Are slugs good for axolotl?

[morphyrichards]

Hi,
Just a quick question really. When hunting round in my garden for axo food I've found earthworms but even more slugs!! I hate slugs!!! (wheras I'm quite fond of earthworms and I feel a bit guilty about sending them to their deaths in the jaws of our Speckled Jim)

Seeing as my garden (which has never seen pesticides) is currently being over-run by slugs are there likely to be any health problems if I feed them to the axo? I've seen the feeding article in Caudata Culture but it doesnt mention slugs specifically, they are grouped in with insects and graded as good to fair so dont know if they are 'good' or just 'fair'

Thanks :happy:

 

[Tanzaniterose]

I personally would avoid slugs and snails from the garden - they can take in zinc, cadmium, lead, copper etc from their surroundings, which may not be in your garden but could be in your neighbours.

 

[Nathan050793]

Many people feed slugs to their salamanders with no ill-effects. I'd think that it would be the same story with axolotls, but I'm not entirely sure. In any case, if the earthworms in your garden are OK, then I wouldn't worry a whole lot about pesticide/chemical issues.

 

[Bellabelloo]

I occasionally feed slugs to my axolotl.

 

[Greatwtehunter]

I feed slugs to my axolotls as well and they will prefer to eat them over worms anyday.

 

[Heather at HMSG]

I, too, feed slugs as well as earthworms. A good sized slug seems to go down well, & sometimes they are easier to find.

Heather & Sparkle

 

[Daniel]

Concerns over here in Germany are going more towards parasite-loads than chemicals or pesticides. Slugs are known to be carriers / intermediate hosts for several type of worms, what about that?

 

[Darkmaverick]

Nutrition wise, slugs are pretty good as a treat. I do agree that slugs and snails however have a propensity to accumulate and concentrate chemicals and toxins from the environment as well as an intermediate host to a myriad of nasty parasites. It would take your own judgement and common sense to decide if the slugs you found are safe for feeding to axies or not.

 

[Daniel]

I started to "culture" my own slugs some time ago. At this time of the year (it late fall over here) I am collecting slug eggs in the wild, let them hatch in a box / small terrarium and nurture them to an appropriate size. This way I avoid the risk of chemicals and parasites, but it takes some time and space of course.

 

[Otterwoman]

I have tried for 1 1/2 years now to culture slugs, and I can't even keep them alive for any length of time.
Hard-shelled snails, though, I have had three for over a year.