Silkworms

Silkworms are one of those feeders that once you try them, you wonder why you waited so long. These soft-bodied larvae of the Bombyx mori moth have been cultivated for thousands of years in the silk industry, but reptile keepers have discovered they also happen to be one of the most nutritionally complete feeder insects you can offer. Unlike crickets or mealworms that many keepers default to out of convenience, silkworms bring a genuinely superior nutritional profile to the table with high protein, excellent calcium content, low fat, and a soft body that even picky eaters find irresistible.

Reptile nutrition works best when you think of feeders the way you think about your own meals - variety matters. No single feeder insect provides everything your reptile needs, but silkworms come closer than most. They naturally contain more calcium than crickets, carry significantly less fat than waxworms or butterworms, and their protein content rivals that of most commercially available feeders. That combination makes them especially valuable for growing juveniles, breeding females, and any reptile recovering from illness or nutritional deficiency.

One of the biggest misconceptions about silkworms is that they are difficult to keep or expensive to maintain. There is a learning curve, certainly, but it is not nearly as steep as most keepers imagine. The real challenge is understanding that silkworms are not as forgiving as a tub of crickets sitting on your shelf. They require specific food, clean conditions, and reasonable temperatures. Once you have that routine down, maintaining a colony or even just keeping a batch alive for a few weeks becomes straightforward.

The soft body of a silkworm is worth emphasizing because it matters more than people realize. Reptiles that struggle with the chitin in harder-shelled insects often take silkworms eagerly, and the digestibility difference is significant for species with sensitive digestive systems. Chameleons in particular tend to love silkworms, and many keepers of bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and blue-tongue skinks consider them a staple rotation feeder rather than an occasional treat.

This article covers everything you need to know about incorporating silkworms into your reptile feeding program, from sourcing and storage to nutritional benefits, species-specific considerations, and the common mistakes that trip up first-time silkworm buyers. Whether you are looking to diversify your feeder rotation or address a specific nutritional gap, silkworms deserve serious consideration as a regular part of your reptile's diet.

Sourcing silkworms is your first practical decision, and the quality of what you buy matters more than you might expect. Most keepers order silkworms online from specialty feeder breeders, since pet stores rarely carry them. When ordering, pay attention to the size options available - silkworms grow quickly and come in sizes ranging from tiny hatchlings suitable for small geckos up to large larvae that work well for adult bearded dragons and monitors. Order a size appropriate for your reptile and plan to use them within a reasonable timeframe, because silkworms do not pause their growth cycle while waiting for you to get around to feeding them out.

Storage and care between feedings is where most keepers run into trouble their first time around. Silkworms need to be kept at room temperature, roughly 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, in a well-ventilated container. They cannot tolerate heat above 90 degrees, and cold temperatures below 65 degrees slow them down dramatically. Keep their container clean by removing frass and any dead worms daily. Unlike crickets that can survive in marginal conditions for weeks, silkworms decline fast in dirty or overcrowded environments.

Feeding silkworms themselves is the part that surprises most people. These larvae eat mulberry leaves or commercially prepared silkworm chow, and nothing else. They will literally starve rather than eat something that is not mulberry-based. Most keepers use the prepared chow because fresh mulberry leaves are not available year-round in most regions. The chow comes as a dry mix you prepare with water, and it works well as long as you follow the preparation instructions and do not let it dry out or grow mold in the container.

When offering silkworms to your reptile, you can present them in a shallow dish, hand-feed them with tongs, or simply place them on a flat surface in the enclosure. Silkworms move slowly enough that they will not escape or hide the way crickets do, which is a genuine advantage for keepers tired of chasing loose feeders around the tank. Dust them with calcium powder just as you would any other feeder insect, following your normal supplementation schedule for the species you are keeping.

Sizing silkworms for your reptile follows the same general rule as other feeders - nothing wider than the space between your reptile's eyes. Silkworms are forgiving in this regard because their soft bodies compress easily, but you still want to match the size reasonably to avoid any issues. Small silkworms work beautifully for juvenile reptiles and smaller species, while large silkworms satisfy the appetites of adult bearded dragons and similarly sized animals.

You will know silkworms are working well in your feeding rotation when your reptile takes them eagerly, maintains good body condition, and shows healthy weight without excess fat deposits. Many keepers notice improved hydration in their reptiles after adding silkworms regularly, which makes sense given the high moisture content of these larvae compared to drier feeders like mealworms.

Chameleons are probably the single group of reptiles that benefit most dramatically from silkworms, and experienced chameleon keepers consider them close to essential. The soft body, slow movement, and excellent nutritional profile hit every mark that chameleons need, and most chameleons find them highly palatable. Panther chameleons, veiled chameleons, and Jackson's chameleons all tend to accept silkworms readily, and the high moisture content helps address the chronic hydration challenges that come with keeping these species.

Bearded dragons do very well with silkworms as a regular rotation feeder. Juveniles benefit from the high protein and calcium during their rapid growth phase, and adults appreciate the variety alongside their staple greens and other insects. Because bearded dragons shift toward a more herbivorous diet as they mature, silkworms make an excellent protein source during those fewer insect meals since you are getting maximum nutritional value from each feeding.

Leopard geckos and other insectivorous geckos can eat silkworms readily, though you will want to size them appropriately for these smaller reptiles. Many leopard gecko keepers use small to medium silkworms as part of their rotation alongside crickets and dubia roaches. Crested geckos that accept live food will also take appropriately sized silkworms, though crested geckos primarily thrive on prepared diets and should not rely on insects as their nutritional foundation.

Blue-tongue skinks, tegus, and other omnivorous lizards accept silkworms easily and benefit from the nutritional density. For larger species like monitors, silkworms serve better as a supplemental feeder or enrichment item rather than a dietary staple simply because the volume needed to satisfy a large monitor makes them impractical as a primary food source. The cost per feeding adds up quickly when you are feeding an animal that needs significant prey volume at each meal.

Tortoises and strictly herbivorous reptiles do not need silkworms and should not be offered them. Their digestive systems are designed for plant matter, and introducing animal protein creates problems rather than benefits. Stick with appropriate greens, vegetables, and occasional fruit for herbivorous species, and save your silkworms for the insectivores and omnivores in your collection.

The number one problem keepers face with silkworms is receiving a shipment and having them die off rapidly before they can be fed out. This almost always comes down to temperature or food quality issues during the first 24 hours. When your silkworms arrive, get them into a clean container with fresh chow immediately, keep them at appropriate temperature, and handle them as little as possible. Shipping stress is real for these larvae, and the faster you get them settled into proper conditions, the better your survival rate will be.

Mold on silkworm chow is the second most common issue and it can wipe out an entire batch overnight. Prepared chow has enough moisture to support mold growth if conditions are warm and ventilation is poor. Prepare only as much chow as your worms will consume in a day or two, remove uneaten portions before adding fresh food, and make sure air circulates through the container. Some keepers use a thin layer of paper towel under the chow to absorb excess moisture, which helps considerably.

Overordering is a mistake that costs keepers money unnecessarily. Silkworms grow fast and cannot be slowed down easily without risking their health. If you order 200 silkworms for a single bearded dragon, you will likely lose a significant portion before you can feed them all out unless you have multiple reptiles to share them with. Start with smaller orders until you understand your consumption rate, and scale up once you have the care routine dialed in.

Some keepers encounter reptiles that refuse silkworms initially, which can be frustrating after investing in a new feeder. Reptiles are creatures of habit, and an animal accustomed to crickets may not recognize a slow-moving white larva as food right away. Try offering silkworms with tongs so the movement catches your reptile's attention, or place them near the feeding area where your reptile normally expects food. Most reptiles come around after a few exposures, but patience matters more than persistence here.

Relying on silkworms as a sole feeder rather than part of a rotation creates nutritional gaps over time despite their excellent profile. No single feeder insect provides complete nutrition, and variety remains the foundation of a healthy reptile diet. Use silkworms as one component alongside crickets, dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae, and other appropriate feeders to ensure your reptile receives the full spectrum of nutrients it needs.

Build silkworms into your feeder rotation rather than treating them as an occasional splurge. The real nutritional benefits come from consistent inclusion in the diet, not from offering them once every few months when you remember to order some. Many experienced keepers maintain a regular ordering schedule, timing deliveries so fresh silkworms arrive every two to three weeks depending on how many reptiles they are feeding.

Always dust silkworms with calcium powder before offering them, just as you would any other feeder. The fact that silkworms already contain more natural calcium than most insects does not eliminate the need for supplementation - it simply means you are starting from a better baseline. Follow your species-specific supplementation schedule for calcium and vitamin D3, and do not skip dusting just because the feeder itself is nutritionally superior.

Keep your silkworm care setup simple and clean. A plastic container with ventilation holes, fresh chow prepared according to directions, and daily spot cleaning is all you need. Overcomplicated setups with heat mats, humidity gauges, and elaborate shelving are unnecessary for most keepers who are simply maintaining a batch of feeders for a few weeks between orders. The simpler your routine, the more likely you are to stick with it consistently.

Store unused silkworm chow in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life, and always check for mold or off smells before preparing a new batch. Quality food produces quality feeders, and cutting corners on chow quality defeats the purpose of choosing a premium feeder insect. If your chow smells sour or shows any discoloration, discard it and start fresh rather than risking your silkworm batch and ultimately your reptile's health.

Silkworms earn their reputation as one of the best feeder insects available for reptiles, and the keepers who use them regularly tend to see noticeable improvements in their animals' condition, appetite, and overall health. The combination of high protein, naturally elevated calcium, low fat, excellent moisture content, and outstanding digestibility makes silkworms a genuinely superior option compared to many standard feeders. They are not a magic solution that replaces proper husbandry, but they are a meaningful upgrade to any insectivore or omnivore feeding program.

The most common mistakes with silkworms come down to poor planning rather than anything inherently difficult about the feeders themselves. Ordering too many before you know your consumption rate, letting chow go moldy from poor ventilation, allowing temperatures to spike or drop outside the acceptable range, and failing to feed them out before they mature into moths - these are all avoidable problems that disappear once you develop a simple routine. Start small, learn the rhythm, and scale up as your confidence grows.

Every reptile is an individual, and some will take to silkworms immediately while others need a few introductions before recognizing them as food. Do not force the issue if your reptile seems uninterested at first. Offer silkworms alongside familiar feeders, try different presentation methods like tong-feeding versus dish-feeding, and give your animal time to investigate at its own pace. The stress-free approach works better than repeatedly shoving an unfamiliar food item in front of a reluctant eater. Cooperation, not pressure, gets you where you want to go with feeding just as it does with every other aspect of reptile keeping.

Silkworms work best as part of a diverse feeding rotation that includes multiple feeder species, appropriate supplementation, and species-specific dietary planning. They fill an important niche in that rotation by providing nutrition that is difficult to match with other commonly available feeders, particularly for chameleons, juvenile bearded dragons, and any reptile that benefits from softer-bodied prey. Talk to other keepers in your species community about how they incorporate silkworms, keep notes on what works for your particular animals, and adjust your approach based on what you observe over time rather than following rigid rules that may not fit your situation.