Slugs?

[RedSidedSPR]

I have two questions:

1. Are slugs a good food source for garters? I've read that they are, but rarely hear of them being used... I have a lot of them in my yard. A LOT.

2. I've read ALOT of things (especially on this forum) about how you can't feed snakes stuff from the wild because of parasites. I totally agree, but... I've also seen people from this forum talk about how they dig up there own worms (and slugs occasionally)... Is that safe? Do you recommend? If so, why are worms safe from the wild, but nothing else? Is it because of what they eat? This goes for slugs too.
I'm mostly asking because worms kinda expensive where I get them (PetsMart/PetCo) and I use them up quickly. And like I've said before THE ONLY local pet stores I have are PetsMart and PetCo. I hate those. They are expensive and take horrible care of their animals (petco is worse)... So I'd like to be able to dig up my own food... my own snake food, that is.

[mb90078]

Earthworms are less likely to have parasites that will do major damage to your snake than other types of wild caught foods. The problem with earthworms is herbicides and pesticides (fertilizers).

As for purchasing nightcrawlers, have you looked to walmart? You can get a cup of them for a bit over 3 bucks, more of them in there than petsmart & petsco too, I believe.

[guidofatherof5]

Worms and slugs can both carry parasites. I think(my opinion) that worm carry less of a parasite risk than some other(frogs, tadpoles, minnows).
I feed slugs when I can find them but have found that many of my snakes don't want them.
I look at wild caught night crawlers/slug as the lesser of other evils to feed them.

[RedSidedSPR]

We live on private property with lots of woods in the back (well, we did until the tornado flattened the woods a week ago), so pesticides won't be a problem.

I have checked WalMart, but they don't have 'em. Don't know why. I'll check our other one.

[RedSidedSPR]

Worms and slugs can both carry parasites. I think(my opinion) that worm carry less of a parasite risk than some other(frogs, tadpoles, minnows).
I feed slugs when I can find them but have found that many of my snakes don't want them.
I look at wild caught night crawlers/slug as the lesser of other evils to feed them.

Is it safe enough to risk it, or not? Should I do it only occasionally, or not at all?

[guidofatherof5]

Is it safe enough to risk it, or not? Should I do it only occasionally, or not at all?

It becomes your call as the keeper.

[RedSidedSPR]

Dang, man, your the expert! You have like, a billion snakes, and I only have one! And I'd like to keep him nice and healthy, so I don't want to feed him anything I shouldn't, but I'd like to get free food out of my yard so I don't go broke buying my food from stupid stores like PetsMart!! But I don't know enough about that to risk it without some help. I think I'll just stick with store bought food, except maybe occasionally, like when I run out and haven't bought any... sigh...

[ConcinusMan]

I've never had any problems that I could associate with feeding my snakes worms that I collected from the wild. It is my opinion that as long as you get them from an unpolluted source, it doesn't hurt anything. Gut loaded worms and slugs are quite nutritious. High in calcium and iron.

[guidofatherof5]

Dang, man, your the expert!

No, no I'm not.
All any of us can do is make suggestions to you in response to your questions. You must gather all the information given to you and make a decision.
I don't want to tell you what to do.
If your question had been whether you should feed your snake goldfish. I would have came right out and said no you shouldn't but that doesn't mean you would listen. It would be your choice.
Your question of whether to feed wild caught worms/slugs has far less of a risk and comes down to the keeper's personal preference.
These are your snakes and you must develop a plan on keeping them as all of us have done with our snakes

[RedSidedSPR]

I've never had any problems that I could associate with feeding my snakes worms that I collected from the wild. It is my opinion that as long as you get them from an unpolluted source, it doesn't hurt anything. Gut loaded worms and slugs are quite nutritious. High in calcium and iron.

So I'll probably end up doing it. Just not a lot...

No, no I'm not.
All any of us can do is make suggestions to you in response to your questions. You must gather all the information given to you and make a decision.
I don't want to tell you what to do.
If your question had been whether you should feed your snake goldfish. I would have came right out and said no you shouldn't but that doesn't mean you would listen. It would be your choice.
Your question of whether to feed wild caught worms/slugs has far less of a risk and comes down to the keeper's personal preference.
These are your snakes and you must develop a plan on keeping them as all of us have done with our snakes

I would listen if you said no goldfish, because you're the expert(compared to me). Or at least an expert. You know what you're talking about, and you know more than me, and you have way more experience than me. I'd feel the same way with Richard, or Wayne... Not EXPERTS, but experienced snake keepers. But I hear what you're saying.