Appreciate any help. What is this?

[The Big Figfetti]

I bought some black worms and I see a few of these in the bag. Are they harmful? Anyone know what they could be? They move like someone doing the worm dance move, while keeping its head sucked into the bag.

 

[Rocky998]

I think that's a leech

 

[The Big Figfetti]

I think that's a leech

OMG! Like, gonna suck the blood from my fish, leech leech???

I was hoping they were some kind of beneficial substrate worm

 

[Colin_T]

leeches and yes they can attach to fish so get them out and drop them on the garden outside

 

[The Big Figfetti]

leeches and yes they can attach to fish so get them out and drop them on the garden outside

Thank you both. I will be sure not to introduce them to the tank.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Fun fact: Around here you usually only see leeches in ponds with no fish, because the local trout eat them like popcorn.

 

[Colin_T]

Fun fact: Around here you usually only see leeches in ponds with no fish, because the local trout eat them like popcorn.

The leeches around here eat the trout and people. I was in the King River looking for an endangered fish. I saw these long thin things about 5-6 inches long swimming through the water in groups. I thought great, finally I found the Galaxias. I stuck a net in and scooped up a group of them. They were all leeches. I did a couple more scoops and nothing but leeches. I climbed out of the creek and my waders were completely covered in leeches. From the boots up to my waist, nothing but leeches.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

The leeches around here eat the trout and people. I was in the King River looking for an endangered fish. I saw these long thin things about 5-6 inches long swimming through the water in groups. I thought great, finally I found the Galaxias. I stuck a net in and scooped up a group of them. They were all leeches. I did a couple more scoops and nothing but leeches. I climbed out of the creek and my waders were completely covered in leeches. From the boots up to my waist, nothing but leeches.

That's fairly terrifying! Life is different in the tropics. The biggest leech I've seen around here was less than a centimeter long. Australia seems like one of those places where pretty much everything you meet wants to either perforate you, poison you, or suck your blood.

 

[myrtle]

The majority of leech species don't suck blood; they feed on molluscs, insect larvae, and worms. Some even feed on algae and detritus

 

[Ram419]

That's fairly terrifying! Life is different in the tropics. The biggest leech I've seen around here was less than a centimeter long. Australia seems like one of those places where pretty much everything you meet wants to either perforate you, poison you, or suck your blood.

Comon' give the kangaroos credit, they want to punch you.

 

[Boundava]

Comon' give the kangaroos credit, they want to punch you.

No they just want to give you a big hug, and then disembowel you