Feeding slugs

[jaleely]

Hello again all!

My kids (garters of course) are doing well. The red-sideds insist upon eating fish. I do vit supplements just to make sure they're getting all they need.

But, the wanderings have decided they like slugs. I looked it up online and can't find where there is anything wrong with that. Obviously gardeners like to see garters because that's what they do...eat slugs!
I found the type of slug we have in our yard, and let me tell you folks...we have a LOT. I feed these guys every single night, with slugs. lol
There is never a short supply.
I left some leftover trout in their enclosure one night, and that was gone by morning...so if i ever do run out of slugs, i'm sure i can get them to eat something else.

But...what's your opinion on a slug diet?
They are just frantic for slugs. They love them like crazy.
I read that they have plenty of calcium and protein, and i did try some vit supplements on them before but i don't really think the snakes need it.

What do you guys think? Just wanting some reassurance.
The wanderings are my favorites lol i'm a bad mommy because i pick favorites....
they just crack me up. The female thinks she's starving to death. Then they get slug goo in their mouths, but try to keep eating more slugs anyway. I've gotten to where i mother them and try hard to wipe off the slug slime first *lol* i feel sorry for them wiping their lil mouths. : )

[guidofatherof5]

Slugs are good.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Is there a risk of parasites?

[guidofatherof5]

I've never read anything that says it is a high risk.

[jaleely]

Me either.
But, it never hurts to check and advice is *always* appreciated.

These guys crack me up. I have to find just the right sized slug or their mouths get gummed up (which, as an over protective mother, freaked me out of course) and then the slug escapes. They get sooo frustrated when the slug pulls away from them *lol*
I'm working on getting a video. : )

[guidofatherof5]

My Northwesterns are experts at eating slugs. I think the trick is eating them fast.:D

[EasternGirl]

Didn't I read something on here about there being safe slugs and unsafe slugs though? Something about brown ones that give off toxic slime or something?

[Mommy2many]

I think it's the huge slugs, maybe "banana slugs"?
My Dekayi eats slugs but I also found my garters eating her slugs and she eating their worms. Whatever....
If the snakes like the slugs, go for it!

[SilasBannook]

Thank you for making that post. I read the one about banana slugs and decided not to feed mine any. I will now.

[guidofatherof5]

I wish I had access to many slugs but this year we are way behind in rain. Slugs are far and few to come by.
My daughter found one on her shoe after playing in the backyard. One of the Northwesterns was very happy she did.

[jaleely]

I tried feeding slugs to my red sided garters last night, and they just kept looking up at my hand and trying to figure out why i wasn't offering them fish *lol*
I fed the wandering garters slugs, and they kept following me around the room (from tank of course) begging for more. So, they got the leftovers and stuffed themselves.
Cracks me up. Out of 22 snakes, 8 different species, garters are just the most cute eaters. So almost...dog like, or i don't know, hilarious. Just climbing up my hand, pushing the slug out of the way and trying to figure out where the fish is...because surely i must have the fish. lol

The wanderings never stop begging me, peeking at me, for slugs.
Hubby usually does this voice for the snakes "ssss leave me aloneeee" but when the garters are out it's "feed ussss slug-motherrr" lol

[RedSidedSPR]

I've never been able to remember which type is safe or not, but I know some aren't.

Also ive fed ONE slug... And my checkered almost died from it, the slime nearly choked him to death, if not for my miraculous toothpickery, pretty sure he'd e a goner..

So I've always been a little thrown off by slugs

[jaleely]

ah the slime was a big put off for me at first. I worried about it, but it depends on the size of the slug. I also wipe them down (kind of squishing them lol) with a paper towel first. That helps a ton. Tiny slugs, swallowed without a chance to slime. big slugs, they will get away, sliming the snakes mouth closed. They DO work it out on their own. I don't like it one bit, however.
I try to pick the right size the first time. They don't seem to care though...they'll get a mouthfull of slime and keep trying to eat that slug. lol
we've all gotten good at feeding time now though. It's a few slugs just about every night now. Sometimes i think they look a little full (though they extremely disagree with me) and i'll withold slugs for the night. They go bonkers, flopping around their tank, climbing, begging *lol* sometimes i give in anyway.

We have *tons* of slugs in our back yard, because hubby does compost in the potted plants *rolls eyes* i hated it, but now i don't mind since it brings in all this free and healthy garter food : )
They've been eating slugs safely since the beginning now! But i did look up what kinds of slugs they were to make sure they were safe. Sometimes i'll cut up a big slug, and wipe goo off it and feed it to them, but they don't like the guts much, and the chunks aren't as fun as they little whole slugs *rolls eyes*
so they stare at me, until i cut it up finely for them...which let me tell you, is a PAIN because slugs don't die normally. They continue to move, undulate, and CRAWL even when chipped into 20 peices.
So, now i just get the right sized ones the first time and everyone is happy *lol*

[RedSidedSPR]

Well I do have a lot around here. Might try again