How To Keep Garden Snails As Pets

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How to Keep a Slug as a Pet

First of all, before finding a suitable slug, you need to make sure you have the requirements for your new pet.

• Housing: You lot need a home for your slug. Information technology tin can be a container with a secure hat which has enough substrate for your slug to motion around.
• Nutrient: Y'all so need to have food to feed your slug. They swallow rust-covered leaves, fungus, fruits, decaying vegetable matter and some plants.
• Wet: You lot'll need a spray bottle to spray h2o into the slug'due south abode.

Where to Find a Slug

One time you have these ready, you need to find a slug (preferably in your garden) to grow as your pet. You can look for them in wet places, nether logs, leaves, plants, nether flower pots, etc. They can also be seen in areas where you collect materials for compost or where you lot have stored compost, peculiarly outdoors.

This slug is eating a cucumber piece.

toddlindsey.com

Where to Keep a Pet Slug

The container yous use can be a small aquarium or another spacious container at to the lowest degree 20 cm by xx cm with a chapeau that has tiny holes for ventilation. Brand sure that the holes are not too large, equally your pet can escape through bigger holes.

Substrate

Then comes the substrate—the fabric you place at the lesser of the container for your pet to motion around. Look around the area where you found your pet, and collect soil, leaves, decomposable plant material and some gravel. You can put small twigs inside the slug'south home so information technology can climb up and feel at abode.

The substrate has to exist moist as slugs live in a moisture-filled habitat. Modify the substrate once a week or in one case every two weeks to maintain a clean habitat for your slug's health.

Moisture

In order for your slug to be happy, moist and good for you, spray the container with enough water from fourth dimension to time. Without this, your pet will dehydrate, go dry and somewhen die.

How to Feed a Pet Slug

• Establish Food: Slugs by and large feed on leaves, decaying plants, fruits and vegetables. Practice not feed them likewise much fruit, as besides much sugar might kill the slug.
• Pellet Food: Y'all can also go pellet food from pet stores to feed your slug, as this contains all the nutrients needed for your pet.

Place pocket-sized amounts of these foods inside the container for your pet and make sure y'all change the nutrient every day to maintain cleanliness and avoid bad odors.

How to Handle or Impact a Slug

When handling your slug while cleaning its home, you need to hold him very gently. Do non let any sharp edges come in contact with the slug's body. Make clean your hands before holding your slug. Information technology'south preferable to handle your pet with moisture hands, too. Do not keep the slug in direct sunlight.

A Slug

transitionculture.org

More Well-nigh Slugs

Now that we have looked into how to care for a slug that you will be raising and looking afterwards as your pet, let's explore all the nuts nearly slugs, such every bit what they similar, what they do, and what is dangerous for them, etc.

Fun Facts Almost Slugs

• A slug is a gastropod mollusk that does non accept a beat (or has a very small one).
• They belong to the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Mollusca and Class Gastropoda.
• They are found on land, in freshwater, and in the ocean.
• The term "slugs" in general refers to the ones that live on land. The ones establish in freshwater are called freshwater slugs and the ones institute in the sea are called sea slugs.
• Slugs are very similar to snails except for the shells.
• Slugs take two pairs of tentacles: ane long pair with eyes for seeing, and another shorter pair for sensing smells.
• The human foot of the slug is muscular.
• Slugs motion by secreting a slimy fluid on which they travel to reduce friction and forbid damage to their torso tissues.
• A few species of slugs hibernate during winter when the temperature is everyman.

Curl to Go on

Read More From Pethelpful

Different types of slugs.

wikipedia

• A slug's body has a high wet content, which makes it difficult for this animate being to survive in dry weather.
• They can ofttimes be seen afterwards a pelting or in damp, moist areas like damp wood or paper-thin, flower pots, or whatever place that retains moisture.
• Slugs come up out during the night, so if yous need to find i, the best time is later sunset.
• Slugs can burrow into the earth to moist regions during droughts.

• They can be slippery to hold due to their mucus secretions. This helps them escape when they're attacked by predators like birds and other animals.
• Slugs are hermaphrodites.
• Slugs can be pests in horticulture and agronomics every bit they feed on crops, plants, fruits and vegetables, making them not fit for auction in the market.

The long tentacles on top are for seeing.

davidicke.com

What Eats Slugs?

• Some carnivorous slugs feed on other slugs, snails, and even expressionless slugs.
• Slugs are eaten past frogs, toads, snakes, rats, some birds, beetles, etc.
• Their mucus has a bad gustatory modality, however, then some animals will avoid feeding on them.

Slug on a leaf.

cf.ac.united kingdom

Quick Facts to Think About Slugs

• A slug is basically a snail without a vanquish.
• Well-nigh slugs are herbivorous, but at that place are a few cannibal slugs, likewise.
• Slugs eat decomposed and rotting vegetation.
• Slug eggs can remain dormant for years and hatch when weather are favourable.
• Slugs are hermaphrodites.
• Slugs can live upwardly to half-dozen years if conditions are good for their survival.
• Slugs can stretch their body a lot and so that they can clasp through fifty-fifty very minor openings.
• Slugs can grow their tentacles back if they lose them.
• Slugs exercise non have a backbone.
• Slugs volition dehydrate and die if you put salt over them.

This article is accurate and truthful to the best of the author'due south noesis. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, handling, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional person. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Dainty life on August 08, 2022:

This helps

Grace on July 25, 2022:

Thanks for teaching me how to intendance for my slugs

hayhay on June 23, 2022:

i am glad i have a pet slug simply i feal like it might getmy other slug

Velda B. ( 10 years of age) on June 11, 2022:

I accept a slug named Catriona.

Kylie Jenner on June 02, 2022:

so i plant a slug and its Beautiful

kiki on June 01, 2022:

I constitute a slug besides he's proper noun is olive he eats a lot of fruit and veggies he docent like broccoli and he loves carrots

Someone who really likes slugs on May 28, 2022:

My slug eggs just hatched!! :) But thing is, I'thousand having trouble keeping rail of the babies. Any ideas?? Delight help!

Alyssa on May 21, 2022:

I merely found a slug in my grandmas yard. This article helped me a lot. His name is Pinto heart name Edible bean.

Slug lover on May xx, 2022:

Thank you for the data. I accept three slugs named Jorge, Betty, and Christopher. Jorge laid eggs and im non sure how to take care of them or if they are fifty-fifty fertilized. Tin can yous help me?

Chara on May sixteen, 2022:

Hi.

I just found a slug, A tiny one. I was getting grass outside for it to live inside a shoe box, Practise they live on a shoe box or no? I simply read this article it was helpful. Cheers for the data only I don't know if it volition live for long. I will try to care for it

Alina on May 15, 2022:

I simply got a slug from my backyard and now it's my pet!

Layla on May 11, 2022:

I loved it told me all nigh how to care for a slug I used my old fish and spraying the tank three times a solar day

Matt on May 10, 2022:

Hello. This article was really helpful, thank you. I have 2 pet slugs. They 74 laid eggs a few weeks agone, and they are almost to hatch. (I know because I tin can meet the babies inside the eggs). I got the slugs from a drainage pit, just recently when I had a look into it, there was a Gippsland Black snail in at that place. I program to put 71 of the hatched babies in there as that is where I found their parents. Am I putting the babies at gamble past putting in in that location? Is this a bad idea? Pls allow me know

Xavier on May 08, 2022:

I found a slug

zoe on May 05, 2022:

i have 3 slugs and this was actually helpful! thx!

Lorie on April 27, 2022:

Thanks

Alex on Apr 25, 2022:

My slugs name is junior and my brothers slug is fusion we got fusion today and inferior yesterday

me on April 24, 2022:

This was a practiced article.

Sean bell on April 20, 2022:

Thank yous for all your help it's very dainty of you.

whitney nine years onetime on March 28, 2022:

thank you for the informaion i found a slug in my back yard and i am now caring for it.

Withheld by request on March 28, 2022:

I have a batch of slug eggs (8/ten)

Elizabeth Girardot on March xiv, 2022:

I just constitute a slug in my yard and I quickly searched up what to practice with it I'm happy that yous post this because I wouldn't know what to practice with my slug and it would probably die

ceci on February eighteen, 2022:

I simply got a slug yesterday merely it seems to be moving slowly and it looks similar information technology'south over look (if it's possible) but i think it might dice soon :(

Jade on Nov 03, 2022:

Howdy,

My slug died before today for some unknown reason. I've been thinking dorsum and I realised that his skin got darker over the weeks I had him. I'm not sure if y'all have the answer, just practice you know if this is normal in garden slugs? Cheers!

Allison on Oct 30, 2022:

Okay, my slug Sludge has eggs, what do I do?

landyn on Oct 21, 2022:

mackenzie slug on hola hop

Amy ( a_m_y_x_o on insta ) on October 01, 2022:

Lol. I tried giving my Slug named Janet cpr. I don't know what I'g doing. Is it still alive?

Edit: RIP Janet.

Please aid me still tho

Jessie on September 04, 2022:

I had ii slugs for a couple hours they stopped moving what do I do

Benjamin wilde on Baronial nineteen, 2022:

my friend plant a verryyy small slug in a plant she bought and gave it to me, but i live in a very hot climate we have reached 122 farenheit, i am currently keeping it in a very big container i had for my turtles, it is indoors in my work tabular array.

it is very smal, volition it abound?

Sallie on July 25, 2022:

My v year one-time son has 3 slugz of varying size he loves them

Joanna on March 18, 2022:

I love slugs merely animals can easily consume them

kasia haliniak on March x, 2022:

Hi I accept a slug called Virginia ii because the first one got stepped on .I continue him in a minor container with holes on top .I'1000 starting a slug collection and I take a big snail collection. He was establish in my garden like all of my snail

Andrew Servinsky on January 02, 2022:

My slugs name is Gary sadly he's dieing I don't know why

Brooke on Nov 17, 2022:

My slugs name is Sam he like hiding nether leaves

Kathzplayzgamez on July nineteen, 2022:

I take had snails for 1 or 2 years but untill today i havent had slugs. They are harder to notice in my garden only i rventually found 2! I noticed snails seem to like company and even petsnails.com agree! I had effectually 100 snails equally they were breeding like crazy and dad kept killing them so i released them somewhere safer in a foresty sort of place. I barely ever see slugs though and never really considered having one as a pet untill i saw two of the cuties! Sadly, my dad hates them fifty-fifty more than than snail every bit manifestly they are uglier smellier and swallow more, but i put them in a plastic aquarium from pets at home with nigh 2 inches of moist soil, some apple peels left by my parents and put some bottle caps of water and sticks and stones to climb on! There called slim and slime!

Ava on May 18, 2022:

My slugs proper noun is Sebastian I put him in a sparse layer of dirt with some flowers and sticks I covered him off and made the remark bit nighttime and plow the temperature to a bit lower I found them outside under a log there are lots of little bugs there and I idea information technology would exist cool to take a pet proper name Sebastian

Tess on Jan 23, 2022:

Does my pet slug need a companion, I spotted 1 exterior. Or should I get out him alone in his cage? Please get back to me with yr communication. Cheers.

Chloie on March 28, 2022:

I'k looking for what to feed my slugs and what I need.

livingsta (author) from Britain on March 20, 2022:

Hi Weekend Reader, I agree! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts on this.

Cindy D Whipany on March 17, 2022:

My philosophy about bugs and critters is that I won't bother them (much) if they're exterior, simply they're dead meat if they come into my house. Slugs insist on pushing the envelope, never quite coming inside but climbing all over the exterior walls at night. Interestingly, the paths they leave aren't quick to grow green mold (shady side of the business firm), so I'm thinking of developing a slime-based domicile mold inhibitor ... or maybe just offering them to anyone who'south interested in 1 or more as pets.

livingsta (writer) from Britain on March 16, 2022:

How-do-you-do Stephanie, thank yous for reading and sharing your thoughts and experience. I do understand what you mean. I do like watching the slugs and the snails in the garden and I have had snails as pets. I am quite non sure about the slugs as pets either and I haven't had one! My son would honey to take one!!!

And yep, they can be serious pe(southward)ts too :-)

Accept a good weekend!

Stephanie Henkel from USA on March 16, 2022:

Very interesting hub with lots of great information on slugs...but, sad, I couldn't bring myself to be overnice to them later on I've declared state of war on all the slugs that have eaten my garden and flowers!

livingsta (author) from United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland on March xvi, 2022:

Keen, thank you Mary, will do :-)

Mary Hyatt from Florida on March 16, 2022:

Great! I'm linking this to my Compost Hub right now. I'd exist happy to have you link back.

livingsta (author) from United Kingdom on March 16, 2022:

Thanks for reading Suhail. I am glad you found it useful. What you say is right also!

Have a great weekend!

livingsta (writer) from United Kingdom on March 16, 2022:

Hullo Mary615, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. You lot tin sure link this hub, and I think it volition be a good idea to link yours to mine also if information technology'southward alright with you. Thank you for the votes and share!

Accept a skilful weekend!

Suhail Zubaid aka Clark Kent from Mississauga, ON on March 16, 2022:

Never knew we tin can keep slugs as pets. I larn something new everyday on hubpages :-)

This is an informative hub on slugs. Learnt a lot, but I will let slugs flourish in my garden, where the forces of nature provide balancing act for their population.

Mary Hyatt from Florida on March sixteen, 2022:

I'm merely non sure if I desire a slug for a pet! I'1000 always happy to run across them eating abroad in my compost. They tin e'er accept a home with me and my compost. Perchance I should link this Hub into mine about making compost in a garbage tin can. That fashion anyone wanting to capture a slug for a pet can find them eating away in the compost. What do you think about that??

Voted UP and shared.

livingsta (author) from United Kingdom on March fourteen, 2022:

Wow, Sharkye11, thank yous for reading and sharing your experiences. That was useful information, returning them back to the wild. Thank you and I am glad y'all liked information technology.

livingsta (writer) from Uk on March 14, 2022:

Hello Jeannieinabottle, thank you for reading. I am glad this was of interest to you!

livingsta (author) from United kingdom on March 14, 2022:

Hello Midget38, thank yous for reading. I am sure you will savor watching them!

Jayme Kinsey from Oklahoma on March thirteen, 2022:

I love pet slugs. I've kept dozens. I even wrote an article about raising them on another site. They make pretty cool pets, and the best part is they tin can be returned to the wild if you decide you don't want them anymore. Great read!

Jeannie Marie from Baltimore, Dr. on March 13, 2022:

I never thought of having a slug equally a pet until now. Peradventure I will try this instead of fish!

Michelle Liew from Singapore on March 13, 2022:

All creatures are interesting! Now, when I meet a slug, I will be very sure to say hi. Thank you for sharing, Dahlia!

livingsta (writer) from United kingdom on March 10, 2022:

Thank you Vinaya for reading. You should share your experiences when you go a slug.

Vinaya Ghimire from Nepal on March 09, 2022:

I did not know people go on slug as a pet until I read this. Next fourth dimension I come across a slug, I will endeavor to make information technology a pet.

livingsta (author) from United kingdom on January 24, 2022:

Hullo Unknown spy, you lot will for sure find them in areas where you find the snails. Have a await around next fourth dimension when you see snails :-)

Life Under Structure from Neverland on January 24, 2022:

a snail without beat! i wonder if i have seen i... i don't know for sure.. i know snails merely with shells..

livingsta (author) from United Kingdom on January sixteen, 2022:

Thank you Nell, I do not know if I myself would take one as a pet anytime, but it was interesting reading all the interesting facts while researching for materials :-)

Nell Rose from England on January 15, 2022:

I would never have guessed that anyone would want to keep slugs for a pet, only after reading this they are pretty interesting little things, but I will pass keeping them though! lol! interesting hub livingsta, nell

livingsta (author) from United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland on Jan 15, 2022:

That's great to hear :-) I am sure if my son gets to know about this, he'south gonna get i in. Interesting though. Give thanks y'all Lane Reno for passing by and sharing your experience :-)

Lane Reno on January 14, 2022:

I similar snails and slugs, and tried to proceed them as pets a few years ago. They fared well enough, but the inside of the terrarium glass became besides quickly covered with their slime trails and I couldn't come across into it from the sides. Slime or no, I retrieve it is a good idea, and I similar to see people recall out of the "norm" when keeping pets.

livingsta (author) from United Kingdom on Jan xi, 2022:

Neither accept I Kimberly before I actually started writing this hub. Thank you lot for stopping past!

Kimberly Vaughn from Midwest on January 10, 2022:

I take never heard of a slug every bit a pet before just in that location is something kind of beautiful about them!

livingsta (author) from Uk on Jan 10, 2022:

Thank you Melissa and thank you lot for the vote :-)

Melissa A Smith from New York on January 09, 2022:

Aww and so cute. Voted up.

livingsta (author) from United Kingdom on January 09, 2022:

Aww, that'due south so sweet @Dragonflyfla. I can't imagine holding them in my hands. Give thanks you and so much for reading and writing a few words.

Joy Campbell from South Florida on January 09, 2022:

This so reminds me of my daughter. Lizards and rollypolies were her capture for many years.

Source: https://pethelpful.com/reptiles-amphibians/How-to-Care-for-a-Pet-Garden-Slug

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