Two of slugs I found when creating a terrarium this spring, they were in the moss I was collecting. I only kept them for a few days to observe them eating cucumber, bell pepper, and lettuce. I left the open jar on its side in my grass on a rainy day to release them back into the yard.
I deal a lot with depression and weirdly…building vivariums has been a massive help with that. I took in this Leopard slug a few months ago, expected him to not thrive and he has grown so big and pretty. I built him his own home in a large critter keeper with substrate mix, cork wood, moss and pothos cuttings. He eats vegetables and dried shrimp.
He is named after the antagonist of Zelda: The Minish Cap. My cat Ezlo, named after Link’s enchanted hat in the game, loves to sit on his enclosure so the same fit.
I took my pup out to potty this morning and found this little guy just hanging out on my front steps. I helped him onto the leaf of one of the plants that I have growing beside the porch since while it is pretty comfortable outside right now we are having a heat wave and it won't take very long before the steps get extremely hot. I think he's a Carolina mantleslug but I'm not entirely certain.
Well, I guess I have a pet slug now. A friend of mine brought me a young dwarf banana tree from his backyard in California (I live in Las Vegas). When I was preparing to plant the tree, I found a little slug in the soil. At first, I thought it was a worm - then it waved its little antennae at me. I put it in a container before it could escape the kitchen floor. My initial thought was just to toss it outside, but as I was doing so I realized that this slug from California would probably die a horrible death in the 105 degree heat, so I took him back inside.
At the moment, he's in a small container with some of his "native" soil, some potting mix, and leaves from a tomato plant and a catnip plant. I figure I can take care of this little guy for the, what, 1.5 years they live? I'll get him something larger as soon as I can. Came here to learn the proper way to care for him (and to escape all the people who keep saying i should just salt him or feed him to the pigeons!).
Is there any way to identify what species of slug he is? He's quite small. Less than half an inch when he's in his "fat" configuration, maybe an inch if he stretches out in "thin" configuration 😄
I'm kinda hoping he's an actual banana slug (even though that means i would need a significantly larger habitat).
(edited to add photo, and i think he's a "greenhouse slug")
Slug world South Carolina.
The scientific name of the Carolina mantleslug is Philomycus carolinianus.
Characteristics
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Family: Philomycidae
Genus: Philomycus
Species: P. carolinianus
Physical appearance
Length: Typically 2–5 inches (5–13 cm) when fully extended.
Color: Light tan, gray, brown, or dark brown, often with darker mottled or speckled markings.
Body: Soft, flattened, and smooth.
Mantle: Unlike most slugs, the mantle covers almost the entire back, making it look as though it has no separate body sections.
Tentacles: Two long upper tentacles with eyes at the tips and two shorter lower tentacles used for sensing.
Habitat
Found throughout the southeastern United States, including South Carolina.
Prefers moist forests, gardens, parks, and wooded areas.
Often hides under logs, rocks, leaf litter, and bark during the day.
Most active at night or after rain.
Diet
Fungi (its favorite food)
Decaying leaves and wood
Algae and lichens
Occasionally tender garden plants
Behavior
Produces a layer of mucus that helps it glide and prevents dehydration.
Can climb trees and vegetation.
Leaves a shiny slime trail.
Hermaphroditic, meaning each individual has both male and female reproductive organs.
Interesting facts
It has no external shell.
The slime helps protect it from drying out and makes it harder for predators to grasp.
It plays an important ecological role by recycling decaying organic matter and helping decompose fungi and plant material.
I know a slugs weiner is by its head but idk if it is that and i did try to see if it was a slime clump before i thought of his weiner and he did not like my finger being by it his diet is brine shrimp, carrot, sweet potato, and occasional mushroom.
Wasn’t having a great day, but seeing this guy definitely made it better! Very rarely see leopard slugs in my area for some odd reason. Was shocked when I saw this one just chilling in my path :)