Slug identification.

[shaydeesnail]

This guy came in with the compost by accident, I'm thinking of keeping him though.
Anyone know what species he is? And is he okay to keep with my other snails? Thanks!

Here he is:

[muddydragon]

looks like (the somewhat poorly named:) great black slug aka Arion ater they come in all sorts of lovely colours.

[shaydeesnail]

I thought he might be, are they alright to keep with other snails?

[pinkunicorn]

There's several Arion species. I'd guess he's Arion vulgaris, the Spanish slug given they're most common. Definitely Arion, but have a look at this list of species and google some pics to determine who exactly he is. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arion_(gastropod)

The odd thing is my Odie is a keel-back slug but looks like a round-back slug when he sleeps. But I don't know of any Arions with such a pattern so I think I've not misidentified him.

Whichever Arion yours is, even if it's the feared pest A.vulgaris, he's very pretty. But like all slugs they can cannibalise others. I still suspect a murder mystery happened in my garden slug enclosure, as I found a halved slug that was still alive and lived two days in his horrible state (I couldn't bring myself to put himout as he didn't appear to suffer since he was moving quite happily around). Only such accident I've seen though, they normally only eat their dead. See how he does with your other snails, it's very possible he'll do fine and won't bother anyone if he gets some fish food to satisfy protein needs.

[muddydragon]

some links suggest they may also hybridize.
try this link they suggest some non invasive tests (the more 'normal' way is via disection...)http://www.ispot.org.uk/node/85805
Following the rocking test i've seen many of the slugs that look identical to yours in my parent's garden exhibiting the same behaviour in derbyshire when growing up i'ld say were ater or rufus (leaning towards rufus now), considering the closeness of nottinghamshire.

Also i think vulgaris is more common in the south of england less so in the midlands, (i've only managed to find one distribution map and they seem to concentrate in the south this could be a sampling issue - but invasions of species do tend to start in the south)

Reguardless of species, i agree with pinkunicorn i wouldn't put them in with snails, i know other slug species are meant to have slime that can be irritating to snails, and considering an irritation responce of these slug species is to produce extremely thick and very very sticky slime it probably wouldn't get on well with the snails when (in the typical snail way ) they would probably decide to climb all over it!

[pinkunicorn]

I just got four Arions myself (more in the other topic) and remembered this. I notice your slug also has the slime gland! Judging by googling pictures not all Arion species have it.

I'm trying to ID mind, need to have a look at the mentioned non-invasive tests.

[shaydeesnail]

I didn't identify what mine was, I didn't try too hard. I was actually looking at yours the other say, mine seems to have a really bright skirt, I don't know if that's different between species or if slugs of the same species have that variation. I did work out that mine rocked from side to side when I stroked it!

[pinkunicorn]

Probably an A.rufus then! It says it may respond to the touch test. Mine do not, and have dull fringes, plus has dark foot bottom with some orangey pigment. Very hard to say which one they are...