Where to find snails/slugs?

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Mount_Prion

Mount_Prion

Piranha
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2012
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I'm looking to find some common, non-aquatic snails/slugs to introduce to my forest turtle enclosure. The turtle living in there will hunt them, and I've heard from other (outdoor) keepers of the species (g. spengleri) that they're a great (even in some cases primary) food source for the turtles.

Now I've looked online, and it seems like (maybe throughout the whole US?) it is illegal to ship them across state lines, due to invasiveness or some such nonsense.

I'm not looking for those giant african ones down in FLA or anything, just some basic everyday slimy goopers. I remember in science class in like, the 2nd grade, we had them as pets but I couldn't even find them on academic sites (like carolina biological), so I'm assuming the ban is pretty serious/happened in the last 20 years.

I was out on Long Island this weekend (same state as me) and I tried to do a little collecting, but didn't see any. It's possible the area I was in has too much salt around for them to thrive, being very close to a saltwater bay. Or maybe it's the wrong time of year.

Anybody have thoughts on the best way to find myself some? Seems like it should be so simple! Used to find them everywhere as a kid, but in Manhattan not so much!

I should note that this is an exploratory post, not a WTB ad. I'm not trying to break any laws here so I'd like to figure out more before actually attempting to buy some or something.
 
When it has rained you can find them almost everywhere, especially Where vegetables are being grown. You could drive into the suburbs after rainfall and look under stones, hedges etc.
 
Chub_by said:
When it has rained you can find them almost everywhere, especially Where vegetables are being grown. You could drive into the suburbs after rainfall and look under stones, hedges etc.
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Not a bad idea. It rained when I looked this weekend, but again, I think there may be too much salt in the groundwater where I was for there to be much by way of snails.
 
Warning: they will escape. If they dont escape, they will breed and their babies will escape. Personal experience. :x
 
Bottomfeeder said:
Warning: they will escape. If they dont escape, they will breed and their babies will escape. Personal experience. :x
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This is a good point. The cage is like 95% cricketproof but I guess they'd get out of that 5% haha.
 
An easy way to catch them is to place a cantaloupe split in two, upside down in the grass. The next morning flip it over and it should be full of slugs.
 
All I know is they love wet/damp places and I used to find slugs in the grass beside the cooler parts of the house. I'm actually visiting in Long Island atm (Coram) and the other night there was a slug party going on on the patio. My friend has a very densely planted yard and with the rain that recently came through I'm sure that's what drove them out.


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