How Many Silkworms to Feed Your Reptile
Because silkworms tend to be used as a supplemental feeder, rather than a staple, portioning can look a little different from feeders you'd offer every day like crickets and woodies.
This guide aims to advise on how many silkworms to feed and how often. For general care, see our silkworm care guide.
Quick takeaway: Silkworms can be used as a staple insect, so can be offered several times per week with no obvious issues. However, their higher price and seasonal availability can mean they suit most keepers as more of a supplemental feeder insect.
General Feeding Rule
Always match the size of the silkworm to your lizard, no bigger then the space inbetween their eyes. Aim to purchase a smaller worm size for young and juvenile lizards, and a larger size for adults, depending on species.
Portion by Reptile Size
Portion sizing for silkworms really isn't a huge issue due to being quite a healthy feeder insect. Here's just a few main things to consider.
Always offer a varied diet. Silkworms are dearer in price so you may want to feed less and space them out more for added variety. Silkworms also have quite a short shelf life before turning into cocoons, so it's better to buy smaller amounts, more often, rather then a bunch all at once.
Why Silkworms Work Best as a Supplement feeder
Their short shelf life makes buying in bulk impractical, and the price per animal adds up quickly if they're offered daily and in large quantities. Most keepers get better value treating silkworms as a rotation item — something to mix in periodically rather than a main daily feeder.
Getting Started
Here at Reptifauna, we don't currently offer silkworms, but we do offer a wide variety of other feeder insects with weekly shipping across Australia (excl. WA & TAS):
Browse the wider range in our Live Feeder Insects collection.
Final Thoughts
Silkworm portions are less about the health of the feeder, and more about the extra cost and short shelf-life you have to deal with as a keeper.
For full day-to-day care, see our silkworm care guide, or browse the complete guide to feeder insects in Australia.