Leeches

[Elton]

Cleaned out my filter last weekend and found it had loads of leeches in it. I mean, loads!!

 

Will these harm the fish? If so, how can I get rid of them?

[Norfolkdan]

Get em out and use em for catfish baits

[Guest Ferret1959]

When we was in the jungle we burned um off wiv fags.

[Elton]

Norfolkdan:

Get em out and use em for catfish baits    

Does that mean that the carp in there might also eat them?

[Norfolkdan]

Possibly.

 

If you want to collect them, get an old empty milk carton or coke bottle, cut the top off then put in a bit of fresh liver. Attatch the bottle to a bit of rope, leave for a while, pull up bottle...hey presto! Leeches.

 

They're bloody expensive to buy, although they may be different species (medicinal.)

 

I dunno

[John S]

Seeing as you haven't really had a proper reply.... I mean, come on guys, he is the Boss after all!

 

Yes, they can harm your fish if they attach themselves. The wound caused by a leech is an obvious site of infection, not helped by the fact that they inject an anti-coagulant into their victims. There are chemicals you can buy to eradicate them, but you have to be very careful about the dosage. Get it wrong and you cure the pond of fish as well!

 

Having said that, I guess there are very few garden ponds without leeches, and generally only the sick fish will succumb to infection through the wounds, healthy fish will be able to withstand it. As Dan said though, they can be a deadly bait, not only for catfish but for perch too.

 

Btw, the ones in your pond are certainly not medicinal leeches, the medicinal leech is larger and tastes different....

 

The best way to catch them is to immerse your arm into your filter for 20-30 minutes or until you start to feel faint. Remove your arm and try to phone for an ambulance

 

[ 30. August 2005, 12:34 AM: Message edited by: John S ]

[Zigs]

quote:

---

The best way to catch them is to immerse your arm into your filter for 20-30 minutes or until you start to feel faint. Remove your arm and try to phone for an ambulance

---

LOL

 

reminds me of wading thru brittans pond near guildford when i was a nipper, came out covered in them, you dont feel them latch on, so be careful which bit of your body you put in your tank elton

[Guest Ferret1959]

John S:

 Remove your arm and try to phone for an ambulance    

What??????????

 

Use his stump to dial the number?????? :confused:

 

 

Now that's just being silly.

 

 

He should call the ambulance 4.75 hours prior to immersion of said arm.

 

You know how quick the ambulace service react to emergencies.

[Elton]

The fish seem okay so far, so I won't panic. I may clean the filter again tomorrow and see how many leeches are in it this time. I blasted the last lot out with a hose.

 

Where's Bruno Broughton when you need him ?

[captain birdseye]

They dont like it up em you know.

Pour some boiling water on the blighters but make sure that none of the hot water goes in the pond.

Are they the tiny type of leech no bigger than a bloodworm?