Since I dont have a Mulberry tree of my own but I do come across them time to time is it worth grabbing a bunch and drying them so they can be used over a longer period similar to IAL?

As a food source, mulberry leaves are excellent.....I got some last autumn, and froze a bundle and dried a bundle.....they're part of my away/holiday MUST food, as they get eaten in 2-4 days, whereas the IAL, tends to sit idle, so at least I know they're getting some nutrition etc....

so yes and yes.

Does anyone know where there are some mulberry trees in the northern suburbs of Sydney? Feel free to PM me so the tree doesnt get pillaged. When I was a kid and kept silkworms I knew where every Mulberry tree was in my area. Now, nothing.

I will attempt to convince a local member (WA) to do a big collection off his mulberry tree, and offer it to the local SKF members... Perhaps, someone with easy access (i.e. their back yard, neighbours, park etc...) can do the same for each state ? I even know a member who planted a mulberry tree in their back yard just for their shrimp......:-)

That is a nice idea.

Blue bolts was talking about me lol. I got a bit mulberry crazy at one stage. I know of 2 areas with mulberry trees and a third! One particular member here has a very large tree in Queensland. Ill let him decide is he wants to donate but I am happy to get a big collection going for all queenslanders!

And little old me?

I have a large mulberry tree And I will donate as much as people want. I will dry some and freeze some in lots of 5 leaves over the weekend. If someone could help with showing me the best way for shipping I could probably get enough to supply the east coast over winter lol.

Cheers Mick

Very generous offer Mick. And every generous offer needs a recipient.

My neighbors got a massive tree I can also collect for other members and post at their expense qlder

Please may I have some , Very hard to grow a mulberry tree on a boat .

this might just be me, but i am always worried about taking leaves from other trees as i am always concerned that there may be pesticide spray on them.

on the odd occasions when i do take leaves from a tree i find, i always climb the tree and take the big leaves from close to the top and dry them at home.

just me though :)

this might just be me' date=' but i am always worried about taking leaves from other trees as i am always concerned that there may be pesticide spray on them.

on the odd occasions when i do take leaves from a tree i find, i always climb the tree and take the big leaves from close to the top and dry them at home.

just me though :)[/quote']

Have to be aware of contaminated leaves especially near high traffic areas?

Please may I have some ' date=' Very hard to grow a mulberry tree on a boat .[/quote']

I have sent you a PM Wayne!

this might just be me' date=' but i am always worried about taking leaves from other trees as i am always concerned that there may be pesticide spray on them.

on the odd occasions when i do take leaves from a tree i find, i always climb the tree and take the big leaves from close to the top and dry them at home.

just me though :)[/quote']

we have some mulberry leaves if anyone wants some . . No chemicals what so ever . . The plant is grown in a big pot in our backyard . . The plant actually showed up mysteriestly

we presume it grew from bird crap :)

theres 3 more baby mulberry plants now aswell

Nice!!! And Schmicko u were the guy I was talking Abt. Good on ya mate :) if u need help ill show ya how to ship. Very very easy.

Thanks gbang that would be great. I will pm you later. On a side note I also have mango, banana and fig trees amongst others so if anyone wants a few leaves of any let me know and I can collect them as they drop. I don't use chemicals around the trees or yard as I have ponds so I'm paranoid about overspray blowing around.

Cheers Mick

Glad I asked the question.

I put in a leaf the other day and they have smashed it.

As for picking from other people's trees, I have a look at the surounding area / gardens if there not really well kept etc I'm not concerned about poison too much because its obvious the people don't care too much about the garden.

I always would give the a good wash though

I have two types of Mulberry tree in my yard (no pesticides used so shrimp/ fish friendly), one is a white mulberry the other is similar to the white but the fruit turns purple without staining your hands or clothes.

I can easily supply leaves from either tree (the white one has huge leaves while the other one has smaller leaves), I can press the leaves to keep them relatively fresh or when the trees are dropping thier leaves I can supply freshly fallen yellowed leaves.

All I would ask is some help with postage and I will happily send leaves.

On a side note I am often prunig the trees and giving the branches to my cockatiels as perches, once the cockatiels have stripped the bark (which they adore) and the timber is totoally dried our I am thinking of adding the cleaned branches into my shrimp tanks to see if the timber is as good for the shrimp as the leaves.

I put mine under boiling hot water to clean them .then onto my lizard incloser they dry in couple hours

just found a massive tree over the fence!! :)

how long do u dry the leaves for? and do they negatively effect the water in any way? i have a 3ft 120 litre tank with around 50 shrimp atm.. but i have like 10 prego ones so i want to prepare the tank for what might be 100+ shrimplets :) :)

any tips guys?

cheers,

shrimpstan

Generally, there's 4 (?) ways mulberry leaves can be used -

1. Dried (naturally dried fallen leaves)

2. Dried (plucked green & artficially dried out)

3. Fresh (plucked, then boiled or hot water poured)

4. Fresh (plucked, then frozen, and used when required)

All the above works great, just ensure your mulberry tree/leaves is clean...preferably the tree is not next to a busy road, other pollution...etc.

Using dried mulberry leaves, soaked in HOT water for 5-10 minutes (soften/wash)....24+ hours later. The mulberry leaves takes 24-48 hours to break down enough for the shrimp to start feeding on them. Great Holiday food !

Anyone in Melbourne have it? I would like to have some :tears_of_joy:

Anyone in Melbourne have it? I would like to have some :tears_of_joy:

If you can't find any locally I may be able to send you some for postage costs.