F8 - garden slugs

[Yael]

Would it be ok to feed a F8 small garden slugs as part of a mixed diet? I know they don't have the crunch of snails so that benefit wouldn't be there, but it seems like the meat would appeal similarly to a snail. Is there any issue with parasites or toxicity? It's gardening season and small slugs will be easy to come by

[RTR]

The local slugs do tend to have defensive toxins to help protect then from predators. I would not use them in my tanks.

BTW, I an not far NW of you, in Fredrick county, so our slugs are likely quite similar if not identical.

[Yael]

Thanks, I wondered about that. Worms ok though? I do have a healthy breeding population of snails though so my F8's a happy camper.

[RTR]

If your garden is organic, earthworms are likely okay. Obviously they have zero crunch factor, so should be occasional treats only. Home-reared snails have always been the mainstay of my F-8 diets, with some "treat" foods added for variety.