Snails vs slugs

[inky]

Hello erryone,

I'm currently keeping a Limax flavus(yellow slug) and I've already seen many changes from a normal helix aspersa.
First off, they're much slimier than snails, probably due to them having no shell to retract to.

They also seem less picky than most of the snails I've had, happily munching on some damp cat food until I could find some leaves.

They burrow. Gave me a bit of a shock when I checked the tank and didn't see the little guy!

Mine at least seems to prefer staying on the ground substrate rather than climbing on the sticks or walls.

Much harder to handle. They can get on you a bit, raise your hopes then just slide back off. You can't really pick them up like you can with a snail.

I already knew this, but they tuck their head in when they rest. Also scared me as I found him with the cats, fed him with some cat food, went to get my tank and came back to a guilty cat and a headless slug.

They also seem to have different tastes. None of my snails ever touched cat food.

So much bigger! A normal helix aspersa can sometimes be hard to spot, but this slug is hard not to! I do have a small feeding bowl, but I reckon he could reach over it entirely.


So, as I'm new to keeping slugs(and have been a bit busy and haven't had time to keep any others I've seen ) do any of you slug keepers have any suggestions or facts?
Thanks!

[Cashell]

I don't keep slugs, so I can't do a personal slugs vs snails comparison of my own, but one thing for sure is that everyone seems to say that they're much slimier than snails! They also dehydrate a lot faster as I've personally seen.

[inky]

Sept 21, 2013 2:59:29 GMT Cashell said:

I don't keep slugs, so I can't do a personal slugs vs snails comparison of my own, but one thing for sure is that everyone seems to say that they're much slimier than snails! They also dehydrate a lot faster as I've personally seen.

Yes, I had one on my hand just for a moment and my hand was pretty goopy! The mucus seems to be much thicker than a snail, too. Thanks for comparing!

[crucify]

I have three black slugs with orange feet, not sure what species they are since I forgot to check. They're incredibly shy though, won't come out if you're watching them, talking, moving near them. I hate their slime, it's ridiculously annoying to scrub it all off. They also love wet fish food and mow right through it.

[inky]

Sept 21, 2013 18:38:12 GMT crucify said:

I have three black slugs with orange feet, not sure what species they are since I forgot to check. They're incredibly shy though, won't come out if you're watching them, talking, moving near them. I hate their slime, it's ridiculously annoying to scrub it all off. They also love wet fish food and mow right through it.

Definitely this. Mine is very shy, hasn't moved since I brought him in. Almost worried to be honest, but otherwise this is all right. The slime is soo gooey!

[inky]

Well, turns out they're smart, a bit too smart at that. Mine slimed everything up overnight, ate all the food, got out of the tank, slimed all down my mum's amplifier and did a turn and went straight to the door and somehow got out both closed doors! I have a bit of a mess to clean up apparently, too. Oh well, back to snails, they're smaller but neater and don't usually succeed in escape attempts!

[Cashell]

Sept 27, 2013 2:18:44 GMT inky said:

Well, turns out they're smart, a bit too smart at that. Mine slimed everything up overnight, ate all the food, got out of the tank, slimed all down my mum's amplifier and did a turn and went straight to the door and somehow got out both closed doors! I have a bit of a mess to clean up apparently, too. Oh well, back to snails, they're smaller but neater and don't usually succeed in escape attempts!

This is crazy!

[Dumbledore]

Oh, there was one time I found six slugs outside and stuck them in a container with a few tiny holes.
... an hour later, there were two slugs on the walls, one under the table, two burrowed, and one IN THE SNAIL tank, which had a screen lid. The snails were all bunched together far, far away from him.

[anachronism]

slugs are amazing escape artists, this is why all mine have tights over the top of the tub lol

[Cashell]

Mollusks must not be underestimated! I just remembered now that snails and slugs like octopi, squids and others also have the ability to squish themselves through ridiculously tight holes. Snails however, are at a bit of a disadvantage due to their shells which prevents them from passing through super narrow passages while slugs can just wing it! Before I started keeping my snails in tight-lid containers, they'd sometimes push the lids off their jars and take refuge in various places all over my room! Glad those days are over

[inky]

Sept 27, 2013 11:04:16 GMT Dumbledore said:

Oh, there was one time I found six slugs outside and stuck them in a container with a few tiny holes.
... an hour later, there were two slugs on the walls, one under the table, two burrowed, and one IN THE SNAIL tank, which had a screen lid. The snails were all bunched together far, far away from him.

Wow, that's both funny and weird at the same time! I've heard they're hard to keep in one place, but one getting right into the tank? That's just amusing.

[Dumbledore]

It was weird. I was like freaking out and then I saw two slugs sliming up the wall. Then I looked under the table and one was under there, but number 6 was missing. Then I saw the snails all in a corner and I was like O.O and a slugs was nomming their fish food. I still don't know how he got in there... he was the biggest slug too...

[wreckoning]

I am in the reverse position, I have been keeping slugs for a couple of years and have only just begun learning about their lesser-evolved brethren . I had assumed that snails would make for boring pets hiding out in their shells all day, but mine have been pretty active. I've been quite amazed with how friendly they are with handling, I had thought they would hide when picked up most of the time. They are much easier to find in the tank and it seems much easier to keep them in place - slugs are absolutely great at escaping.

Some slugs species are more shy than others. Arion rufus doesn't like to be handled or messed with. They will bunch into a ball and stay like that for hours. Arion fuscus is much less shy, and will feel more comfortable being handled or relocated. Then there's the outgoing slugs like deroceras reticulatum and limax maximus, these guys have no fears, and are happy to explore anything. Limax maximus likes to bite when picked up, but it doesn't hurt so I think of it as little slug kisses.

If you're noticing low activity levels when by themselves in their enclosure, this is a different matter. I would recommend adjusting humidity levels and/or temperature according to your pet's requirements. Slugs are much more sensitive to humidity levels than snails.