Caring for a Pet Banana Slug

First, make a house your banana slug. Like any other creature, slugs need space to move around. A small aquarium, “critter-keeper,” or other similar container will work well. Make sure that whatever you use has a secure lid with small holes for ventilation. If there are any holes or gaps too large, your slug will squeeze out. Make sure to place your slug’s home away from direct light and heat.

Choose a substrate. Banana slugs can live on a variety of different materials. They will appreciate a bed of leaf-litter and decaying plant material from the garden or environment from which you took him. Soil and gravel can also be used, and may be preferable, as they will help your slug stand out in his new home. Just make sure not to use any sand in his habitat, or it will dry him out.

Spray your slug’s habitat. Humidity and moisture must be maintained in your slug’s home in order for him to remain healthy. Not only do they drink the water in their habitat, but use it to recharge the membrane of slime in which they coat themselves. Without moisture, your slug will dry out, hide, and eventually die. Spray the habitat at least once a day, or more often if your slug looks dry or inactive.

Slugs primarily feed on decaying plant matter and leaf-litter in the wild. You can place plants, leaves, and leaf-litter in their habitat for them to munch on, but this won’t really be enough to keep your slug fit and healthy. Provide small pieces of fruit or vegetables in a small dish or jar lid. Carrots and cucumbers seem to be favorites for slugs and snails. For the sake of smell and cleanliness, change out their food every other day or so.

The best food to provide your slug, however, is commercial iguana pellets. These pellets contain balanced nutrients and are usually made from a variety of different foods. This combined with the fact that the food is clean and practically scent free makes it the ideal choice. Just drop a few pellets in your slug’s food dish whenever it is empty.

Clean your slug’s habitat. Like all animals, slugs produce waste and it must be removed from their environment in order for them to remain healthy. Depending on the size of your slug and the size of the habitat you are keeping him in, you should clean his habitat and either clean the substrate (gravel) or replace it once every two weeks to a month. If you see build-up of slug poop, build-ups of slime, or mold growing, it is time for some house cleaning.

Remember to be very gentle when moving or handling your slug. When transferring between containers use your hands or an object free of sharp edges such as a spoon or chopsticks. Banana slugs have two different kinds of “slime.” The first is their standard coat of slime that protects them and allows them to move/slide around easier. The second is a very thick, concentrated slime which they use a defense mechanism. Make sure to be very gentle with your slug or they will hose you with their defensive slime. This is very difficult to clean off.

For updates on my other work, including blogs, articles, and social networking, please visit Ashtar’s Updates

http://ashtarsupdates.blogspot.com/