WHat kind of Slugs are ok?

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I was outside just a few minutes ago and I found a huge slug, a medium slug and a tiny one. I know Ive heard in different threads that it ok to feed slugs to Eastern garters except I dont quite understand which ones are ok. How can I tell . These are the slugs I found. I heard the lighter ones are ok I just want to make sure cause my babies have never had slugs before and I dont want to give them something wrong.If it helps I live in Michigan.

This is the littlest one that I found. If ok to feed to babies it is small enough to give whole.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Little_slug.jpg

This is the smallest and the biggest together out of the three
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Both_slugs.jpg

This is just a pic of the biggest one which is huge.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Big_slug.jpg


I got this one also and it is a little darker but not by muchhttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Medium_slug.jpg

If you could answer these questions for me and maybe as to what kind of slugs these are that would be cool . Also is there somewhere that shows pics of the ok slugs and the bad slugs . If not can you please post pics in here for both.Thank you.

[guidofatherof5]

Maybe.
Deroceras reticultatum (Gray garden slug)

[Mrs N1ntndo]

So are they ok to feed to my babies or just use for scenting .or do I just let them go again?

[guidofatherof5]

I do feed them to mine. Wish I had more of them but the flood killed most of this years population.
I make sure they are not too big as compared to a baby. If they are I cut them up and feed pieces.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Awesome. Then I will do that as well. And yes I knew that if it was ok that the only one I could do whole would be the little one. Now when I do cut them up is it harder then worms or about the same. Do I just take it and start to cut it or what . I have never ever fed slugs to my snakes. I tried when I had Pheobe but she seemed to want nothing to do with them. I am still gonna try ythe babies . Thank you Steve.

[RedSidedSPR]

Just chop it up. I doubt they will even squirm too much.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Worms are easy you cant see a face. THis will be the first time cutting up something that I can see there eyes. Creepy but itll be done. Ill have to take pics of when there eating the slugs and show what there doing. Itll be interesting seeing it cause I havent ever seen a garter eat a slug.

Side question..... I just thought of something. I know like frog and toads and things like that you need to freeze then because of parisites. But do slgs not have that problem cause they are basiclly veggie-tarians. I was reading on them after I had found out what kind they are and noticed that they only eat veggie type things and fruits. so what is the difference in theses and frogs/toads. Im asking cause hubby brought it up and I thought duh I should ask. I thought was I was telling you all and so thats what I told him.

[RedSidedSPR]

If it helps, they don't feel fear and pain.:p

Technically worms and slugs should be safe parasite-wise but don't quote me.

[guidofatherof5]

If it helps, they don't feel fear and pain.:p

I think they do feel pain but in a different way.

[RedSidedSPR]

Shhhh! Don't tell her!

I had read somewhere they didn't but i dont doubt they do.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

lol You all are so funny. I know that all creatures regarless of size has feeling and fear. But like Steve said in diffent ways they experience it. I dont kill for fun and I know these slugs are going to feed my babies so Im cool. But I will only do one at a time cause if they dont want them then Ill let the other go. I dont want to have to kill all 3 and find out That they dont want them cause then thats just mean.

You all are so funny. Can someone post pics of slugs that arent safe. I dont know which ones have A LOT of slime and is to much for them. Also what are the value of these for the snakes. like whats in them that makes them good for them.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Well I didnt have to wworry about cutting anything up. Out of all 7 babies no body wanted anything to do with it. As a matter of fact the wouldnt even wanna be by the littlest slug. They were all trying to avoid it if they could. I dont know why they did that cause they have never done tht with food. The most theyve done before is turn there head if they didnt want it or turn around but not go to the furthest side of the tank away from the slug. Does anyone know why they would do this?

[kibakiba]

Because they didn't like it, perhaps? My babies were like that with worms. They all stumbled over themselves trying to get away from them. When it was shoved in their faces they coiled and put their tail over their head.

[Mommy2many]

My snakes love slugs. I try & give them not so many so my Dekayi can have most of them. I feed the squiggles a bunch of worms first and then put the slugs in for Connor Snake.:cool:

[Mommy2many]

I think it's the banana slugs that aren't good. They are huge in comparison to normal slugs and therefore have much more slime. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[RedSidedSPR]

lol You all are so funny. I know that all creatures regarless of size has feeling and fear..

Nuh uh. Not fear. Not all.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

youd think all would because they all have a thing about living. Wiether it be disquise or a defense thing that happens . Its FEAR that they will die. If they didnt have a fear of dieing then why have those things. There would be less animals in the world if that was the case. Just my opinion.