Leech or planaria?

vampie

vampie

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Oct 25, 2006
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Well, since I really don't have much experience with planaria, and just recently dealt with a leech, I was wondering if anyone could give me a clear answer on what these are.

IMG_0745.jpg


IMG_0744.jpg


If it helps at all, here's a video.

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/prissmonster/aquaria/?action=view&current=MVI_0746.flv
 
leech
 
I certainly hope not, there are dozens of small ones in there...

Though, it's really the movement that gets me. As you can see in the video, it moves with a sliding motion. Leeches I've previously dealt with all have the "grab and pull" motion while moving. At the same time, they don't have the little protrusions that I've seen on pictures of planaria.

I wonder if I'm dealing with something else altogether.
 
I disagree..call it what you will.
 
I think it's a leech- no triangular head and the body form is different. (We just studied them in school)
 
It's a flatworm. The movement is classic planarian movement. Leeches do indeed move by looping; planaria as in the video. Leeches certainly can't glide like that. I agree it differs somewhat from the "classic" planarian, but there are hundreds of species and I would say what's in the jar differs far more from a leech. Leeches are segmented - are there any signs of segments on these things?

I'd say this
Smed.jpg
Image:Smed.jpg
looks very much like what's in that jar.

This
leech_02.JPG
by comparison is a leech. Note the suckers; I can't see them in the jar.
 
I can't really tell if they're segmented, neither me eye nor my camera is much good at that. I am leaning away from it being a leech.

Though whatever it is, I do wonder if can cause potential harm, or if it's just something harmless that pops up when there's extra food lying around - ie, copepods and such.
 
Whatever it is, I've had it before in my tank, it just harmlessly feeds on decaying plant matter, usually a sign of low water quality.
 
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