looks like slugs or snails. You can find copper strips at home centers; put them around the containers to keep the slimesters away from your plants. Google to find food-safe traps, too.

I assume you're talking about rat lungworm; it's common on the Big Island. Your best bet is to cook all locally grown veggies; that will kill the pathogen. You don't say where you live; it might not be an issue in your area.

Thank you so much! Yes that is the disease and I am on the Big Island. :x So copper is the best thing then? I'm a little worried about growing lettuce now haha.

Oh wow okay. Thanks for the info! I feel better equipped now. And will be getting rid of the lettuce growing haha.
Do you know what temperature or for how long you need to cook everything before it's safe?
I really appreciate all the info. Thank you so much.

a friend told me today that she buys lettuce grown aquaponically in a slug-free certified greenhouse here on the BI. I still wouldn't trust it.

Not sure about cook time, but with eggplant, if it's tender enough to eat, the pathogens are almost certainly dead.

I have a similar problem except I’m using a raised garden bed. I’m in Ewa Beach and at first I thought it was end rot but then I noticed it was happening over night. Any ideas suggestions? Could it be mongoose?

I've been having trouble in my greenhouse; something is eating my green tomatoes. Since they carry the tomatoes away from the plant, I know it's not slugs; even mice couldn't do that. I think rats, or maybe mongoose.

try putting out rat traps and see what you get.

Thanks! I will try some traps

I put out a big snap trap baited with peanut butter and caught two rats (one a night, resetting and baiting between). Trap was undisturbed for the next 3 nights, so I think it was just those 2 eating my tomatoes. Hope I get some ripe ones soon!

Oh wow! Okay I think I’m gonna set a trap out in my garden. Thanks!