Help! Leech found in new set up!

SaraB

SaraB

AC Members
Jan 6, 2006
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Oxford, UK
I have a new BiOrb (Christmas present), which has been set up for just over 2 weeks. It has three pond plants (bought from a reputable dealer) and three white cloud mountain minnows (bought from the same place, a few days later). There is some ocean rock in the BiOrb, as well as the substrate media provided with the tank.

All the water tests are fine.

The fish are fed on TetraPrima minigranules, with the occasional treat of freeze-dried daphnia.

Today, I noticed with horror what appeared to be a leech looping along the rock. I removed it with the aid of a drinking straw. What I want to know is, should I expect more (and if so, what do I do about it)? Are they dangerous to my white clouds, or to other fish? It wasn't anywhere near the white clouds, but they did seem a little drepressed yesterday, and I'm wondering if this is why (they seem much happier now). I've kept goldfish in the past, so I'm not brand new to aquaria, but I've never seen this before.

Thanks for any help forthcoming!
 
I wouldn't be concerned with it. Leaches are pretty slow in comparison with white clouds.

As for whether you can expect more, tough to say. If the one that you removed gone in as an adult, probably not. If it was just the first of some eggs to hatch, then likely you'll get a few more. Just remove them as you see them and you should erradicate them in short order.
 
I use leeches sometimes when i go fishing and the fish gobble them up. If you kept any larger fish they'd probrably just eat it.
 
Over 6 months ago, I saw an adult leach in one of my tanks. I had been collecting wild plants for that tank only. I tried to catch it, removing all of the rocks and plants with no success. He must have been camoflaged against the rocks. in the mean time I started another 10 gal. shrimp and snail tank beside that one, so naturaly used some of the rocks and plants. A couple of days ago, I also found some baby leaches on the glass, about 5 so far. These are not planaria, as I have those too, but are about the same size. Im sure ill find more. They dont seem to be a problem in the shrimp tank but I hope I get rid of them before I inadvertely transfer them to my other tanks.
 
I had a leech in with some blackworms I bought. I didn't notice it until too late. It went into the water and I admit I panicked a bit when I saw it. Two seconds later my f8 puffer came along and swallowed it whole :thm:
 
So, the general consensus seems to be:
(a) don't panic,
(b) offer yourself as bait (not keen on this, really),
(c) get some bigger fish!

I haven't seen any more, so I'm hoping it was a one off, but I'll be checking any new pond plants I get really carefully!
 
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