Silkworm as a Pac Staple?

[Jeffww]

So after the constant chirping and finding crickets randomly around the house (and the horrible smell). I've decided to switch to another staple food for my pac man. He really detests worms in any form of shape. He tried a red wriggler at first and since then hasn't really liked eating worms. He even ate a bit of night crawler (I guess they looked different enough). And since then he hasn't eaten those either. I'm thinking silkworms are not as smelly and a little less mobile than crickets? I've done a bit of reading on rearing them and while it looks difficult I think I can do it. (Channeling my fish breeding skills).

So does anyone have experiences with silkies as a staple food?

[Bombina Bob]

Silkies are very fatty and can make you have a very fat frog quickly! ive never heard of a pacman refusing worms before. I would try dubia roaches, they dont smell and they are more nutritious than your regular cricket, and they arent "Pest" roaches, they will die if kept too cool, avoid hissers for now because they have a harder exo skelleton

[Jeffww]

Silkies are very fatty and can make you have a very fat frog quickly! ive never heard of a pacman refusing worms before. I would try dubia roaches, they dont smell and they are more nutritious than your regular cricket, and they arent "Pest" roaches, they will die if kept too cool, avoid hissers for now because they have a harder exo skelleton

I'm already walking a thin line with my RA in my dorm with keeping the frog. I'm not sure keeping roaches is the right approach. What you say about the fat content is interesting since from what I've read, silkies have even less fat content than crickets. But the main issue with them is rearing them and the fact that they have so little exoskeleton, your frog's poop might be runny.

[Pheathers]

Yeah, I heard silkies are low in fat. My frogs love them, but silkies are expensive. Maybe try nightcrawlers?

[Bombina Bob]

OOOH! silkworms! i thought you meant waxworms, yes they are very low in fat
and are the healthiest option for your frog. forget the post i said earlier. sorry about that!

[never quit]

How do silkworms compare to hornworms with regard to nutritional value?...I think the hornworms get a lot bigger, thus your adult frogs would only need a few as compared to a lot of silkworms.....Not sure, just asking

Thanks
Lloyd

[GrifTheGreat]

Silkworms and Hornworms are basically the same in nutritional value and yes Hornworms become 4" long and about as big around as a large tootsie roll. Very nutritious and very filling. They are sold as about 1" caterpilars and become 4" in about 1.5 weeks.

Night Crawlers are by far the most nutritious food you can offer your frog though. Most likely the Red Worm you offered secreted it's defensive yellow slime that both tastes and smells bad. Some frogs wont touch worms after getting a taste of the secretion. It is not toxic to the frog though like it is to other animals.

[DVirginiana]

I don't even keep red wigglers for fear of getting them mixed up and accidentally feeding them to one of my snakes (they are toxic to garters).
But my pac loves nightcrawlers. In fact, that's about 95% of her diet due to impaction issues with other foods, and she is fine.

Coming from someone who also had to keep a frog hidden from an RA for two years; NIGHTCRAWLERS. It's the best way, unless you know a bait shop owner that will let you pick out only female crickets (they don't chirp)... He actually still asks me if I want male or female crickets whenever I come in to buy fishing bait... If your frog won't take the nightcrawlers at first, rub them gently on its lips for a minute till it gets annoyed and snaps. After a time or two, they'll recognize them as food and go right for them.
Also, the frozen silversides they sell at most Petco/Petsmart stores make great treats about once a month. I've found they are easier for mine to digest than pinkies, but still provide variety.

[Namio]

So after the constant chirping and finding crickets randomly around the house (and the horrible smell). I've decided to switch to another staple food for my pac man. He really detests worms in any form of shape. He tried a red wriggler at first and since then hasn't really liked eating worms. He even ate a bit of night crawler (I guess they looked different enough). And since then he hasn't eaten those either. I'm thinking silkworms are not as smelly and a little less mobile than crickets? I've done a bit of reading on rearing them and while it looks difficult I think I can do it. (Channeling my fish breeding skills).

So does anyone have experiences with silkies as a staple food?

Try Samurai pacman food if your frog is tong-trained. IMO the food is relatively cheap, nutritious, long shelve life, hassle-free and clean.

[Jeffww]

Try Samurai pacman food if your frog is tong-trained. IMO the food is relatively cheap, nutritious, long shelve life, hassle-free and clean.

He's kind of tong trained. He'll eat the first one or two things from my tongs and after that he'll insist on catching his own. Really strange frog.

Also He tried a silkworm today. And.....he didn't like it. He's addicted to crickets. I guess I'm lucky that he'll try new food though.

[GrifTheGreat]

He's kind of tong trained. He'll eat the first one or two things from my tongs and after that he'll insist on catching his own. Really strange frog.

Also He tried a silkworm today. And.....he didn't like it. He's addicted to crickets. I guess I'm lucky that he'll try new food though.

This is actually normal. Most of mine including my Pyxi do this same thing.

[Jeffww]

Thanks for being so helpful everyone. Also it looks like Mippy has taken to silkworms now. He's eaten two so far in one sitting! Hopefully in a few months I can ween him to samurai food.

I also have two more questions and instead of making a new thread:

1. Is it okay for him to eat all the cocofiber that's stuck to his skin when he sheds? Or should I try to use my spray bottle and get some of it off.
2. Also, what length will he be sexable? I'm starting to think "He" is a "she" now. He's almost 2.75" long and still no sign nuptial pads.

Also I'm not being paranoid when I remove the hind legs on the crickets I feed him right? They seemed really spiny and twig like so I was scared they'd impact him.

[GrifTheGreat]

Thanks for being so helpful everyone. Also it looks like Mippy has taken to silkworms now. He's eaten two so far in one sitting! Hopefully in a few months I can ween him to samurai food.

I also have two more questions and instead of making a new thread:

1. Is it okay for him to eat all the cocofiber that's stuck to his skin when he sheds? Or should I try to use my spray bottle and get some of it off.
2. Also, what length will he be sexable? I'm starting to think "He" is a "she" now. He's almost 2.75" long and still no sign nuptial pads.

Also I'm not being paranoid when I remove the hind legs on the crickets I feed him right? They seemed really spiny and twig like so I was scared they'd impact him.

A little Coconut fiber on the skin during shedding will not hurt so no worries.

Go ahead and wait until the frog is 3" before deciding that its a female some males won't get their nuptials until they're 3".

Removing the hind legs mostly just makes them easier for the frog to catch. So its ok.