Post by mothsocks on Jan 4, 2022 10:32:44 GMT
Hello everyone! I’m interested in keeping, rearing, and breeding moths; especially larger silk moths.
I’m very new to this and I want to make sure I do it right. It’s pretty hard to find information on keeping moths and I was wondering if this forum could help me answer some questions I have?
1: Where do you recommend obtaining eggs? Any particular websites or places I should check out? I live in the US, southern CA, westside if that helps.
2: Is there a type of moth you would recommend to newbies? Preferably a genus that is easy to obtain, rear, feed, and breed? Is “chow” (I’ve seen mulberry chow used for people raising domestic silk moths) an acceptable food for some or should it always be the host plants?
3: When breeding, is it bad for moths to be incestuous? As in, would it be bad for them to breed with each other if they came from the same mother? If so, is there a way to safely breed moths without continuously purchasing more eggs?
4: If I kept my home/room I rear them in an optimal temperature for them to live/hatch in, could I breed moths year round regardless of the season? I know some cocoons require over wintering so I assume that even if it is possible, it’s definitely not possible for all moths.
5: Any habitat tips? If I keep caterpillars in an open container, would that risk them getting out? I’m considering a large pop up cage for when they hatch, is that an okay option?
I’d like to keep whichever moths I rear happy and healthy, any advice would be amazing! If any of the information I already have is wrong please feel free to correct me!
I’m very new to this and I want to make sure I do it right. It’s pretty hard to find information on keeping moths and I was wondering if this forum could help me answer some questions I have?
1: Where do you recommend obtaining eggs? Any particular websites or places I should check out? I live in the US, southern CA, westside if that helps.
2: Is there a type of moth you would recommend to newbies? Preferably a genus that is easy to obtain, rear, feed, and breed? Is “chow” (I’ve seen mulberry chow used for people raising domestic silk moths) an acceptable food for some or should it always be the host plants?
3: When breeding, is it bad for moths to be incestuous? As in, would it be bad for them to breed with each other if they came from the same mother? If so, is there a way to safely breed moths without continuously purchasing more eggs?
4: If I kept my home/room I rear them in an optimal temperature for them to live/hatch in, could I breed moths year round regardless of the season? I know some cocoons require over wintering so I assume that even if it is possible, it’s definitely not possible for all moths.
5: Any habitat tips? If I keep caterpillars in an open container, would that risk them getting out? I’m considering a large pop up cage for when they hatch, is that an okay option?
I’d like to keep whichever moths I rear happy and healthy, any advice would be amazing! If any of the information I already have is wrong please feel free to correct me!
