Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Eating Slugs:

Slippery, but they hold on.

Dan

Very neat! What kind of snake is that? I have a sharp-tail that is a slug eater too. I've had him for almost two years now and he's only let me see him eat once (he sucked a slug as big aroound as he was down like a spagetti noodle); I had to sit staring at his cage with the lights dimmed for over an hour before he decided to go for it.

-Alice

The top/first pic is Dipsas variegata and the second pic is Sibon nebulata. Oh, I don't need large snails as I can find sufficient amounts of these slugs down here in Florida.

Dan

Kep in mind that Zoo-Med product commonly offers a "Can o' snails" product in pet stores. This product consists of preservative-free, all-natural farm-raised, shelless snails packed into an airtight can... see if this species accepts such a product. This may make captive maintenance much easier, and greatly reduce the risk of parasitism.
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DAVE

0.0.1 Western green toad
0.0.1 green treefrog
0.0.1 Oriental fire-bellied toad
0.1 Western hog-nosed snake
0.0.1 Okeetee corn snake
1.1 red-cheeked mud turtles
0.1 Dubia day gecko
0.0.1 yellow * Everglades rat snake
0.0.1 Eastern mud snake
1.0 Yunnan beauty snake
1.0 scarlet kingsnake
0.1 albino African clawed frog
0.0.1 Northern black racer
0.0.1 African brown house snake (Zambia locale)
0.0.1 Sonoran gopher snake
1.2 European fire salamanders
(parthenogenic) Brahminy blindsnakes *

Hey, that is is good idea and I forgot all about them so thanks and I will try them.

I recall opening a can o snails in a pet store I worked and realized that someone else has a worse job than I did.

Dan

I have had a Florida Redbelly for about 4 years, that will eat slugs only. He prefers the brown ones, but will eat the big black ones if I cut them up (and only when he is really, really hungry!!) I have him in a live vivarium setup and have thrown snails in there. He doesn't touch them. How hard would it be to convert him to Can O Snails? I am in Florida also, but since Hurricane Ivan, the slugs have been scarce. The brown ones are just now starting to show up again with any regularity.

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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:1 Florida Redbelly Snake
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

How hard would it be to convert him to Can O Snails?

I have yet to keep that species but kept similar species like brown snakes. Perhaps condition your snake to receive its usual food in a particular corner of its enclosure in a shallow jar lid and then add small pieces of the snails and see if it goes for it. I guess also you could scent over the slug slime on the snails and that might work also. However the case, if it indeed does eat those slugs, I would still offer them from time to time to ensure the snake is getting its proper nutrition and all.

Personally that can of snails is a very large portion and would need to be refrigerated after opening, so perhaps if you had dozens of snakes to feed it would be convenient, however one small snake is not going to finish off that can for a decade, so most of it would be tossed in the garbage as it perhaps will rot after a few days unless you froze it.

Dan

True, I have only 1 slug eating snake, however, I also have a juvi box turtle, as well as a pair of RES (my children actually). I am not worried about having to throw anything out. I went to my local Petsmart today, and they carry every Can O except the snails, figures! Guess I will have to buy online to try it ....I was not even aware of such a product, so thanks for the info. It would sure make the winters easier...no more pulling up pavers in 30 degree weather.LOL Though I am in Florida, in the panhandle we still get some pretty good freezes and I do NOT like the cold (unless snow skiing, then I make exceptions!!)
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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:1 Florida Redbelly Snake
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

Hi there Oxyrhopus!

I'm loving the photos of the snail-eating snakes!! I myself have a couple of species, though mine are South-East Asian. I have Aplopeltura boa and Pareas carinatus.

Where did you get your Dipsas and Sibon species? I would be very interested in getting some to add to my my little collection of snail-eating snakes!!

Regards, Asser Ollgaard