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Oh, I am now certain it is a leech.
It swims like an eel, has one pointy end, moves like an inchworm, pink in color.
I see no marks on the fish so far...but I worry.
Something I was reading just now said some leeches feed on detritus, some on blood, some on decaying matter.
How can I tell if my leech is dangerous?
Is there any way to trap it alive?
Will My Angelfish eat it?


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hey that could be it!

but what happens if snails run out.... i mean if for some reason they do run out...

So far nothing on my fish.
I havent seen the leech again.
When it swims it is incredibly fast and swims just like an eel.
I do notice tons of empty snail shells on the bottom of my tank- could this be a sign that this little critter is a snail-avore?


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hmmm this is just aquestion, but are leeches realy fast in water?
i would have thought their body shape would make them awkward swimmer. if they aren't and this organism is "extremely fast" i would doubt it to be a leech. I'd really like to know the answer to the question just for general knowledge

as for keeping leeches, people do. we have some in our biology class in an aquarium, been there for about a year now

Last edited by Megil Tel'Zeke at 16-May-2005 16:25

i think i saw one when i purchased some cabomba years ago, good thing i soaked the bunch in the sink first.

looks like its been 5-6 days now since you first posted, that means the leech probably been in your tank way longer than that, if your fish are still ok, i probably wouldnt stress myself over it. but do try to catch it when you get a chance.

ps. why not collect your small snails, trap them in a mesh bag, and set it in your tank see if the leech comes out?

Leeches can fast for months, though I suspect a sanguivorous Hirudinean would, in the presence of readily accessible fish, have fed by now (in that event, probably unbeknownst to you).

Last edited by Veneer at 14-May-2005 00:03

So, noone has answered my question:
How long will it take me watching my fish like hawks, to determine whether the leech is a bloodsucker or not?
If it is going to feed, how long will it go before It attacks a fish?


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First, because differntiating the species is a job for an expert, and second, because most people would react to a leech in the aquarium with the shudders - not least because several Asiatic species are not only blood feeders, but a serious livestock and human health threat.


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Cool a leech. I've only seen one once in a bait shop. A non fish sucking leech could be interesting to own. Why doesn't anyone keep them?

Ok, if it turns out this guys is a detrivore or herbivore or "snailavore" - this I would love I have pond snails galore, how long will I have to monitor the fish for leech attack before I can be sure the leech is harmless.
It is NOT planaria at all.
I have had planaria, I wish it was like that- planaria I can tolerate. Leeches are kinda cool, but if they suck my fishes blood, they are untolerable.
I will try to get a pic if I can spot the little bugger. Hes about an inch- 1.5 inch long, quick as heck, and the tank is well planted. Hard to spot. I hear they dislike light as well, so even harder to find.
Is there like a leech trap of some kind? That would be cool.
Kinda like a crayfish trap hehe


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also to add when i saw wild large mouth bass there are leaches in the fishes mouth, like on the top so it may not have been possible to see.

I saw a live planaria in our schools bio lab today. Very leechy like (theyre in the same family). Just to be sure, check out planaria pics and compare them to what you saw.

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This critter is super fast. I only saw it for maybe 2.5 seconds.
I will keep a lookout and see if I can spot it.
I am hoping it will suck onto the fish, then I can dip the fish in SW dip and the leech will apparently release. Easiest way to catch it.
It was very skinny, obviously had not eaten recently.
I recently bought 4 more corys and 2 more buenos aires tetra- is it possible it came in with the fish?
I never saw it on the bag or attached to the fish though, and I always watch my fish carefully while acclimating them....

The vast majority of the small leeches that turn up in freshwater aquaria are either detrivores or predators of small invertebrates (namely snails, especially Physa spp.) and are thus inoffensive to all fish (with the possible exception of incapacitated fry). Do try to obtain an image.

This critter is super fast. I only saw it for maybe 2.5 seconds.
I will keep a lookout and see if I can spot it.
I am hoping it will suck onto the fish, then I can dip the fish in SW dip and the leech will apparently release. Easiest way to catch it.
It was very skinny, obviously had not eaten recently.
I recently bought 4 more corys and 2 more buenos aires tetra- is it possible it came in with the fish?
I never saw it on the bag or attached to the fish though, and I always watch my fish carefully while acclimating them....

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it might have came in with the fish. if possible go to a lfs and ask around if they have anything, but i would keep up the water changes. i would increase to 5% change every other day.

I was just looking at my fish in 25g tank, and suddenly something about 1 inch long skinny and pink goes zooming by! Then it goes SUCK onto the glass right in front of me!! I think its a leech!!
Where did it come from??
How is it here?
How do I get rid of it?
Is it dangerous to my fish???
Occupants are: 9 Corydoras Aenus
2 Large Angelfish
4 Buenos Aires Tetra
Snails


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have u tried netting the leech or is too fast
is your tank fresh or salt water?

fw, its in the fw forum , ive never heard of this "leech", anyone else?

Yo Pete, post a picture, does sound a bit leechy

This site should tell you many of the things you need to know, think of it as "Leeches 101".

Those leeches that do feed upon blood (and as this page states, not all do) are mostly specialised predators rather than true parasites: they visit a prey creature, take one large meal, then disappear off and spend a long time digesting it (in some cases as long as 6 months).

Other leeches attack small aquatic invertebrates directly as food, and the page mentions one species which is adapted to suck aquatic snails right out of their shells and eat them.

Howwever, if your leech is one of the blood feeding species, then it constitutes a danger to your aquarium fishes. The reason is this: blood feeding leeches are adapted to take large meals at one sitting, expanding elastically to take on a volume of several times that of the creature's own undistended volume, and taking a meal of that size from a small fish could drain it completely and kill it.

Remove the leech from your aquarium at the earliest opportunity. However, you need not kill it: a school or college biology lab may happily accept it from you for teaching purposes. If you are attending school yourself currently, then take it to your science class, and you may possibly earn some kudos and some extra marks on your next assignment!


Last edited by Calilasseia at 12-May-2005 09:17

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002