beetles for slug control?

[pirminiamac]

hey guys

im pretty new to the hobby i mostly keep mantises but i got my first T a lil while ago and i am fascinated by scorpions, pedes, beetles and more! so i am steadily building up a nice collection

my question is i am currently setting up a small planted exo terra and got some slug hitchhikers on some plants, I've tried drying out the tank but doesn't seem to have done the job, are there any small beetles i could keep in there that would eat them??

 

[Myrmeleon]

Some species of calosoma eat slugs and other soft bodied inverts like the fiery searcher. There are beetles that are specialized predators on gastropods like the genus scaphinotus. In general though most species of predatory beetles will be generalists so they could potentially eat slugs.

 

[The wolf]

Something like pterostichus or ocypus olens would get rid of them but I wouldn't have them in with other invertebrates so as myrmeleon sais try and get some specialist

 

[pirminiamac]

thanks for the fast response and suggestions i will do some research on those (love the C scrutator!) would you recommend any specific sp for a beginner?

 

[Myrmeleon]

I wouldn't because I've never kept these types of beetles, but I would think it would be similar to whatever habitat you found them in. For example, North American tiger beetles require slightly damp substrate with sand for the larva to burrow and plenty of space to hunt. So look at their habitat and try to emulate it.