Every time I put new milkweed in the aquarium, I also inadvertently add new caterpillars. Oh, my goodness! They're multiplying like crazy in there! I've got to make some new cages.
Thus far, I've been sticking a branch of milkweed with flowers, leaves in a tiny containers of water. They eat everything! I'm afraid my house is going to be overrun by these cats if I don't do something soon.I've been putting foil on top of the aquairum with slits for air, but several should be large enough to start pupating, and I can't have them pupate on the foil.
Jo
This message was edited Apr 27, 2008 12:26 PM
PLEASE let me see pics of your "make do" caterpillar cages
Jo, I use cheesecloth on top of my cages. I use the critter keepers you can buy at Petco. A lot of people use them for transporting crickets. They have slits in the top but the caterpillars can crawl through; thus, I use cheesecloth. Sometimes the babies can still get through that, but I fold it over so it's two layers and that seems to keep them in. Plus, once they get bigger than can fit their feet into the spaces in the cloth and they will often pupate on it. In the picture that's my Zebra Longwing in the chrysalis on top and the Gulf Frits roaming around the bottom on passion vine leaves.
Melanie
But how do you open it without disturbing the crysalys? That's what I'm trying to figure out! Or do you only put one cat per container? That could get expensive! LOL
Jo
Oh, the chrysalis doesn't care if I open it. Last week I did have a couple Zebra ST who silked the chrysalis between the side and the cheesecloth so when I opened it I tore a little of their silk. I scotch taped them to the side and now they're a-ok. Usually, they don't silk the cheesecloth like that. And I keep it to one species per container. Although, I do have baby cats in Gladware. They don't get to the critterkeeper until they're big enough to not be eaten by the other guys.
Well, I turned my 10 gallon aquarium on its side, bought a lizard top for it (which is now on the side), and stuck some sticks across the back for the caterpillars to pupate on. I had some very fine vinyl "screen" that I stuck between the aquarium opening and the lizard top. Folded newspapers fit perfectly at the bottom. I didn't even have to refold. I have some gladware containers filled with water, the tops on, holes punched, and stalks of milkweed stuck in them.
I'll still continue to bring one large milkweed plant in at a time, as the cats "hatch" and are large enough to put in the aquarium, they'll go in there. So far, it's working.
Now, this particular plant has been eaten and chopped on enough, so it's going outside to get refurbished. haha
Jo
This message was edited Apr 27, 2008 5:43 PM
This message was edited Apr 28, 2008 11:54 AM