Slugs!

Archangel

Archangel

Plecos, Plecos, everywhere
Apr 7, 2004
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Oklahoma
www.homestarrunner.com
Anyone ever tried to feed their loaches slugs?

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The thought hit me when I was coming home and there was a big fat one crawling across my doorstep. However, I do live in an apartment and I know the spray at least the inside every 3 months or so for bugs, but I'm not sure if they fertilize or spray outside? If it ain't dead and they haven't sprayed for a while, should be alright, shouldn't it?

But the real question is, does anyone know if they'll eat it or not? Kind of a big sucker to just plop in there.
 
I wouldn't. Slugs can have a thick slime coat that is mildly toxic. Also, if you know they spray, it means that any insects potentially have low levels of poison in their system--not enough to kill them, but still present. When fed to your fish, that toxin starts accumulating in your fish. Typically it's not lethal, but why risk it?
 
Yikes! Ive been feeding backyard sluds to my cichlids for quite soem time now. I thought they would just be like an earthworm. Guess ill have to find some new gross critter to feed.
 
Yikes! Ive been feeding backyard sluds to my cichlids for quite soem time now. I thought they would just be like an earthworm. Guess ill have to find some new gross critter to feed.
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Don't feel bad, I was just thinking that would be a great idea for my Oscar. I guess some more research is in order.
DAVE
 
ewwww.... I'm still trying to get the "how do you get it in the tank" part.... blah! Anyhoo, just as OG says, I would be hesitant with any of the outside bugs especially since you know there is some kind of spray going on, inside or out..... A home yard I can see but a community one, it's just too risky.
 
Just to clarify--not all slugs secrete a toxic slime. I know banana slug slime can numb things, and a distasteful slime coat is a common defense against being eaten. Some slugs may be just fine, especially if the fish will eat them and you know they are coming from a clean environment, or where natural controls (copper or beer) are used instead of the chemical controls.

Potentially a bigger concern for you--slugs, like snails, are an intermediate host for many parasites. Most won't infect people, but some can, and the parasites can cause some serious problems for you. Doesn't mean you shouldn't tough them, just use sense and protect yourself (ie, no picking up a slug when you have an open wound, don't lick/swallow them (I'm not kidding, this happens)).
 
that was my worry OG, thanks for pointing that out. A lot of flukes pass a point in their life cylce where they are in the digestive tract of a snail. Generally humans dont get this, but when a fish or bird eats the snail it can be passed into a human when we, in turn, eat the bird or fish. Unless your eating the snails i wouldnt worry about getting any tube worms though. And even then, most land snails dont get parasitic worms, its generally the marine/freshwater snails (perriwinkles too). And i would hope that your not eating your fish... i honestly dont know how an oscar would taste.

At any rate, unless your living in a tropical area, or you know that they are spraying toxins, i wouldnt worry too much about feeding your fish bugs. Avoid the big ones (the bannana slug, they get massive), and the dangerous ones (centipedes, bees, large spiders, etc), and the brightly colored ones (a few poisonous butterflys, etc). Most fish could probably take the dangerous bugs, but why risk it? Not to mention a lot of those can give a painful bite/sting....namely the centepede. You wouldnt think it, but those things are meeeaaan.

if your into feeding your fish bugs, you can go to petco and buy crickets, you can also order fly maggots offline which you can raise. For a treat, try waxworms, they're a bit expensive, but high in protien. avoid mealworms, as they are pretty much nothing but protien, and they can chew through your fish's stomach even after being swallowed (so if you do feed them, cut off the head!). If your gonna feed them crickets, i find that gutloading them provides extra benifits to your fish. You can buy gutload products at the petstore
 
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Just to clariffy the mealworm chewing through the stomach thing, its all a myth. I have a bearded dragon and feed him superworms (mealworm relative) without be-heading them or anything. They quickly drown in water/stomach acids and dont stand a chance surviving. Just though id clear that up.

-Dan
 
the only difference is that a beared dragon will chew, rahter crush, the mealworm, the worm is dead before its swallowed. A fish will generally take it in one swallow. Yes the stomach acid is very strong, but it still takes a while. The mealworm doesnt bite for hunger, rather self defence (regardless of the fact that it will do nothing). Not to mention, mealworms' legs can get stuck in the throat of your fish, but that doesnt happen very often (if at all). Ive had anoles and a bearded dragon, firebellies, treefrogs, and currently have a pacman (though that doesnt eat mealworms anymore). They have no problem with mealworms because they are generally crushed before they're swallowed.

granted it doesnt happen very often, but it doesnt take much to chop the head off, its more of a precaution than anything, it just makes sure that nothing can go wrong in a worst case senario.
 
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