I Have Leaches

[Charles]

or one of my tanks does, anyway. Must be the free living kind,
there's nothing else in there for them to feed on. I suspect they
came in with some plants.

I've been thinking about what to do about them, or maybe just leave
them.

[IDzine01]

I had leeches too. I did frequent vacuuming (once a week) and
eventually I didn't see them anymore. It took about 6 - 8 weeks maybe.
They never seemed to bother the fish.

[NetMax]

"IDzine01" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I had leeches too. I did frequent vacuuming (once a week) and
> eventually I didn't see them anymore. It took about 6 - 8 weeks maybe.
> They never seemed to bother the fish.


Christine, how do you ID a leech? I found one in a Discus tank which was
several inches long (=leech), but I've had thin brown worms in substrate
(=nemotodia, maybe a tubifex cousin?).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[IDzine01]

I identified mine as leeches by sending a video I took to other fish
keepers who knew what they were looking at. It did have several
features that were obvious to me and may be helpful to others
identifying them. They are by no means official "leech identifyers"
just my observations. My google search showed that leeches can be quite
small (less then 1/2 inch). Mine, fully stretched were about 1.5
inches.

1. They have a suction that is obvious on one end. If you put one in a
jar with a little water and swish it around it will attach itself to
the container and let it's back end wave around.

2. They swim in an undulating motion ("S" pattern) Again place leech in
question in jar with water, swish and observe.

3. They use their suction to pull themselves along when they crawl all
the while squatting and stretching their bodies. When they are not
stretched out one end appears fatter and the other sort of pointy.

4. Evidently all leeches are segmented like earthworms but mine was
dark in color and it was difficult to see the segments. I have seen
some photos where the segments are very noticeable.

5. I hear color varies quite a bit. Mine were very dark brownish-red.

Here's a photo of my leech.

http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/users/43d0b03bz476473bf/ccd6/__sr_/c8c9.jpg?phAmk8DB81PvWhmr

-Christie

[Koi-Lo]

"IDzine01" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Here's a photo of my leech.
>
> http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/users/43d0b03bz476473bf/ccd6/__sr_/c8c9.jpg?phAmk8DB81PvWhmr
==================
I haven't found any of these in my aquariums but have found them in my
outdoor ponds. They appear to be harmless. I never saw one attached to my
fish.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
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