Eeeeeek Leech In My Tank

[Truck]

Possibly an asian leach that started out very small.

 

[star4]

Oh puuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrlllllllllease dont tell me they grow big!! eeeewwww

 

[Truck]

Not too big, the biggest I've seen was 1.5 inches.

 

[star4]

Oh thank heavens, I have just been googling tropical leeches trying to find out what sort it is and almost fainted at the size of some of them lol

 

[didz04]

lol to be honest with you I thought snails are pests that are disgusting to touch but leeches in an aquarium is over the top lol. Actually I need snails for the puffer.

There is a type of loach that sucks out blood like a leech, I think they are called if i remember it right a 'checkerboard loach' He had some in at fish inc and told me that they can suck out blood.

 

[Haych]

i've been told leeches can come in with LIVE bloodworms

 

[star4]

Leech gone

 

[K-Holed]

That sounded ominous.

 

[WILDER]

Leeches



Symptoms:

Infected fish can be seen with worm-like organisms up to 2 inches, which firmly attach to the skin, fins, or gills. Red lesions or sucker marks may even be present.



Cause:

Leeches. Leeches feed on flesh and blood and can cause significant damage if they are not dealt with swiftly. Leeches often carry various bacterial and parasitic illnesses; therefore, secondary infections may follow. Leeches are usually introduced into the aquarium via live foods and plants.



Treatment:

The most effective medications are Fluke-Tabs, Clout, Paragon and Trifon. Salt dips are also very effective. Removing live Leeches from fish is not advisable considering how strongly they adhere to the body of the fish. Attempting to remove them may cause significant pain to the fish as well as physical damage. The lesions caused by the parasites should be treated to prevent secondary infection as well as aid in healing. Carefully dab the wounds with Methylene Blue. If you suspect that your fish may have a secondary bacterial infection, it is highly recommended to supplement treatment with a medicated antibacterial food.

 

[Pipe Dream]

putting pork on a string in the fish tank to catch a leech??

that can't be. i mean i can imagine homer simpson doing it, but not a real person in real life.

let me just caution against using a hand grenade or boiling the water in the whole tank. and please don't try to shoot it with a gun. not even small caliber one.

i mean i know it all sounds far fetched, but not after what i've read.

 

[star4]

putting pork on a string in the fish tank to catch a leech??

that can't be. i mean i can imagine homer simpson doing it, but not a real person in real life.

let me just caution against using a hand grenade or boiling the water in the whole tank. and please don't try to shoot it with a gun. not even small caliber one.

i mean i know it all sounds far fetched, but not after what i've read.

Ok the pork was to draw the leech out from where ever it was hiding, with lots of plants and bogwood and rock it had lots of places to dissapear within a 300l tank. The bit of cotton was to ensure that the pork did not float off around the tank also getting lost and thus providing the leech with a meal and avaiding caputre. It was in fact a sencible idea and worked and circumvented the need to use any chemical within the tank.

As for using a hand grenade, boiling water, or a GUN now who is talking about being far fetched Doh!

 

[Ryefish]

haha personally, I don't see what the problem is with the idea of 'fishing' the little beggar out with a bit of pork on a string!
glad you got rid of it. EUCK!!!

 

[harriia1]

I have recently found leech like creatures in my bucket while doing water changes. stretched out they are about 1" long and very thin in diameter they donot let go of the bucket when trying toempty them out, Boiling water does the trick. they don't look like the leeches i've seen whilst researching so not sure if they are harmless or not. I have however lost a couple of mollies recently that seemed to of lost the ability to straighten there back bones, then struggle to swim and eventually die? any ideas?

 

[star4]

See the post a couple up from Wilder, brill info.