What I know about slugs

{written by Laurent Tougas, 8 years old}
This post is about slugs. I like slugs because it's fun to watch them eat and they are easy to find.

This is what I know about slugs:

• Slugs like to live in places that are damp and covered. If you want to find a slug look under rocks, bricks, sticks or leaves.
• Slugs eat vegetation. For example lettuce and the leaves on some flowers.
• Slugs are both boy and girl. They've got sperm and eggs. But they can't fertilize their own eggs. They have to find another slug and that slug's sperm would fertilize their eggs. Slugs lay their fertilized eggs in damp areas under rocks or holes in the ground. Their eggs are small and clear.
• Slugs have one foot and it basically looks like their belly.



How to study slugs:

• Find a slug in your back yard. If you can't find the slugs you might be able to follow the "slug slime" to where the slug is.
• Get a jar with a lid. Nail holes in the jar's lid so that the slugs can have oxygen or use cheesecloth with elastic around the edge.
• Put dirt in the bottom of the jar, if you want. Otherwise put rocks at the bottom. I'd recommend rocks because it's easier to clean the jar. You could also add sticks or moss.
• Add the slug to the prepared jar and then put in grass for hiding places. Then put in some small pieces of lettuce for the slug's food.
• Spray the inside of the jar with water to keep moist.
• If you have one slug change the lettuce every other day. If you have multiple slugs you should probably change the lettuce every day. They eat a lot!
• Keep the jar in a shady spot in your house and spray water in the jar every day.
• If you put your ear to the jar while they are eating you might hear them eat.
• Use the same steps to study snails & have fun!