Slugs as a feeder

[SMCNARY]

Has anyone ever started a colony of slugs to breed as feeders ? I have a very successful colony of snails and have been considering trying slugs. I recently went to a very rural area with no agricultural activity in the area after a rain and collected some just to see if my chams would like them. As expected the same ones that like the snails love the slugs. I'm not a fan of using any wild caught bugs as a rule but just wanted to try them. I have not done any research on the subject yet but thought I would see if anyone else has tried it. I would think it could be done in much the same way as my snails and as they ( the slugs ) can get huge ( 5 inches long ) in this area my Jacksoni and Parsonii would love them.
I'm going to start doing some research on the subject but if anyone has any experience with this ( or a source to buy them ) I would appreciate the information.
Thanks
Steve

 

[SMCNARY]

Starting to do my homework and found a pet snail forum. Wow!!! There is a forum for everything these days. I still welcome any information anyone might have.

 

[CarlC]

Steve I have had a few animals in the past try them but in every case they were spit back out. Once the slug took a couple of bites they started sliming really bad. I did have a hoehnellii that managed to get a small one down but thats all I can remember. The other two examples were deremensis and jacksoni jacksoni.

Carl

 

[MSAquatics]

I feed wild grasshoppers, locusts, cicadas, and mantids to both my melleri with no problems. I always collect them in my dad's pasture that doesn't get any insectacides or fertilizers. I do fecal tests twice a year to screen for parasites. Their health seems to sky rocket during the months I feed them the wild caught insects. I assume the variety of new nutrients is beneficial to them. Have you had bad experiences with wild insects?

Leland

 

[misshissingroaches]

Starting to do my homework and found a pet snail forum. Wow!!! There is a forum for everything these days. I still welcome any information anyone might have.

Yes there is! I'm actually on a Madagascar hissing cockroach forum.

 

[SMCNARY]

Thanks Carl,my Jacksoni ate them up and wanted more

 

[SMCNARY]

Heather,I have never had any problem with WC insects but I know that many can retain undesirable chemicals for long periods of time so if they were ever exposed chances are it's still in them.

 

[CarlC]

Steve I wonder if you have a differant species? The local one here slims like no tomorrow.

Carl

 

[sandrachameleon]

Some chameleons will eat slugs. Less calcium in them than in snails. If wild sourced, the issue of parasites exists. Slugs create more "slime" than snails, and they can carry/pass meningitis causing worms. Id stick to snails if I were you.