Pet Spotlight: Silk Worms

Pet Spotlight: Silk Worms

Disclaimer: As with the Wintermelon post, I do not claim to be an expert in insects, breeding, feeders, or pets. All opinions expressed and experiences shared are my own and from what I read on the internet.

I bought three silkworms from a pet store on about Thursday 29th May. Normally silkworms are used as feeders for reptiles and, although I'm the owner of a considerable menagerie, these little ones were not for that purpose. I wanted to see them spin their cocoons and become moths.

Plus, they're really cute.

Some people may find them a bit gross, as they do with a lot of creepy crawlies. But I find them adorable. They have little feet for feeling on the front part of their bodies and suction feet from about 1/4 of the way onward. They have little buttocks that can clamp onto leaf stalks, too! Which makes removing them from their box a little tricky. You need to be firm and yet be careful not to a) squish them and b) break their legs. When they crawl on your skin, it's a little itchy, a bit like someone dragging a floor brush along your arm.

So aside from (lightly) squeezing them (they're sooo squishy!) and petting them, I got a plastic see-through box for them and threw in a bunch of washed white mulberry leaves, and let them get on with it. Silkworms eat voraciously, hence my new nickname for my trio: "Om nom noms". Just keep throwing mulberry leaves at them, but make sure they're fresh, because silkworms don't drink. They get all their hydration from the water in the leaves, and face it, dry leaves aren't exactly the most delectable. Clean out the faeces -- these guys poop as fast as they eat -- every so often.

I had them for two to three days before they just stopped eating altogether. Then they started spinning silk. Initially they were pretty lethargic, nibbling on the mulberry leaf a little, before just lying there again. I began to worry, as I'd never had silkworms before and was thinking, "Oh God, I can't even keep three worms alive?!"

Turns out they were ready to become cocoons. Overnight, two of them spun an opaque cocoon. A third was still spinning it the next morning when I came downstairs. I could still see its little head weaving back and forth as the cocoon thickened, and by mid-afternoon it, too, was out of sight in its little ball.

The interwebs say they take about three weeks to become moths, but it may be because it's horrendously hot where I am right now (35C on a normal day), they came out of their cocoons on June 10th -- well, two of them did. One was still inside its cocoon. As they (apparently) come out at dawn, I figured the remaining one wouldn't arrive until the next day, and I was right. I cleared out most of the faeces from before they became cocoons and the dried leaf that stayed with them for the 11-day-long cocoon period.

As I was also told by the internet, they sprayed a red liquid when they came out of the cocoon. So I cleared that out too. The first two that emerged look like females -- pretty big and wide, white, looks like the females on the internet. I hoped the third would be a male, otherwise these three will die within a week without laying eggs and I'll have to get new silkwormies.

Although considering they took a third of the time to become moths, perhaps they'll take a third of the time to die...

So it turned out the third one was, indeed, a male. Admittedly I couldn't tell the difference. He was the same size as the other two and more or less the same colour, perhaps with darker antennae. But when I came down the next morning, he had his butt jammed into a female's butt, so I guess he's a male?

I think the male is the left one in the left picture. You can also see the cocoon from which one of them emerged.

And although I'm rather quizzical about the timing of the event and its duration, it seems like the other female is already laying eggs -- considering adult moths neither urinate nor defecate, what else could these yellow things be? Our male could be more promiscuous and quick than I took him for...

For a couple of days, they mated, laid eggs, rinse and repeat. The male kept getting his wings and body caught in the silk so it was tough getting him out; the silk was tough and his body rather fragile. I ripped his wings a couple of times but his body was relatively intact, although he was still rather silky.

They managed to mate about three times in total (so one female participated twice) and there was a shedload of eggs.

I read on the internet that eggs will turn grey/black if they have been fertilised. So I left them where they are. Sadly -- but as expected -- the three adults died on 15th and 17th of June.

On about 16th June, some of the eggs did indeed turn grey/black (L), contrast with those that were unfertilised (R). Because my silk moths laid their eggs in two different places, I took half of the eggs -- still attached to the paper towel they were laid on -- and put it in a plastic tub, much like those takeaway microwaveable containers. Then I stuck the plastic container in a plastic bag, tied it, and refrigerated it. These should theoretically stay "fresh" for up to five years. They're my back-up silkworms. I don't fancy hatching hundreds of silkworms just yet -- can you imagine how much mulberry leaves they'll go through in a day!?

A couple of days later, the ones that were not refrigerated hatched.

Notice the little wriggly black things -- those are the baby silkworms. The hatched remnants of the eggs are grey and on close inspection, they have a hole in each of the sides.

I let the silk worm babies migrate of their own accord. Using small mulberry leaves -- as new as I can get, because their digestive tracts are still delicate and may not be able to digest larger leaves -- I placed new leaves on top and let them climb on. Eventually, after about two days, I'd moved most of them to a new container, cleaned the pink one, and replaced them.

A few of the babies got caught in the silk and couldn't move out. Others just died without apparent reason. I think I hatched about 200 worms and lost 10-20 initially.

Empty silkworm eggs

Well, currently the babies are still chomping away at the leaves. The leaves dry out quickly, so I have to keep replenishing them. I think I've lost another 20 in the past few days -- they're just little black hairs at the bottom of the plastic tub that don't move, so I assume they've gone.

If I feed them daily, they'll reach full cocoon-able state within a month, so let's see where we go from there. I hope they survive this baby stage and start to shed. If all things go well, some will be kept behind for breeding but most of the rest will end up as feeders for my lizards and amphibians.

I'll update with a later post. Until then, the silkworm babies say bye!

Wattpad: The Windcaster

Wattpad: The Windcaster

Current cover

Magic. Starvation. Inequality.  

In the Kingdom of Dernexes, where Wind magic equates to status and power, there is unrest among the people. Slaves live in desolate conditions, with no rights and are treated worse than dogs. Neighbouring countries border on war as King Ea lives in lavish luxury at the expense of increasing poverty and death among the civilians.  

Tia, a sheltered, naive Caster apprentice travels with a Windcaster when he is summoned for council with the King. The journey through the various, apparently well-to-do areas of the country shows only how much people need help, help which the King is adamant to withhold. Desperate times call for desperate measures.  

Times are about to change...

http://www.wattpad.com/story/7803020-the-windcaster-fantasy-adventure-complete-the

This post contains no spoilers.

About the Book

The Windcaster is a coming-of-age epic fantasy-adventure story I wrote for Wattpad, started on 21 August 2013 and completed on 25 December 2013: a total of 112k words. It is a tale of a young magician-in-training growing up and learning the perfect world she sees through rose-coloured glasses is actually corrupt; socioeconomic inequality is destroying the poorest and the most destitute. Slavery is rife, and those unfortunate enough to be under its system have no human rights and are treated as less than dogs.

The main character is Tia, a vivacious and naive Windcaster apprentice, who has lived all her life in the pretty seaside city of Mooncliffe with the man who trains her, Master Anu the Windcaster of Mooncliffe. Her love for fun and utter lack of heed for danger means she gets into trouble often, creating worry for her nervous but compassionate colleague, Mommu, who also lives in the same little house on a hill.

An early sketch of Tia

In Tia's world, Windcasters -- magicians who can utilise Wind magic with their innate talents and magic staffs -- are revered above all else. Their powerful affinity to the Wind is of great contribution to Tia's influential and prospering country, Dernexes. However, Windcasters are also allied, not to their country, but to the Wind. As such, ethical dilemmas have risen in the past and will rise in the future regarding its use, particularly as Dernexes's king, Ea, remains living in lavish luxury and in denial of his country's suffering.

Initial Windcaster staff sketches

When Master Anu, the Windcaster who trains Tia and Mommu in Wind magic, receives a summon from the king in the Capital, Tia's dream comes true: she finally gets to leave the small, peaceful city of Mooncliffe and travel the country. She will, at last, get to see all the wondrous places the Master spoke of, taste all the delicious delicacies, and meet all sorts of lovely people.

Chibi Art of Tia

Chibi Art of Mommu

Or so she thought.

With neighbouring countries bordering on war, slaves living in desperate conditions, and dissatisfaction brewing amongst Dernexans, the facade of the stable world she grew up in is about to be shattered. Through a series of unfortunate events and new friendships forged, Tia grows up and makes a choice, made all the more difficult when all the options lead to dire consequences and she has to choose the lesser of many evils.

The Writing Process

I am very much an amateur writer, although I do enjoy storytelling. I've never taken any creative writing courses (my high school/secondary school qualifications were biology, physics, chemistry, maths, and classical civilisation) but here, I share my writing experience of "The Windcaster" in hopes it may be helpful.

Initially inspired by "Tales of Earthsea", the Studio Ghibli animation, I've always had that scene in my head where Sparrowhawk takes Arun to that beautiful seaside town. That was where Mooncliffe was born. In my head, a little brown-haired girl skipped her way down the stone steps, ponytail swinging, and was loving every step and breath of sea air. That was where Tia was born.

A still from "Tales of Earthsea". Image from www.manga-news.com

From there, that scene sat in my head for a good six years until one day, I decided to expand on that scene. The Windcaster played itself out in my head like a movie for the vast majority of the book, so what I had to do was to translate that into text. After Tia makes her way down, she meets someone who will later become important in her story. A bit of mischief, some trouble, and a bruised ego later, her journey begins.

For those who may be interested, Tia's namesake, Tiamat, is from the Final Fantasy XII monster, which is in itself named after a Babylonian sea monster. From there, you can see all of my other characters are named after Babylonian deities or significant characters: Enlil the god of wind, Mommu/Mummu the god of crafts and technical skills, Anu the god of heaven and the sky.

This post contains no spoilers, but I will talk about the plotting and writing. I thought of several highlights of the story where Tia's maturity furthers and the world around her moves on ahead. There are some turn-points when she sees a little more of the world she was so naive about. Between each of the highlights, I have a few smaller peaks for building character and the world, and as I write, I pave my way from peak to peak, and, in the long run, from highlight to highlight.

Concept art of Tia and her trainee uniform (L) and Windcaster trainee's cloak and staff (R)

The story is built to a crescendo, which is then built down again for a bit of breathing time and in anticipation of the final showdown. I also allowed self-discovery and independence for Tia here, because as the main character, she has to play a major role in saving the day.

I hit several writer's block along the way. Most of them were in the second half of the book, where not only I had difficulty visualising the world, I also didn't know where to take Tia next. I knew in the long-term where she was to go, but paving the way there proved to be difficult. With most of them, I just skipped that scene and carried on writing: the next scene, the next week's events, additional scenes that never actually materialised in the Wattpad book. The ending was actually very different to what I had in mind, but I do feel this ending is better. There is enough closure -- the big bad is defeated, the world is saved -- but also leaves enough for me to write a sequel should I wish to.

Fan art by deardiary96

Fan art by Rosaimee

The Sequel

Although I say in the end author's note I am not planning a sequel, it is an idea sitting in the back of my head. I think I left Tia in a rather perfect world, to the point where I want to ruin it and see how she fares -- oh, how sadistic I sound! But it is what makes a good read: characters in difficult situations making something good out of it. And Tia, with her heart of gold, deserves her struggle for happiness.

So what I'm trying to say is: I can very well envision a sequel to "The Windcaster" once the rewrite is done. When that will be I cannot promise, but I do have several ideas brewing in my head, as well as a new story that runs along the theme of "The Windcaster" although it doesn't happen in Tia's world.

The New Cover

And without further ado, I shall unveil my new cover for "The Windcaster", courtesy of my good friend and extremely talented Photoshop artist Wendythestoryteller. This cover will be implemented in the upcoming week or two.

What are your thoughts about it? I love it; it's gorgeous, and I can't wait to show it off to the Wattpad world.

Until next time, when I'll probably blog about some other pets of mine!

Pet Spotlight: Wintermelon the Pacman Frog

Pet Spotlight: Wintermelon the Pacman Frog

So slimy and wet

Green on scarlet, glistening

My Wintermelon.

~"The Frog" -- My first Haiku, 12/06/2014

Disclaimer: I'm no reptile/amphibian/pet expert and I will never claim to be one. All information I put on this blog are what I've read on the internet or in books and from personal experience. Please do thorough research before purchasing a pet and be a responsible pet owner!

I was going to spotlight a couple of my newest pets today, but I figured this one is probably more interesting and I'll go onto the newer ones at a later date. Considering this is The Frog Blog, it's only natural I blog about frogs at one point or another, so without further ado, let me introduce one of my frogs: Wintermelon.

Wintermelon is a female Pacman frog. These frogs are so-named because of their huge mouths, which resemble the game, Pacman. See the resemblance?

To be honest, they -- the frogs -- are really nothing more than stomachs with legs. They have no neck, no shoulders or hips (well, strictly speaking they do...) and look like a giant coin purse. They're one of the easiest pets to take care of, although at the same time they literally do nothing. They can sit in the same position all day, every day, except for when they need a soak and when they're being fed. Sometimes I wonder if they're asleep all along, when I look at them.

But the greatest part about them is how adorable they look. Look at them round eyes! And the round body! And the stumpy little legs!

It's one of my life's dreams to actually lick one. Unfortunately, because they're not exactly sterile (and neither is my tongue, from their point of view), that's not something I'll do in the near future. Seeing them swim is enough pleasure -- scroll down!.

Wintermelon is one of my greediest pets. She loves her food and eats with great gusto. One of the funniest thing about her is she thinks everything that moves equals food, so if I go too near her tank (even if I'm doing things that have nothing to do with her), it's a common phenomenon she'll turn on the spot and face me, expectantly. Place her next to a box of things that move during cleaning time, such as mealworms or a tank of fish, she may even headbutt her tank -- I try to avoid that as it can hurt her lips/face/head-body.

Not that she gets food unless it's her meal time...

 

Speaking of food, she eats more or less anything, everything. She eats the best out of all of my other frogs, who will be spotlighted later -- one in particular is very picky about her food. Fish, crickets, roaches, mealworms... Wintermelon'll eat it all. Just throw it in front of her and she'll (try her best to) chomp it. Occasionally she'll miss and end up catching her mouth on the sponge instead, but that just makes it funnier. But usually she's pretty spot-on with her aim (see video for example).

I also love how she sometimes sits like she doesn't have arms or legs. A bit like cat loaf. Frog loaf?

**ba-dum-ch**

Amongst many funny things I find about the frogs, one of them is their uncanny way to sit facing one single direction. This means if you turn the tank at a reasonably slow pace so she doesn't get disorientated, Wintermelon will turn on the spot so she remains facing wherever she was facing. Not infallible, but always worth a giggle.

Another funny thing to watch is her swimming. Wintermelon's is particularly adorable, because she has a very rotund body (especially after she's had a long soak!) and very long froggy back legs that are disproportionate to her girth.

You'll notice we use a bright green sponge for her to sit on (or under). Apparently the internet experts say it makes her green brighter -- and I have to say, she has lovely colouring, great for painting. I've also started an acrylic painting of her sitting in a most majestic pose. Maybe one day when it's finished, I'll blog about it.

 

A couple of things to note for people who are planning on owning froggies -- the list is incomplete. 

- They're easy to take care of: fed once a week, clean up their poop in that kind of frequency.

- Give them plenty of water in a tub so they can sit, soak, and swell up. 

- Don't overfeed them and don't put them in the same tank as any other living thing, or they'll eat it.

- Don't handle them too much. Human hands are too hot for them and our hands are often too dirty for them, too! Considering they absorb everything in contact with their skin, you wouldn't want them taking in the perfume or cream you'd just used, or the ink you'd stained your fingers with, would you?

That's about everything for today. My other pets will make an entrance in the upcoming weeks/months. What do you think of Wintermelon? Is she lovely, rotund, and adorable? She's not slimy in the slightest, just nice, soft, and cool. Not icky. Very serious about her food, and makes an awesome model.

She's so majestic!

Recipe: Blueberry and Lemon Cheesecake

Recipe: Blueberry and Lemon Cheesecake

As some of you may know (you know who you are!), I like to bake. Not a big fan of biscuits or pastries, but I do like to make cakes. Big cakes, little cakes, cupcakes, etc. I came across the recipe but modified it a bit for my own convenience and tastes. I tend to find a lot of cake recipes too sickly, so I've toned down the sugar.

I'm a very amateur baker and am a big fan of recipes that just involve throwing everything together and then shoving it in the oven, so if you're equally inexperienced, you'll find the recipes I use a piece of cake -- pun intended!

So, without further ado, here is the recipe I used for Blueberry and Lemon Cheesecake

Time: 1hr prep + 45mins baking + overnight cooling
Serves: 8 (or 4, in my case... we love cake!)

Ingredients:
Base:
- Digestive Biscuits 200g (crushed)
- Butter 75g (melted)
Cake:
- Cream Cheese 500g
- Caster sugar 200g
- Natural Yoghurt 140-150g
- Medium-sized eggs x 3
- Lemons x 2
- Plain flour 50g
- Blueberries 125g
Topping:
- Blueberries 25g
- (Optional) Icing sugar (for decorating)

Equipment:
Wooden spoon
Springform tin
Oven
Mixing bowl
Whisk
Sieve (if using icing sugar)
Scales
Potato peeler
Knife


Instructions:
1) Preheat oven to 120C. I grew up in a place that favoured heavy-handed pesticides, so I habitually soak fruit and veg. You can just wash them if you don't want to soak the blueberries and the lemons.

2) Crush the digestive biscuits. You can put it in a food bag and smash it repeatedly with a rolling pin, or, if you don't have a bag, just put it in a mixing bowl and smush the contents using the bottom of a smaller bowl. Crush the bits you missed with a wooden spoon. Melt the butter, pour it in, and mix thoroughly. Place the contents in the springform tin, press it firmly so it's spread evenly over the bottom, and put it in the fridge for now.

3) Mix the cream cheese with the sugar in a clean mixing bowl. You can use an electric whisk if you're lazy or pressed for time. Then mix in the yoghurt, then beat in whisked eggs one at a time.

4) Peel the lemon skin of the two lemons, taking care to just remove the yellow outer but not the white inner skin (because it's bitter!) before you hit the flesh. Chop up the yellow skin ("zest") into as small bits as you can. Halve one lemon and squeeze the juice into the mix (1 lemon). Throw in the zest and flour. Fold the ingredients together so you don't mix in too much air.

5) Take the 125g blueberries one by one. Crush them (between two fingers or spoons) and drop them into the mix. This gets their juice mixing in. With raspberries, you can crush them in the mix itself, but blueberries have a tougher skin. Mix well and pour it into the springform tin. Smooth over the top.

6) Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. After that, turn off the oven and leave the cake inside for an hour. Then take it out of the oven and leave it to cool at room temperature (consider putting a lid of some sort over the top). Then refrigerate overnight.

7) Take the cake out of the fridge and decorate with the remaining blueberries. Dust over with icing sugar using a sieve (but I didn't use that in the pictures).

Enjoy!

Did it work for you? How would you rate the results? Did you modify it for your own tastes? Let me know!