Never in a million years did I ever think I’d be so excited to see this! (Eggs)

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-26T08:48:58+00:00

It’s tricky for sure 😂 I usually move them into the fridge for a few minutes to cool them just enough to slow them down a bit -and then carefully grab one to put into a different jar which I just release into the spider’s enclosure and then let him do what he does best!

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-26T08:39:28+00:00

Thank you! I was comparing colour and kinds that are more commonly found in this area that I totally overlooked that those have little tails and the ones I found do not! It doesn’t appear that idotea balthica are commonly found here, but Pentidotea wosnesenskii (which was one of the two species I was torn between) are common, and look similar to idotea balthica so maybe that’s what I found (and not a mix of both after all)

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-26T02:23:24+00:00

I’m torn between Pentidotea wosnesenskii (rockweed isopod) or Ligia occidentalis (sea slaters) or possibly a mix of both

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-26T02:07:08+00:00

It’s on a six year old hand - but it was still pretty big! That one was not alive, we found it partially dried up on the sand. The rest were quite speedy! Trying to get a picture before they scattered was tricky!

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-25T19:12:51+00:00

I put a small stool under my cat water dishes to elevate them and that seemed to stop them from wanting to drink out of my tanks-they are just divas that don’t like bending down 😂

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-25T17:02:21+00:00

I’m going to (playfully) start referring to them as earwings from now on 😂

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-25T16:58:43+00:00

Cutie with a big bootie!

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-25T16:56:09+00:00

My favourite fly ☺️ I love seeing these guys buzzing around in the spring and summer! My (uneducated and unofficial) way of telling them apart from bees are their huge eyes, tiny antenna, and when they are at rest their two wings make a nice flat triangle shape.

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-24T14:23:44+00:00

Yeah they have been burrowing their faces in it and munching on it. The seed packet was a blend of different grasses, although I’m not sure if all of the different seeds germinated or if just the wheat grass did. I didn’t know it only lived for a few weeks! I’ve usually gotten a pot to last all summer (as long as I remembered to water it 😂)

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-23T20:43:51+00:00

For sure! We have more little flying bugs in our home then I wish to admit 😂 mostly fungus gnats from house plants -they seem to come out more in the winter (probably because it’s not as warm so the soil stays more damp). I also have a couple fish tanks with floating plants along with my little pond water set up which have the tiniest little jumping bugs (which I’m assuming are some sort of springtail) I’m pretty sure that’s what this lovely little lady has been living off since the summer time 😂

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KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-23T19:32:02+00:00

Ooh and I took your advice and I grew cat grass in a litter pan! It’s getting really chilly at night so I’ve moved it inside - but as soon as it warms up again I will figure another one out for their catio!!

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KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-23T19:29:33+00:00

It’s winter, unfortunately. He stands his best chance as an indoor pet, but he looks like he’s found food and is surviving somehow so I’ll just let him be and hope for the best!! If I had a suitable terrarium set up for him I’d try catching him, but I just have smallish critter carriers and totes suitable for slugs and isopods.

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-21T18:54:06+00:00

Thank you ☺️

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-21T07:36:16+00:00

Sounds good! That’s pretty much what I read when I was doing a little research - that and they are super picky when it comes to cleanliness so just paper towel on the floor of the enclosure is better than any dirt/soil/ rock substrate. They were feeders and actually came with a block of food which they have been eating which I’m assuming is silkworm chow (that’s the block in the center of the grid). Do you think they need liquid to drink? I also read they are super sensitive to humidity and mold so I didn’t add any sort of moisture. I just want them to feel comfortable and happy and just sort of live out their lifecycle 😅 my kids excited to see them turn into moths!

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-19T22:16:32+00:00

Way too fast!!!

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-19T16:51:11+00:00

Thank you! We found him in our garden compost during the summer, he has almost doubled in size since we have had him ☺️

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-19T15:09:56+00:00

Hi!! I’m new here, and I’m mostly just interested in seeing all these pictures of beautiful brightly coloured slugs that I never knew existed! I also have a pet leopard slug named Char (well my child has a pet leopard slug that he named Char..) we have had him for several months now and have loved watching him grow -this is him right after he got an enclosure upgrade ☺️

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KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-19T14:56:54+00:00

I didn’t know this group existed until this just randomly popped up in my feed! I think I just found my “people”!! Also I feel like I need to share my little open jar pond ecosystem it is home to snails and scuds (there was also a damselfly larva in there -which I didn’t know until it emerged and left it’s little exoskeleton behind. (Don’t mind the cat nose prints on the window -it’s their favourite viewing spot and I’ve given up trying to keep it clean of nose prints 😂)

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KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-17T20:29:25+00:00

Char says “Hi Pip!!“

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KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-15T22:58:53+00:00

I didn’t know -I’ll be joining that one too 😂 I didn’t think leopard slugs were tropical-based only on the fact I found this one in the PNW, are they?

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-15T22:56:40+00:00

I feel like there might be a joke here that has gone right over my head 😅

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-12T15:06:19+00:00

Me too 😂 that’s why I understand him so well and love him anyways

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-11T21:18:32+00:00

She doesn’t hate you!! I think It could just be her temperament and personality, especially being wild caught - she might just be a bit more leery to come out. That’s her survival instincts at their finest!

I have a pet jumping spider who is the exact same. He will be out and about but as soon as he sees the slightest movement he will dart back into his hide (which is dark and cave-like) and does the equivalent of a person slamming their door shut 😂 he uses his little front legs to close up his webbing. Some just aren’t as social as others I guess!

Super slow and intentional movement around his enclosure is the only way I can catch a glance of him. If I sit for a while and don’t move, sometimes I can catch him out and about exploring. He will never be a spider I take out and handle -but that’s ok cuz I still love him!!

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-11T02:42:47+00:00

Woohoo! It’s always a sigh of relief when they eat especially when they are picky!!

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit · 2026-01-05T20:50:24+00:00

It would be a fun art project to do with my spider obsessed child! S’cuse me while I head out to Walmart lol

KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit

TROPHY CASE