Sluggo, anyone?

[Jon Parr]

I've got a slight, though annoying, slug problem, and I'm considering using Sluggo brand slug bait and killer.

From manufacturer:
SLUGGO is an advanced slug killer, designed for use in modern farming practices where environmental considerations are more important than ever. SLUGGO is safe to mammals, fish, birds and all aquatic species including beneficial slug predators. SLUGGO has no harvest interval, it has been approved on all crops and also organic certified.

Any experience? It is 1% iron phosphate, not sure what the other 99% inert ingredients are. Iron and phosphate both hold promise of benefitting AP, not sure of the risk of toxicity when applied modestly on a dry-topped media bed.

[RupertofOZ]

Seemingly safe enough...

Alternatives.... flood the grow bed above the media... and pick the slugs out... might require multiple attempts...

 

Or.. place saucers half full of beer on the surface of the media... and throw the slugs away each morning...

 

[Jon Parr]

Thanks, Rupe. I've picked a few here and there, haven't tried the beer trick. Seems like sluggo would be alright, though. It is pretty much identical to the iron supplement I use, and made by the same company. 

RupertofOZ said:

Seemingly safe enough...

Alternatives.... flood the grow bed above the media... and pick the slugs out... might require multiple attempts...

 

Or.. place saucers half full of beer on the surface of the media... and throw the slugs away each morning...

 

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Jon, I can attest to Ruperts beer method working in the garden. Don't see why it'd be any different in AP. (If you can get over wasting perfectly good beer). 

[Eric Warwick]

Why, you're supposed to use old beer. But, I guess you didn't know that existed.

Vlad Jovanovic said:

Jon, I can attest to Ruperts beer method working in the garden. Don't see why it'd be any different in AP. (If you can get over wasting perfectly good beer). 

[Vlad Jovanovic]

They don't sell that brand here...

[Carey Ma]

My chicken, ducks and especially guinea fowl are on constant patrol for invading critters. 

[Jon Parr]

Thanks for the tips, brothers.  So I set out some Bud Light, since that is unfit beer for guests anyway, and it works.  Seems it wasn't strong enough to do them in, but they passed out here and there with raging headaches.

[George]

I go on slug hunts at night with a good light and a pair of scissors - off with their heads.  It doesn't take much effort to keep them under control.  Certain plants seem to be their favorites and I've noticed that they will come to baits too, like a few pieces of dry cat food.

[Jon Parr]

Good idea, George. Since I posted this I started raising some green sunfish, that love to eat the smaller slugs. So now I try and periodically get to the growbed early in the morning, and just hand pick and toss them to the greenies. Bluegill take them too

[Cheryl Sterling]

Have you tried old left over copper wire?  I was having a major slug problem for awhile...copper seems to do the trick!

[matthew ferrell]

Caution on the copper is that it is toxic to some fish, including trout. 

In other fish they could careless, bluegill,catfish, and I think tilipia.  Someone correct on the tilipia if I am incorrect.

Cheryl Sterling said:

Have you tried old left over copper wire?  I was having a major slug problem for awhile...copper seems to do the trick!

[Vlad Jovanovic]

Hi Mathew, my understanding was that copper was an osmoregulatory toxicant in all fish, just that some reacted (died) more quickly, while others more slowly depending on the rate of sodium depletion that the exposure to copper induces in their bodies? It would be good news to me (and I'm sure others) if this was in fact not the case. Could you please explain further. It would be appreciated.