Leeches In My Tank?

[Fraoch]

i noticed quite a big(compared with the size of my fish) pink leech like thing in my tank pressed up against the glass. I poked it with a bit of leaf to see what it was and it swam away really fast like a leech does.
i was wondering if this can harm my fish and how to get rid of it?
its about ------------------------- big when stretched out and i dont know if there are more or not
thanks

 

[Bazza57]

i noticed quite a big(compared with the size of my fish) pink leech like thing in my tank pressed up against the glass. I poked it with a bit of leaf to see what it was and it swam away really fast like a leech does.
i was wondering if this can harm my fish and how to get rid of it?
its about ------------------------- big when stretched out and i dont know if there are more or not
thanks

Have you got a Photo of the wee beastie?

If I were you, I would take no chances - remove it first chance you get & hope there aren't any more.
Leeches (if it is one) are parasitic by nature, & there is no reason to think it would do no harm to any of your fish. Even if it isn't a leech I would be suspicious of it, as it may be a larval form of some nasty bug. If you must keep it put it in a jam jar using the same water & observe at your leisure.

Better safe than sorry!

 

[Fraoch]

i noticed quite a big(compared with the size of my fish) pink leech like thing in my tank pressed up against the glass. I poked it with a bit of leaf to see what it was and it swam away really fast like a leech does.
i was wondering if this can harm my fish and how to get rid of it?
its about ------------------------- big when stretched out and i dont know if there are more or not
thanks

Have you got a Photo of the wee beastie?

If I were you, I would take no chances - remove it first chance you get & hope there aren't any more.
Leeches (if it is one) are parasitic by nature, & there is no reason to think it would do no harm to any of your fish. Even if it isn't a leech I would be suspicious of it, as it may be a larval form of some nasty bug. If you must keep it put it in a jam jar using the same water & observe at your leisure.

Better safe than sorry!

thanks. yeh, that might be a bit difficult, since when it swam away it went under the gravel and dissapeared and i havnt seen it since. its really fast and can squish itself down really quite small
any ideas on how to tempt it out or catch it ?

 

[Bazza57]

i noticed quite a big(compared with the size of my fish) pink leech like thing in my tank pressed up against the glass. I poked it with a bit of leaf to see what it was and it swam away really fast like a leech does.
i was wondering if this can harm my fish and how to get rid of it?
its about ------------------------- big when stretched out and i dont know if there are more or not
thanks

Have you got a Photo of the wee beastie?

If I were you, I would take no chances - remove it first chance you get & hope there aren't any more.
Leeches (if it is one) are parasitic by nature, & there is no reason to think it would do no harm to any of your fish. Even if it isn't a leech I would be suspicious of it, as it may be a larval form of some nasty bug. If you must keep it put it in a jam jar using the same water & observe at your leisure.

Better safe than sorry!

thanks. yeh, that might be a bit difficult, since when it swam away it went under the gravel and dissapeared and i havnt seen it since. its really fast and can squish itself down really quite small
any ideas on how to tempt it out or catch it ?

Not really, but if you see it against the glass again - try a glass or empty jam jar, the slide a piece of plastic down to trap it. Try looking up images of leeches on your search engine, you may get a positive ID.

Good luck

 

[Fraoch]

this looks quite like it, although i never really had a very good look at it.
it moves by holding onto a surface then stetching out and holding on with its head end and scrunching up again.

 

[Curiosity101]

It does sound like a leech... I'd get rid to be sure. I go by the theory if it's big then it goes. And also if the fish don't try to eat it then there is probably a reason.

 

[Bazza57]

It does sound like a leech... I'd get rid to be sure. I go by the theory if it's big then it goes. And also if the fish don't try to eat it then there is probably a reason.

Yep. I agree, why have the fish not eaten it. Get rid with out using chemicals, trap it, squash it or slice it - anything

 

[Fraoch]

It does sound like a leech... I'd get rid to be sure. I go by the theory if it's big then it goes. And also if the fish don't try to eat it then there is probably a reason.

Yep. I agree, why have the fish not eaten it. Get rid with out using chemicals, trap it, squash it or slice it - anything

ok thanks will try my best

 

[darius3]

I had some leeches in my tank, named Snail Leech (Glossiphonia sp.).

http/www.fishforum...-aquarium-worm/

I thought I get rid of them but from time to time I find another one under a stone or a wood piece.

Don't know an effective and not radical method to remove them all.

 

[Bazza57]

I had some leeches in my tank, named Snail Leech (Glossiphonia sp.).

http/www.fishforum...-aquarium-worm/

I thought I get rid of them but from time to time I find another one under a stone or a wood piece.

Don't know an effective and not radical method to remove them all.

I know that Members of the catfish family Dorad will eliminate snails from an aquarium, perhaps they would eat the leeches The smaller end of this family are: Amblydoras hancockii- 1.5", Agamysis pectinifrons 2", & Platydoras Costatus 4". If you keep smallish fish, I would try the Hancockii or Pectinifrons, as the costatus can get quite large - I wouldn't trust it with small fish.

P.S> I had a look at your vids Darius, A leech with tentacles that's well freaky, never seen that before. Gives me the creeps - I was bitten by a King ragworm (Neanthes virens) as a small child & have hated them ever since.

 

[darius3]

I'll check if I can buy some Hancockii or Pectinifrons. Thanks!

 

[Bazza57]

I'll check if I can buy some Hancockii or Pectinifrons. Thanks!

You might want to check this out..
http/www.speleologija.hr/znanost/croatobranchus/croatobranchus.html
It looks remarkably like your leech...minus the spots.