Normal?

[spectrum]

Whilst doing routine maintenance the other day I found a leech in my filter It gave me a huge shock, why would a leech be in my filter? Is it a bad sign for my tank, does it mean there are high levels of something? Stats are all good
Ammonia and nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - Stays between 5 and 15ppm
It's also AGES since I bought any new plants or fish so I don't really see how it could be that they came in with those. Any ideas guys?

 

[chrisbassist]

I've heard about it happening before but not sure about normal, can't recall it was that bad either but I could be wrong.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

leeches could be introduced with new plants,have you bought plants recently? leeches will attach themselves to the fish to feed, sometimes on there eyes turning the poor fish blind

 

[spectrum]

The last time I bought plants was around February. So I don't think it came in with that. I also forgot to mention, a while back, again whilst cleaning the tank, I found a wormy thing in the filter as well . I also have a damsel fly nymph in there which got in by some defiance of the laws of physics as my lid is pretty tight on the tank. I don't mind all these creepy crawlies as long as It doesn't mean my tank is bad.

 

[the biffster]

Whilst doing routine maintenance the other day I found a leech in my filter It gave me a huge shock, why would a leech be in my filter? Is it a bad sign for my tank, does it mean there are high levels of something? Stats are all good
Ammonia and nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - Stays between 5 and 15ppm
It's also AGES since I bought any new plants or fish so I don't really see how it could be that they came in with those. Any ideas guys?

your tank is healthy as leeches need
clean fresh water to survive as for it
getting in to your tank it will probably
come in on your plants very small and grown
or as an egg