A Comprehensive Guide About Silkworms: Nutritious & Delicate Treat For Your Pets
Aug 11th 2021
Silkworms are the most nutritious foods for your pets. This delicate creature will always keep your pets in shape. TopFlight Dubia is introducing this guide to let you know everything about silkworms.
We’ve got all the answers you need regarding silkworms for sale.
This detailed guide explains the breeding process, life cycle, nutritional value, raising process, etc.
What Are Silkworms?
Silkworms are medium—to large-sized pests scientifically called Bombyx mori. They are the larvae of silk moths. Silkworms have been tamed for thousands of years and primarily bred for silk.
However, in recent years, the rearing of silkworms has attracted attention as an animal food, such as a feed for reptiles, birds, and fish.
What Makes Silkworms Popular Feeder Insects?
Here is the list of reasons why these worms are so popular among pet owners:
- High Nutritional Value: They hold comparatively low amounts of fat and high amounts of protein, so they are nutritious for your pets.
- Soft Bodies: Unlike other feeder bugs, they are coated with soft skin and easily digested.
- Rich in Calcium: These worms contain a good amount of calcium, which is partly good for bones, especially in reptiles.
Life Cycle Of Silkworms
For anyone who wants to breed these worms or maybe gain a little insight into one of nature’s most amazing processes, it is essential to learn about the cycle of a silkworm.
- Egg Stage: Silkworms start from eggs as small as the head of a pin. The female moth can lay as many as 500 eggs in one period.
- Larvae Stage: This is the stage from which the silkworms you buy as feeders come. The larvae mainly survive on mulberry leaves.
- Pupa Stage: After about 30 days, it develops into a moth, spilling a silk fiber web and forming a cocoon.
- Adult Moth: The adult moth develops in 10-14 days, leading to its lifecycle conclusion.
The Breeding Process: Ease-At-Home
If you want to breed your live silkworms, it is straightforward. Here’s what you need to know:
- Housing
They are susceptible to dampness and prefer dry surroundings. A plastic or cardboard container is acceptable, but it must be well-aerated.
- Diet
The only known diet for these worms is the green mulberry plant. If fresh leaves are unavailable, silkworm chow may be used by adding a little powder.
- Temperature and Humidity
Stand within the temperature range of 75°F- 85°F and moderate the humidity level. The growth of these worms is good under favorable conditions.
- Harvesting Cocoons
When the silkworms start spinning their cocoons, you can let them transform into moths or collect the cocoons to produce silk.
Nutritional Value Of Silkworm
Silkworms are ideal food for pets like chickens, bearded dragons, etc. Let’s dive into the nutritional profile:
Nutrient |
Amount per 100g |
Protein |
9.3g |
Fat |
1.6g |
Calcium |
177mg |
Phosphorus |
73mg |
Moisture |
81.5g |
NOTE: Due to their high levels of the ratio of calcium and phosphorus, they reduce metabolic bone diseases. |
How To Care For Live Silkworms?
Caring for and maintaining can be a delicate process. Here’s a quick guide:
- Provide Fresh Mulberry Leaves: Always ensure a supply of mulberry leaves or silkworms chow.
- Clean Their Habitat Daily: Clean the food and waste residue with leftover food to avoid mold and bacteria formation.
- Monitor Their Health: Healthy worms show signs of movement, and their body color is pale white.
Fun Facts About Silkworms
Here are some tidbits that a pet owner must know about silkworms:
- Silk Production: Did you know that a single silkworm can develop 1000 yards of silk thread?
- Silent Workers: The nature is calm, and there is little need to pay attention to them, making them suitable for new breeders.
- Long History: They have been used in silk production in China for more than five thousand years, especially for silk production.
TopFlight Dubia: Elevate Your Pet’s Diet Today!
These silkworms are dream food for every pet owner to keep their pet healthy.
Keeping that in mind, TopFlight Dubia has made premium Dubia roaches available online for pets.
Explore their roach collections and TopFlight Dubia and feed your pet the food it deserves.