Question: Can slug "shell" harm a newt?

[evut]

I know this probably extremely paranoid but:
Can the sharp "shell" inside a slug harm the newt when eaten?

 

[Daniel]

I have to admit that I do not understand your question.

By slug you mean something like that? A snail without a house?

If so - what shell do you refer to?

 

[Azhael]

Some slugs have a vestigial shell inside their body, similar to squid and other cephalopodes.
However the remains of the shell are nothing to worry about. I´ve fed slugs to many of my animal succesfully, never a problem.

 

[evut]

Yes Daniel, that's a slug and they have something very sharp inside (which Azhael described really well).

The reason I worry and even think about it is because I've actually halved a slug for the newt (I know, it's super-disgusting but what wouldn't I do for him...) and noticed how sharp this thing is - it's like a piece of glass. He's big enough now to eat a whole slug.
Of course I realise that no-one would prepare the slug for him in nature...and he does love them... but I just wanted someone to confirm that it's safe.

 

[Joost]

My newts often eat ramshorn snails without any problems. I see it of a good source of calcium

 

[evut]

I knew it was kind of a stupid questions but thanks for you help, everyone!
I realize now I've actually heard of newts eating snails so that would have been obvious. Thanks again!

 

[Daniel]

Okay, I did not know about this kind of shell (I usually do not slice slugs but feed them as whole).

 

[Coastal Groovin]

Wow all those teenage years of catching slugs and slapping them into my friends ears I never knew they had a sharp shell inside. The stuff you learn on this site

 

[pete]

The reason I worry and even think about it is because I've actually halved a slug for the newt (I know, it's super-disgusting but what wouldn't I do for him...)

Let no one question your bravery.

 

[Coastal Groovin]

I can't be caught by the wife cutting slugs in half. She wonders enough about me now.

 

[firefly]

Ooo - visions of things to come, & I'm only at the stage of worrying what to give for dinner to my little tiny FBN nymphs lol.

 

[evut]

Let no one question your bravery.

...not really :happy:, they were only tiny slugs and I felt more sorry for them than for myself.
The newt does seem to like them a lot. He manages really big chunks of earthworm now so next time I catch a little slug I won't have to disect him again, hurray!