Slugs as food for axies

limnologist · Sep 10, 2014

I want to know what the public thinks of slugs as food for an axolotl. mine seem to prefer them to anything else. Any observations?

rachel1 · Sep 10, 2014

I would proceed with caution unless you are breeding them yourself. Snails and slugs are a frequent intermediate host of amphibian parasites, particularly nematodes. Here is an interesting article for you on the relationship between these parasites and the intermediate and end hosts.

sde · Sep 11, 2014

Slugs are enjoyed very much by my S. s. terrestris, so it doesn't surprise me that you say you're lotls love them too. Slugs are my S. s. terrestris favorite food, but I don't keep axies so I don't know how much they like them. Though simply from reading this site and elsewhere, it seems most Caudata love them. -Seth

auntiejude · Sep 12, 2014

I feed the slugs I find in my worm farm to my axies - they love them. Slugs are a natural food for axies, so if you're confident they are not contaminated they are fine.

bugdozer · Sep 13, 2014

auntiejude said:
I feed the slugs I find in my worm farm to my axies - they love them. Slugs are a natural food for axies, so if you're confident they are not contaminated they are fine.

How can you be sure if they are contaminated or not? My garden is overrun with slugs and I'd dearly love to put the little buggers to use as a food source, but I don't want to accidentally give the axies a parasite.

auntiejude · Sep 13, 2014

bugdozer said:
How can you be sure if they are contaminated or not? My garden is overrun with slugs and I'd dearly love to put the little buggers to use as a food source, but I don't want to accidentally give the axies a parasite.

I am trusting my own judgement here - if the worms from my worm farm are safe for my axies then the slugs from the same environment should be safe too. The main parasite for slugs are nematodes, which shouldn't cause a problem for healthy axies.

I wouldn't use slugs from my garden or patio.

oceanblue · Sep 16, 2014

Axolotls eat slugs and snails, but I've stopped feeding them because they can probably be infected by canine and feline lungworm as intermediate hosts. Cats are impossible to keep out of my garden. The views expressed by this vet reflect my current views. Lungworms in Dogs, what about Reptiles?!

limnologist · Sep 16, 2014

rachel1 said:
I would proceed with caution unless you are breeding them yourself. Snails and slugs are a frequent intermediate host of amphibian parasites, particularly nematodes. Here is an interesting article for you on the relationship between these parasites and the intermediate and end hosts.

Although its pretty difficult, I do breed them

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