Silkworms for Bearded Dragons

Is it worth breeding Silkworms?

Silkworms are worth breeding only if you already have a dependable mulberry leaf or silkworm chow supply and you are ready for daily cleaning. Most keepers are better buying silkworms in batches.

Before you start

Silkworms are excellent feeders, but breeding them means managing the full life cycle: eggs, tiny hatchlings, feeding larvae, cocoons, moths and new eggs.

What you need

• Clean shallow rearing tubs
• Paper towel or easy-clean surfaces
• Fresh pesticide-free mulberry leaves or silkworm chow
• Cocooning frames, cardboard tubes or egg carton pieces
• Separate space for eggs and hatchlings
• Warm stable room

Step-by-step breeding setup

1. Start with healthy eggs, hatchlings or small silkworms. Beginners usually find live small worms easier than eggs.
2. Feed only mulberry leaves or proper silkworm chow. Do not rely on random greens.
3. Clean daily. Remove old food, droppings, dead worms and any mouldy material.
4. As mature worms stop eating and look ready to spin, move them to cardboard tubes, egg cartons or cocooning frames.
5. Leave cocoons dry and undisturbed until moths emerge.
6. Pair adult moths on clean paper so females can lay eggs, then collect and store or incubate eggs according to the egg strain and supplier advice.
7. When eggs hatch, provide fresh food immediately. Tiny hatchlings can die quickly if food is delayed or dries out.

Life cycle timeline

Silkworm timing depends on temperature, food and strain. Each stage needs different care, so plan food and containers before eggs hatch.

Common breeding mistakes

• Starting without a food supply
• Dirty tubs
• Wet leaves causing mould
• Overcrowding
• No cocooning area
• Not knowing how to handle eggs
• Letting hatchlings run out of food