Slugs in a viv..

[Muddyfeet]

OK I was pretty darn careful with plant processing or so I thought.. but discovered some slugs in my Pigmy viv..

So question.. as they must have been introduced by something stupid, (me)

other than doing some damage to the plants, any issues if they get eaten by the pigmys? I been picking them out, but also thinking may be a food source for them.. also slugs are also part of a forest floor environment.. So starting to think that heck why stress over them?
as they are WC pigs.. I am sure they already have parasites.. but I have seen people mention they are breeding snails as food.. I would not go out and collect them, but if they are bred in a captive environment?? or are they just going to recycle the parasites and increase load...

Not stressing to much, I have already made a tiny little beer trap that the pigs cannot get into..
hey works In the garden..

 

[MelissaB]

Ugh, slugs! I hate those things! They go after my hostas every year. I'm not sure what the risks are with slugs as a feeder, if they're more prone to parasites or whatnot. I've read not to use them, but can't remember why. I think it was parasites, but I'm not certain. I'd be afraid to introduce new parasites that the wc pygmies aren't accustomed to, though. Hopefully the slugs will all go to the beer trap, and you won't have to worry about them. As far as breeding snails for feeders, what I do and have read to do, is to remove the eggs from the breeding snails' enclosure and grow them out in a baby tank. It's supposed to reduce the risk of parasites.

 

[Muddyfeet]

update..

Well.. Still not sure where they came from.. However at least I see on the dart frog forums that is a somewhat common problem.. Truth is I think they may have hitched a ride with some seeds...
>>>The frogs wont eat them apparently.. the pigmy's don't seem to like them either.. not that I really wanted them too.. but.. saw one step on one and the harry eyeball at contact, and AVOIDING touching it was funny as hell.. wish I had a camera.. but Slugs, are like a plague of rabbits in the garden as far as the plants! and I legit concerns they may eat eggs too..


Couple of people have used cups of beer, guess the frogs stay away from it, or suffer ill effect if they hop though it, but most do cover it with a little tape..
So I would cover it, but still kind of cautious about the idea with the pigmys..

Most common option, potato or iceburg/romaine in the viv at night..

Well first night I tried it, ugg.. about a half a dozen little slugs, next night none!! I am going to keep that bait station in the enclosure for a while, but very pleased.. what started as one or two, turned into three or so more the next day.. also gives any crickets something juicy to eat too I suppose


One can always CO2 bomb the enclosure, but that will kill all the microflora.. the plants however show flush of growth afterwards..

in the future,
I may see if I can put some c02 from a canister into a bag/box overnight.. with my plants, as that is kind of a simple procedure, We used to do similar back in the day in Veterinary medicine to make a cheep gas sterilizer system.. till oh yeh, the gas used causes cancer big time.. but it is simple to get gas canisters from sports shops.. vs trying to get dry ice.. then doing a bare root, chlorine process.. Also going to try it with fungus knats on the big chams plants!