Loads of slugs

[lotty]

I have a load of small slugs in my garden. The frogs that are about dont seem to be eating them. They are a bit too big for my newts. Would it be worth getting a salamander to eat them. It would be easy going out at night and picking loads up for one. Would salamanders eat small slugs. I dont know what type of slug they are, there are about 2 or 3 types in the garden. Thanks in advance.

 

[Otterwoman]

You mean just get salamanders and let them loose in your garden? Depending on your yard, they might not stay, or even survive. I don't have another solution, though.

 

[AuSu]

I've collected slugs in small plastic bags and frozen them for winter. Then they are easy to cut in small pieces and my newts will eat them. Have you tried that? If they are those yellow slugs which are really harmful in garden (I don't know their name in English), I've heard frogs/toads/newts don't want to eat them - maybe they taste bad???

 

[Blackbun]

I get cats in the garden but they don't do any harm so I'll not buy a dog. Unless you grow plants, can't you let the slugs be? I know all about slugs in the garden and my experience tells me that there is only one type of slug which any self respecting fire salamander or R. temporaria will eat and it's the small creamy coloured ones. I'll get a link. The other slugs might start small but they grow big, plus they are as tough as old boots and incredibly sticky.
YUMMY

 

[lotty]

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking of getting a salamander for a tank and collecting free food. They might be the wrong type of slugs though. I think they are the black (maybe dark brown) ones with a orange/brown edge all around them. We have not got yellow ones. They only come out at night. We cant plant anything as what ever we plant gets eaten by the next day or the day after.

My son cut the lawn and there is about two good handfuls of grass cuttings on the edge of the lawn and last night, there was around 50 small slugs all over it plus loads on the lawn. I think the frogs and the hedgehogs around here ignore them or just dont like them.

I think I will just leave them.

 

[lotty]

These are the slugs.

 

[Blackbun]

There are few slugs my fire salamanders will eat. I had a serious slug issue in my garden this spring and was collecting in excess of 400 individuals a day. I did count them as I picked them as I don't use any poisonous baits in the garden to protect wildlife etc. Even if these slugs were edible I'd need goodness knows how many salamanders.

My poor plants and not a single slug was suitable for food.

 

[lotty]

I know what you mean. lol. I have literary 100's in my garden at night time mostly. Every plant we planted was eaten. The only plants not eaten were in the wheelbarrow planters. Guess they are frit of heights or dont like climbing. lol. I bourt gourd seeds and got a couple of them to grow. I waited for the plants to get about 12" tall and put them in the garden. The slugs and / or snails had them by the second morning. Nothing was left. I wanted to make some gourd bird nest boxes.
If the local frogs and hedgehogs are not eating the slugs in my garden, I dont think Salamander would either.
I might still get a couple of sals as a pet though. Will have to see.