I find them fascinating also. I cannot bring myself to kill them, and do not trust that any of the bait is really safe for birds, amphibians or my cats and dogs. I have many birds nesting in my garden, and the wrens feed copious quantities to their babies. this is my kind of pest control.

Hi Will,
If the slug aquarium entertains you, then I say have fun with that.

As for the entertainment & learning experience...believe it or not...I can relate to that.

When I first got into composting, I researched too much and ended up doing all these crazy controlled compost piles throughout the yard, collected data, got REALLY excited about it, and freaked out my neighbors. I learned sooooo much over that summer.

So, I will respect & admire the slug aquarium for what it is (heck...I might even defend your actions, lol!), as long as you share info you learn from it.
Gayle

OMG....you actually take prisoners!!! A slug p.o.w camp??.....Give em' tiny tools and set them to work I say!...no more freeloading...

when they find the hosta.. they will skeletonize them .... and your interest in the slugs will wain ...

sue is hilarious .. lol

ken

LOL@Sue also...

I certainly haven't liked them damaging my plants but if this 'method' can keep them from destroying or killing any hostas - that will suffice. I guess my compromise will be living with an occasional hosta with a hole or six in it.

As long as they aren't 'killing' plants or making them so sick they cannot be enjoyed, I'll keep this humane.

I do find it mildly amusing that many 'little sweet gardening ladies' become ammonia-spraying, knife-wielding, shoe-scrunching torcherous beings at the site of their plants being nibbled by nature. :)

I'm certainly not a PETA-bear, tree-hugging animal rights activist, but I do attempt to co-exist with all nature, the exceptions being bald faced hornets nest and mosquitos which I think everyone on earth despise.

-Will

I think you are NUTS! Just one 1" snail can eat a $40 hosta over night. I like to fling them into the street giving them that last wild ride in the sky. Whee. Mostly I use Sluggo so I don't have to deal with all those shells.

You could feed them cornmeal for a few days then put 'em in some garlic butter...

-Babka

I have always hated the slimy little buggers ever since the first time I ran outside in the evening in my bare feet and stepped on one. ICK! Eating my hosta is just one more reason to wish them dead.

But if you take delight in collecting them, more power to you just PLEASE, don't post any pictures of your aquarium here, or at least not with out a link.

chris

You're so busy being contrary that you don't realize keeping slugs in a glass enclosure is inhumane. I'm contacting PETA.

Your exceptions are convenient for you, but you don't get to pick and choose what lives and dies. If you think that you co-exist with nature by sparing slugs, you're wrong. That is unless you spare hornets and mosquitoes too, and never kneel on an ant. Plus, this is the most important thing to remember: you must never, ever kill a earth worm when digging.

lol... good points and levity is the proper form here indeed. I released the slugs today in the gardens at the property of my local land appraisal auditors.

-Will

I've been pretty lucky on the slug/snail front. I know they are out there because I see them all the time, but they've mostly left the hostas alone. Sure a few have some damage but not much and most have none.

"I released the slugs today in the gardens at the property of my local land appraisal auditors."

LOL

sorry, I think they are pretty gross. I used to drown them in beer where I used to live. Haven't had a problem yet but just started planting more hostas so I'll have to look out for them.

I say, do as you please! And I hate mosquitos too!

I am lucky I haven't had a problem w/ slugs , I do get deer but not enough damage to get uptight about they have only gotten 3 hosta so far this year & left enough leaves on each so they will survive. I think if you want a slug collection , it may be fun to find out how many types you can collect. Personally I lived on the west coast as a child & took delight in having snails as pets my poor mother cringed as I pointed at then & told her their names.:)

I think it's wonderful that you are collecting them, you could come and get mine to add to your collection, please!!!!

Then maybe I wouldn't have to go out late at night with the flashlight to spray for them, and amuse the neighbors that are peeking out their window wondering what's going on in my back yard.