Banana Slug Emergency

[malacophile]

Those of you who have read my post in the pictures section already know that I have recently purchased banana slugs, two of which died within three days of arrival. Two days ago, I received another from the seller as a replacement. However, this poor little guy also appears to be on his way out.

They were all healthy and active when they got here, exploring their tub, eating and pooping. With all of them, things rapidly and mysteriously went downhill from there. This newest banana is doing the same thing as the others. Late last night, he parked himself on some moss and hasn't moved from there since. He's breathing fine, but he seems unwilling or unable to extend his eyes and lower tentacles. He can, however, tuck his head underneath his mantle. He's quite limp and doesn't respond when I pick him up.

The seller suggested I keep him cooler at night, which I did. I placed his bin in my bathroom which got into the low to mid 50s Fahrenheit with the window open. The seller's initial suggestion was to put him in my crisper at night, but I can't help but find this extreme. It's not much above freezing in there.

I know they can't require such a strict temperature range. I've been in the forests where these guys come from, and it's not unusual for those regions to reach the 80s during the day, nor do then reach nearly freezing each night.

I've got his tub set up in a way that seemed the most natural. Coconut coir, ExoTerra compressed forest moss and some branches and needles from a bald cypress, which is fairly closely related to redwood trees. I mist several times daily with distilled water and feed him the exact same foods my native slugs and snails are given. I wash my hands with an unscented, mostly natural soap (Ivory brand) before I touch him or anything in his tub. Although, I haven't touched nor handled him much, as I wondered if the stress of it may have contributed to the others' deaths.


I'm beginning to question if it's a problem on the seller's part. I don't know if these slugs are captive-bred or wild-caught, what conditions they're kept in or how they're treated. But they were very well-packaged, had food in the container and were nice and moist. They were perky and sliming around in the containers when I got them.

I don't think there could be anything wrong with the materials I'm using. The coir is a major brand and I've never heard of anyone experiencing problems with it before. The moss can't be the culprit, either, as the first two died before I put the moss in there.

Could it have been the time spent in the mail? Both shipments took three and a half days, and the weather was neither too warm nor too cool. I really doubt that mail-related stress could be the problem, though. For one thing, I read regularly of people receiving their snails or slugs without this happening. For another thing, it seems a little too suspect that they all died, all within three days and all very suddenly.

They were shipped from southern California, less than 100 miles from Tijuana, Mexico. I'm pretty sure they're not naturally found down there, so that minimizes the likelihood that they're wild-caught, if that could be a factor at all.

Is it the seller, me, or are these guys just exceedingly sensitive? I'm hoping that I can still do something in time to save this guy, but I don't even know where to start. Currently, I'm just trying to keep him comfortable and moist.

EDIT: Unfortunately, this little guy has also crossed over the rainbow bridge. If I keep banana slugs again, it won't be from that seller.

[inky]

Hello Mala,
I would move that last banana slug that's still alive to a separate tank, just to make sure it's not the tank and to move it away from the diseased area. (If three of them died in the same way, it doesn't sound much like stress.)
I would also recommend cleaning the entire tank and putting it back in if it survives long enough.
If it starts showing symptoms, I would probably change its diet, but I've only had three slugs and not for a long time. Sorry I haven't been much of a help.

[malacophile]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, they've all passed away. I still have little clue as to what happened, but I certainly won't be buying banana slugs from the same seller in the future, just in case. I wasn't too impressed with their response or their advice.

[vallery]

So sorry for your loss.
Maybe you should share with others the place you bought your slugs to warn others of the terrible service and it is terrible for the slugs they are selling so this doesn't happen to others and more little sluggies.
vallery

[malacophile]

I got them from Double D's out of California, USA. www.doubleds.org/

They recommend keeping the slugs in the crisper (there are several problems with this). They also admitted to feeding them nothing but rat chow and shredded carrots, so nutrient deficiency is also likely and poses many issues on its own.

When I told them that all three slugs had died, they said they'd give me a free slug with any future order from them. I was hoping for a refund. After this experience, why would I want to buy anything else from them? Furthermore, why would a free slug serve as compensation when it will probably die anyway?

They're also making a profit off of shipping charges. When I got the slugs, the label on the box said that shipping had only been a little over $5, but they charged me $12 on top of the $10 for each slug.

[pinkunicorn]

What does this species eat in the wild btw? I know it plays a crucial part to the redwood forests ecosystem.

[malacophile]

They're so important to the redwoods' ecosystem because they eat competing seedlings, but not the redwood seedlings. They're also fond of carrion. In Oregon, I personally witnessed them devouring mushrooms, sorrel and other plants. Overall, like most slugs, they seem to eat an enormous variety of things. And animals that are adapted to such dietary variety tend to suffer poor health when that aspect is restricted. That's part of why I believe that a diet of shredded carrot and rat chow was so problematic. I also noticed that these guys weren't nearly as fat and robust for their length as the ones I saw in the wild.

[vallery]

From what I just looked up they are detritivores or decomposers and consume dead organic matter like leaves, animal droppings (Yum!) dead plant matter. on You tube there is a video of one eating a piece of bread in the wild. Also you tube video Science on the Spot Banana Slugs unpeeled.