My silkworms have hatched!! - Aquarium Advice

CatatonicBug · 05-11-2008, 11:04 PM

Ok, this may sound crazy to some of you, but ever since I was in kindergarten, I have raised silkworms as a fun summer project. As a kid, we did genetic experiments on them, and generally learned a lot about how they react to certain stimuli. However, when I grew up and moved to Missouri, I have had dreams of re-starting what I did as a kid. The last two years have been tragic, and I ended up killing both sets of baby worms. This year, I am trying again, and several of the baby worms hatched today! The eggs are literally the size of a pin head, and in 4 weeks, eating only mulberry leaves, they grow to the size of my index finger. Here is a pic of 2 of the baby worms on a leaf. I will post more pics as they get bigger.

shad · 05-12-2008, 12:26 AM

What sorts of experiments did you do?

CatatonicBug · 05-12-2008, 01:08 AM

Well, the worms have dark spots on them, and some are darker than others. So, over the course of about 3 or 4 years, we did selective breeding, and segregated the lighter ones from the darker ones until we had pure white worms. Unfortunately, this lead to birth defects! Many of the worms ended up missing half-segments, making them look like they were always walking in circles.

CatatonicBug · 05-12-2008, 01:50 AM

Oh, I thought I would also mention - yes, silkworms are where silk comes from. The stuff they make colorful Kimonos and silk ties and skirts out of comes out of the mouths of caterpillars. I have never really harvested the silk, because it's such a tedious process, but each worm spins a cocoon around itself with one continuous strand about 3 miles long. That cocoon can be boiled (killing the worm inside) and the silk lets go of itself, allowing us to harvest it.

CatatonicBug · 05-15-2008, 03:20 PM

Just thought I'd post an updated picture. There are now 10 worms. 2 more hatched today, and I have 3 more unhatched eggs. Not all will hatch, but I might have more than 10 in the next day or so. They sure grow fast!

**An t-iasg** · 05-15-2008, 03:27 PM

That's pretty cool! Congrats!

iluvfishies · 05-16-2008, 09:34 PM

Congratulations on becoming a daddy! I've heard about silkworms and that the mating process is pretty messy. Ahhh, mother nature.

CatatonicBug · 06-30-2008, 11:26 AM

Well, it's been a while since I posted an update on the worms. They have now finished being worms, and are starting to emerge from their cocoons! Here are a few pics. The first 3 are of the worms before they went to cocoon, and the last one was taken this morning, as moths. It will be a few days before all of the moths emerge though.

Fluff · 06-30-2008, 11:29 AM

Pretty neat!

dskidmore · 06-30-2008, 11:47 AM

Where do you get the mulberry leaves? They have to be fresh?

05-12-2008, 12:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
shad Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 34	What sorts of experiments did you do? __________________ ~Tanks 55 gallon FW - 1 Tiger Oscar

05-12-2008, 01:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
CatatonicBug Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 456 Images: 6	Well, the worms have dark spots on them, and some are darker than others. So, over the course of about 3 or 4 years, we did selective breeding, and segregated the lighter ones from the darker ones until we had pure white worms. Unfortunately, this lead to birth defects! Many of the worms ended up missing half-segments, making them look like they were always walking in circles. __________________ Remember - in Aquaria, nothing good happens fast. Starting a new tank? Click here for instructions. 47g tall FW, 10g planted, 2.5g planted office tank

05-12-2008, 01:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
CatatonicBug Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 456 Images: 6	Oh, I thought I would also mention - yes, silkworms are where silk comes from. The stuff they make colorful Kimonos and silk ties and skirts out of comes out of the mouths of caterpillars. I have never really harvested the silk, because it's such a tedious process, but each worm spins a cocoon around itself with one continuous strand about 3 miles long. That cocoon can be boiled (killing the worm inside) and the silk lets go of itself, allowing us to harvest it. __________________ Remember - in Aquaria, nothing good happens fast. Starting a new tank? Click here for instructions. 47g tall FW, 10g planted, 2.5g planted office tank

05-15-2008, 03:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
An t-iasg Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Criders Corners/Glen Eden (Pittsburgh, PA) Posts: 6,714 Images: 40	That's pretty cool! Congrats! __________________ The canal walk through downtown Indianapolis

05-16-2008, 09:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
iluvfishies Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 17	Congratulations on becoming a daddy! I've heard about silkworms and that the mating process is pretty messy. Ahhh, mother nature. __________________ Fish are friends, not food!

06-30-2008, 11:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
Fluff Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: West Virginia Posts: 9,426 Images: 29	Pretty neat! __________________ ~Cindy Join the W. MD/WV Regional Forum Here

06-30-2008, 11:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
dskidmore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Genesee Valley Posts: 2,178 Images: 1	Where do you get the mulberry leaves? They have to be fresh? __________________ 75 gallon freshwater Baby shrimp sighted! 2.5 Gallon unpowered freshwater now with high light 0.25 gallon palmtop doomed to an unlit end?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode