The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

-- Mark Twain

The past week, a letter was distributed claiming that "Due to circumstances beyond our control ReptielRooms.com is closing its doors." Per a copy of this letter I have obtained, this was sent on the evening of January 22nd. The letter also stated "Most of your friendly mods and admin staff will be returning, but there will be new management in place [...]."

As you can see, this is not the case, a blatant lie to justify the theft or illegal use. Neither did the mangement or mods go with them, 1 person that I wanted removed did. The other moderators listed on that letter never consented to the use of their names or participated in this criminal act

On January 23rd, ReptileRooms became the victim of both theft and destruction of data. The database was downloaded from and removed from the server, and some files critical to the functioning of the site were also deleted. The ReptileRooms forum data was then used to populate a new site started by the offenders with Reptile Rooms forums of the past years appearing on them. The number and locations of affected files makes it abundantly clear that this act was deliberate.

On January 24th, the stolen data was made available by the perpetrators and recovered. The last two days were spent restoring the majority of the data and missing files. The remaining data (namely the Steve Irwin memorial forum) will be restored very soon. We are unable to restore serveral days of lost posts and new stories uploads.

Even though account passwords are encrypted, I urge all the members to change their account passwords as a precaution.

The main offenders, Tux and Shrap, have been banned, as well as certain other possibly involved parties.

I am very grateful for the outpouring of support from our members and around the reptile community. Likewise, I am disappointed that trusted members of our community would commit these crimes.

PLEASE, if you like this site and want to help to defray the cost of this outrageous act, use the PAYPAL donate button to the left. It IS greatly appreciated........ And, welcome back! Reptile Rooms well continue to function as it has, a place for the owners and their animals, not a site for self gain

For the first time in over a year, we have been able to get silkworms to stay healthy through the 5th instar and cocooning without the mass die off experienced in the past by us, many private breeders and distributors too.

In the fall of 2005, a virus hit the silkworms being imported into the U.S. and that seemed to be followed by bacterial infections too. During that time, many silkworm breeders went out of business as they could not get a start up stock going again. I know I reordered eggs multiple times and young silks, only to lose them within a short between 2nd and 3rd instar. I was able to get a few colonies to the 4th instar and some even to cocoon, but they were erratic, failed to hatch..

During that time I was uncertain of using these as feeders, due to a bacteria that was also affecting many breeders silks. Finally with some young silks from Coastal Silkworms last month, I was able to raise them without any health problems or dieoffs to adults and spinning. Hopefully I will have some eggs again to start a second generation.

I am glad to see, that it appear the problem they were experiencing in the US has been resolved as these do make an excellent feeder for many insect eating reptiles of all ages. Babies enjoy them without the risk of impaction and they are very good for older dragons due an enzyme that is found in them. With 20 lizards in the house, silkworms are a rare treat for them and it was so frustrating to pay the cost of them and have them all dying within days.

My order from Coastal Silkworms was more than the promised amount and of moderate size. I also ordered some eggs, but have not hatched them yet, I will when it gets warmer here as I use our lanai area to hatch them in. I do need to remember to keep them covered so the wild anoles that make a home here, do not have fat bellies again and my hatching trays empty. I had the happiest and best fed anoles in the state!