![]() ![]() These long worm-like leeches are capable of attaching themselves to fish and sucking blood from their host, which can lead to dangerous infections and stress. With that said, there is one species of leech to watch out for if you have goldfish and koi, and that is the fish leech ( piscicola geometra). Plant leeches and predatory leeches are not harmful to pond fish, and not all blood sucking species are actually capable of using fish as their hosts. ![]() Although unpleasant, most blood-sucking leeches can’t survive in ponds for long, but there is a special species which can, and this is the one to watch out for if you have koi or goldfish!Īre All Pond Leeches Harmful to Fish? Leeches actually make a tasty treat for larger fish, such as koi, but certain species of leech can still cause problems if you’re not careful. They secret a substance to numb the pain receptors, and produce toxins to prevent blood from clotting. This sub-group of parasitic leech feed directly from the skin by attaching themselves to their host with small hooks around the mouth. The final type, and the one we all know best, are the bloodsucking variety of leeches. Predatory leeches can arrive the same way as plant leeches, and although they won’t harm your fish, they’ll certainly reduce your natural snail, slug, and worm populations over time. These can also find their way into your pond, although they’re less common in comparison to their vegetarian cousins. Other types of leeches, which actually account for most leech species, are predatory in nature and will hunt other small invertebrates, such as snails and slugs. The reason these are the most common is due to the fact that pond plants are easiest way for leeches to get into the pond in the first place and where you have plants, you have plant leeches! These types of leeches will happily feed away at the bottom sludge and dying plant matter in the pond, often hiding away in substrate as they move about the pond liner. Although you can still get bloodsuckers in your pond, and some are even specifically evolved for fish, the most common type are plant leeches which feed primarily off bottom sludge and organic waste. Most of us will associate leeches with the bloodsucking variety also used historically in medicine for removing blood and treating a variety of illness. What Do Pond Leeches Eat? Are All Blood Suckers? Most pond leeches aren’t blood suckers, and will instead feed on bottom sludge and decaying organic matter. ![]() Quarantining new arrivals for 2-4 weeks is good practice, and as many common leech species have fairly short incubation periods, you may be able to catch the hatching offspring before they’re added to the main pond. Adult leeches are easy to spot, but eggs aren’t always that easy and their hatching time is different for each species. The best way to prevent leeches from arriving is to fully inspect new pond supplies you buy, and even quarantining plants and new fish before introducing them to your main system. Even so, the added bio-load of an increasing leech population, whether they’re thirsty for blood or not, can cause all sorts of issues on the eco-system if left unchecked. Pond plants are often the biggest culprit for bringing leeches to ponds, but luckily, these kind of leeches are not usually the bloodsucking variety and instead feed on the bottom sludge and organic matter on the pond floor. Leech eggs are tiny, and can go hidden within the substrate of pond plants or become attached to new fish you add over time. Public domain.Īlthough leeches can be found naturally in various locations, the single most common way a leech will find its way into your pond is by hitching a ride on plants, fish, or rocks you introduce to your system. Adult leeches don’t always find their way to ponds, but their eggs are often carried with new fish, plants, or rocks you add over time. ![]()
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