Someone Please Help. Leeches

[VxRoughneckxV]

I have a 300gal fish tank and I have a simi agg comunity. I bought live plants from pet supplies and the plants must have had leeches on it because both my kissers have black worms all over their mouths and are getting sick. I'm going to pull them out and give them a salt bath bit I'm afrade I'm going to lose all my fish. I can't get any good pics of the kissers to post but their mouths are really sore. How can I fix this problem without starting completely over?. I feel so stupid for not quaranteening the plants before introducing them to my tank. Any help please. Thanks.

 

[Skies]

I have never heard of this problem!! *heeby jeebs* looking forward to hearing what others may think. *shivers*

 

[fluttermoth]

I've never had to deal with anything like this; all I could suggest would be the salt bath you're going to do anyway.
 
Best of luck.

 

[VxRoughneckxV]

. Thanks guys I'm just really upset about this I don't know what to do. Just so nervous about losing any fish

 

[Meeresstille]

Could it be anchor worms? http/badmanstropicalfish.com/fish_palace/tropicalfish_disease_identification_1.html#Lernea

 

[Baccus]

If they are leeches then a salt bath will remove them from your fish. I had to do it once for some shrimp I got that came with leeches attached. I would only leave the fish in the salt water bath until the leeches fall off then put the fish back into their fresh water.
I have seen leech traps, but when I did have an invasion of what I think where snail leeches (leeches that specialised on feeding on snails) I ended up hand catching the leeches, and throwing out all the gravel and plants and starting again.
You could also try for removing leeching No Planaria or even one of the fish worming formulations.

 

[VxRoughneckxV]

Well I did what I didn't want to do. I took all fish out and dumped 2 gallons of bleach in and letting it cycle throuhh filter and tank for 12 hours then completely starting over..

 

[Meeresstille]

Oh, I can imagine how upsetting this would be. Do you know anyone who could donate you some mature media to get things started quickly again? How are your fish? If you need to medicate them you may want to wait with cycling the tank until after medicating is finished.

 

[VxRoughneckxV]

I lost 3 fish during moving em. I got em all cramped up in a 60 gal tank I had to buy to transfer. I hope the bleech kills the eggs also.
I know noone else around me who has aquariums. I know I'm never doing live plants again. /