Using silverfish as feeders

[Aspiring Mr T]

Are there any reasons not to feed Ts on captive bred silverfish?

I feed my younger mantids silverfish because it’s easier to do and less tricky than using crickets/flies all the time.

Is it ok to find them to slings?

 

[Vanessa]

As long as they are captive bred, I wouldn't see any reason not to. I don't think I've ever heard of someone breeding silverfish before. I would think that, if they are safe for your mantids, they would be safe for spiders too. I would pre-kill them and try it out to see if the spiderlings will scavenge them.
I don't know if silverfish in England is the same animal that we call silverfish in Canada. Do you have a link to them?

 

[Aspiring Mr T]

Thank you! I keep them in a pot with fish flakes, oats and egg cartons and they do their thing. I remove the junk, carcasses once a month and it seems to work. They’ve been great for Mantids.

I’ve got a Darlingi sling. Well, she/he is about 4cm LS. I’ll give it a go and report back.

Thanks Vanessa!

 

[InvertsPR]

I keep finding them around my apartment and always found them interesting! Didnt know you could culture them though. Are they easy to breed?

 

[Aspiring Mr T]

As long as they are captive bred, I wouldn't see any reason not to. I don't think I've ever heard of someone breeding silverfish before. I would think that, if they are safe for your mantids, they would be safe for spiders too. I would pre-kill them and try it out to see if the spiderlings will scavenge them.
I don't know if silverfish in England is the same animal that we call silverfish in Canada. Do you have a link to them?

I just fed one to my sling. She/he loved them and came out for a second.

Sorry I didn’t reply to the last part of your message. My apologies.

They’re also known as firebrats.

Silverfish - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Most notably seen scurrying across bathroom floors.

I keep finding them around my apartment and always found them interesting! Didnt know you could culture them though. Are they easy to breed?

I’m not an expert, but they seem to be doing ok. Literally, all I’ve done is put them in a box with egg cartons, fish flakes and oats. It’s been several months and the numbers seem to be steady. I’m sure there are more things I can be doing.

I bought a pack offline once and then decided I’ll give it a go. Very easy to pick out as they don’t jump, can’t climb the sides of glass/plastic. All I do is pick up a carton and push them into the enclosure or tip the tub sideways and do the same.

 

[Vanessa]

I just fed one to my sling. She/he loved them and came out for a second.
They’re also known as firebrats.

Silverfish - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Most notably seen scurrying across bathroom floors.

Yes, those are the same animal that we call silverfish here.

 

[InvertsPR]

I will try this. Thank you for the info!

 

[Aspiring Mr T]

No problem! It seems to be working but I’m sure there are things I could be doing better.

 

[SonsofArachne]

I will try this. Thank you for the info!

I would be careful if you are just grabbing them off the floor, they may have had contact with pesticides or other chemicals. If you mange to breed them though the offspring should be alright.

 

[Aspiring Mr T]

I would be careful if you are just grabbing them off the floor, they may have had contact with pesticides or other chemicals. If you mange to breed them though the offspring should be alright.

I got mine offline and from a local store at first.

 

[Smotzer]

I feel like this would be a really good sling food alternative! Thanks for this idea I’m definitely going to try this!

 

[Aspiring Mr T]

I feel like this would be a really good sling food alternative! Thanks for this idea I’m definitely going to try this!

Absolutely. They Don’t jump like crickets, nor are they as annoying as fruit flies to gather. They simply avoid your finger and run in the opposite direction. In this case, the enclosure. The fact they can’t climb is a bonus.

 

[Smotzer]

Absolutely. They Don’t jump like crickets, nor are they as annoying as fruit flies to gather. They simply avoid your finger and run in the opposite direction. In this case, the enclosure. The fact they can’t climb is a bonus.

Yeah I think it’s a much better idea than crickets that don’t live long and fruit flies that are a pain to feed!!

 

[Colorado Ts]

I don't know...silverfish can be a problem in the home if they get out and about.

Have you considered...”Springtails”...as an option?

If they escape, they will dry out and die, so no major issues with them getting out and causing problems.

They are so easy to raise in a culture, they are wonderful cleanup crews for sling enclosures...and itty bitty baby spiders...love them.

I would give Springtails a hard look and maybe compare and contrast the two.

 

[PhytoRoach]

This post is pretty old but have you since gained more info on keeping silverfish? I'm interested in trying to keep them up in canada : ) would be cool to have such a prehistoric animal haha

 

[catboyeuthanasia]

I would love to try them, but my partner has a rare book collection and would kill me if any got out.

 

[MariaLewisia]

Although I have personally not used them as feeders (yet!), I have noticed several breeders here in the EU offering breeding colonies of Thermobia domestica. When I order from them again sometime in April next year, I'll get a pack and see if I can get a colony started! It would be an interesting little project.