Arion Ater or Arion Rufus, the "European" Slug selective breeding.

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knifegill

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Sep 19, 2005
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Oscar Tummy
Most of these in my area are black or brown, some are olive and a few are orange. I've seen one that was maple-leaf red. I went back to the area, couldn't find the red type, so I collected the orangest of the orange, and will try to isolate this 'red' expression. I have about seven specimens. Is there anything different about slug genes than fish genes? Should I force the reddest individuals to self-fertilize and cross the reddest offspring of these self-fertilized batches, or let them cross at will and just remove the darker offspring? What about crossing back the offspring with the parents?
 
I wasn't happy with the original group, so I set out again with higher standards. I spent an hour flipping over leaves and rejecting over 100 specimens, many were orange/olive and may have carried the 'red' potential for their offspring, but red means red, dang it. These two were the best of the best today. Not perfect, but I think it's enough to work with for now. I'll also keep my eye out for redder fellas in the near future.
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There's still brown in them, and a little of that olive, too. I think a little selective breeding might be able to fix that.
 
Should be. The sad thing is that, when I'm done, I have to kill every last one. They are invasive.
 
Those look cool. You could just keep them in captivity if you don't want to kill them.
 
Is there a slug-knowledgeable forum around? One that would have members who keep pet slugs? I am not finding any online searching.
 
I'm in WA and these slugs can't be shipped. They're actually supposed to be killed on sight.
 
What a amazing project, dude where are you? I would love to know where I would be able to get so interesting slugs. Actually Im doing a very similar project with several lineges of wood lice (info to follow in a few weeks:naughty:). You have very good chances of sucsseding in your project and DONT kill anything of what your doing Im SHURE there is both interest and a market for your product, and yes there is a growing number of people that keep pet slugs, they would drool at your owesame ones. Here is the site: www.bugnation.uk. You could make some pennies selling your slugs;) Now my sugestions. 2 slugs are a start but you defenetly need a larger gene pool, try to put together at least like 6 of the coolest ones you can find. If you cant find especimens of so intense coloration still use them and then sellect the best looking offspring at each breeding. Now dont forget it may take some time for baby slugs to develop their full color. Its the photo the setup you have for them? Because its inadequate, you need a ruber container with very small numerous holes on the top, moist dead leaf litler, a chunk of cork and a moist substrate several inches tick (moist peat and sand) for the slugs to burrow and lay their eggs. Ad some wood lice to keep molts and waste in control. Feed them with washed fruit and vegetable left overs and mushrooms. I recomend dont removing the eggs.
Ho knows maybe in your selective breeding work you are able to unlock some very cool genes:D
 
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