Silkworms

Live silkworms for sale in counts of 25 to 1,000. Silkworms are the larvae of the domestic silk moth, Bombyx mori. They are soft-bodied, slow and low in fat, and VCA Animal Hospitals lists them among suitable feeders for bearded dragons and leopard geckos.

Silkworm nutrition

In Mark Finke's published analyses, silkworm larvae measure 82.7% moisture, 9.3% protein and 1.1% fat as fed. That makes them the wettest and leanest of the common feeders he analyzed. For comparison, waxworms are 24.9% fat and superworms 17.7%. The same summary lists silkworm calcium and phosphorus figures identical to superworms, which looks like a copying error, so we don't quote a calcium ratio for them.

Gut loading and dusting silkworms

Studies of gut load diets with 4% to 9% calcium raised the calcium content of silkworms, and diets with added vitamin A raised their vitamin A. Dust them with a phosphorus-free calcium powder just before feeding as well. Our guide on how to gut load feeder insects covers what to feed and for how long.

Silkworms for bearded dragons and leopard geckos

Pick a silkworm no longer than the gap between your reptile's eyes, offer only what it eats in one sitting, and remove leftovers. Rotate silkworms with a staple such as dubia roaches or black soldier fly larvae. See the best feeder insects for bearded dragons and the best feeder insects for leopard geckos.

Shipping and live arrival

Orders ship sometime between Sunday and Wednesday to the lower 48 states and DC. We may hold an order when heat or cold on the route puts live insects at risk. If any silkworms arrive dead, email photos or video within 1 hour of delivery, and we resend a qualifying order once at no cost. Details are on our shipping page.

Subscribe and save on silkworms

Subscribe and save 15% on deliveries every 1, 2 or 3 months. Subscription deliveries of $35 or more ship free, and you can skip, pause or cancel from your account. Pet stores and breeders can apply for a wholesale account.