before the silkworms become adults. If left to rest peacefully for 2-3 weeks, the silkworm will metamorphoses into a beautiful adult moth.
PetWave Live Silkworms contain (approximate values): 76% moisture, 64% protein, 10% fat, 340mg/kg Calcium and 425mg/kg Phosphorus.
|
Live Silkworms - Quick Guide |
|
|
Temperature |
25-26℃ - never below 12℃ or above 32℃ |
|
Moisture/Humidity |
Kept to a minimum |
|
Feeding |
Daily |
Where Can I Keep Live Silkworms?
Upon arrival, you can transfer your Silkworms to a large plastic tub with ventilation provided, such as small ventilation holes in the lid. Moisture and humidity need to be kept to a minimum in their container. If moisture or condensation start to build up, remove the lid of your container and allow it to dry it, even using a fan between feedings if necessary.
It is important to have Mulberry Leaves on hand to feed your Silkworms daily, as they will only eat these or a specially formulated Silkworm diet. Feed your Silkworms daily, but be sure to allow the previous day’s food to dry out completely prior to offering fresh food.
Distribute your Silkworm food evenly throughout the container for daily feeding. If you are experiencing humidity or condensation problems, replace the container lid very loosely or not at all, allowing the container time to dry.
At least once per week, clean your Silkworm container, removing any leftover food or waste. As your Silkworms grow, you will need to perform more frequent cleaning of their container.
How Do I Feed Live Silkworms To My Pet?
There are numerous benefits to feeding your pets Silkworms, including their high nutritional content. They are also quiet to keep and have no distinct odour. Silkworms also have a modest exoskeleton, offering your pets optimal nutrition absorption. Other live feeders, such as crickets or mealworms, have an indigestible exoskeleton which can be difficult to digest for some pets.
While Silkworms are easy to care for with minimum requirements, they are an extremely delicate insect, requiring careful handling.
Silkworms can be fed to your pets by gently lowering them into your enclosures or even placed anywhere within your enclosures, offering your climbing pets a hunting challenge. Silkworms are very adept climbers and will slowly venture all over enclosures if given an opportunity.
What Types and Sizes of Silkworms Can I Buy For My Pet?
Premium PetWave Silkworms and Mulberry Leaves:
About PetWave
PetWave is an Australian online pet supply company that is expert in shipping delicate, live and frozen products to you and your pet’s door. We know that your time is valuable & you want access to reliable, premium products at perfect prices. We are able to satisfy your needs through our premium online offer. We are very proud to offer the highest quality and largest selection of live fish, aquarium plants and driftwood creations, a wide range of live food such as insects, frozen pet food especially for snakes, lizards, amphibians and birds of prey and many rare, creative and beautiful decorations for your aquarium and terrarium. Visit us at www.petwave.com.au | customercare@petwave.com.au