It Looks Like A Leech

[tinystars]

It probably is a leech but it kinda creeps me out the i found it in my shrimp/ snail tank. I bought some new plants about a month or 2 ago and today i found what looks like a leech. It scares me cause there are probably more and they have been feeding on my poor pleco and snails.

 

[tinystars]

hey also does anyone know how to get rid of any lingering leeches i have not found yet? I just read some leeches don't eat blood but eat small invertebrates whole. That means they could be eating my cherry shrimp and any offspring my snails might produce. I was excited because i thought i had saw a tiny snail on a plant but haven't seen any recently.

 

[mcgrimes]

got a picture?

 

[tinystars]

got a picture?

I don't have a picture I've seen more in the aquarium though and i am freaked out. Leeches are so disgusting and they are invading my shrimp tank. I see them burrowing in the gravel. I just don't know what to do! I cant get all my shrimp out they are tiny and most of the time i can't even see them but if i just sit around and do nothing the leeches may destroy all my shrimp and snails.

 

[Amunet]

I would do some VERY good gravel vacs. Do them daily to try to get as many of them as you can out.

 

[pippoodle]

what snails have you got?

if the leech looks like a snail without a shell and moves like a caterpilla it's a snail leech - my mate has them in her shrimp tank , not noticed any affect on the numbers of shrimps but they have wiped out most of her ramshorn snails - that had become pests

 

[tinystars]

what snails have you got?

if the leech looks like a snail without a shell and moves like a caterpilla it's a snail leech - my mate has them in her shrimp tank , not noticed any affect on the numbers of shrimps but they have wiped out most of her ramshorn snails - that had become pests

They are apple snails. The leeches have been crawling around on the glass some too. i don't know it they crawl like caterpillars. they also wriggle around and swim in the water when i see one i try to get it out but I'm not always successful. Thanks for all the advice. I really hope my snails will be okay i havent seen any leeches on the snails so hopefully they will be okay until i fix this problem.