FW Tropical... Leech?

[W_Oz]

Came home from the LFS with a new Java Fern and found a couple of hitch-hikers in the bag. One snail and one beast which can only be described as a Leech. Dark brown segmented body with a sucker like pad on the posterior of the animal. It is a capable swimmer and seems to be a burrowing species of some sort. Anyway, I snapped a couple of pics and I hope someone might be able to tell me what my "freebie" is.

[Ashley]

ew, looks like a leech to me.

[Oscar_freak12321]

Yep. That would be a leech. A horse leech maybe? I'd get him out if possible and just kill him right there and then.

[Ashley]

take him out and sprinkle salt all over it. then it will die for sure.

[Anomaly]

Came home from the LFS with a new Java Fern and found a couple of hitch-hikers in the bag. One snail and one beast which can only be described as a Leech. Dark brown segmented body with a sucker like pad on the posterior of the animal. It is a capable swimmer and seems to be a burrowing species of some sort. Anyway, I snapped a couple of pics and I hope someone might be able to tell me what my "freebie" is.

Oh my . . . bringing a leech home from the LFS is a new one on me.

[Gemini]

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[HorrorShowRot]

LOL thats a first now you have some bait and why the hell would they have a leech:P

[W_Oz]

Well, it isn't going any where. It's isolated in a specimen dish with some aquarium water. I was more curious if anyone knew what kind of leech it was. I thought my Giant Danios might eat it, but they just watched it swim right past them and into the sand lol. I scooped it back out and put it in the dish after that.

[Wild Turkey]

Sure is a leech, what a surprise that must have been lol

Its hard to find info on leech species, or at least has been in my experiences.
However, they are native to your region in fact theres a place in Cali called "leech lake" maybe find out what types are over there and you may find your culprit species.

[Gayle]

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Those things give me the creeps!!!!

You probably do not want to keep that!!

[HorrorShowRot]

I wouldnt keep it those things are like a bacteria and disease factorys lol

[Fraoch]

Can a leech latch onto fish? It might kill them! However a fishes' scales might protect them.

At any rate, more evidence of the need to disinfect plants before introducing them into the aquarium.

[W_Oz]

Not all leeches are the blood-sucking beasts from the Amazon Queen. However, without knowing what this little guy's story is I can't say he won't glom onto a fish. lol

Anyway, I think I'll drop in on one of my old profs and see if he has an idea. Thanks Guys 'n Gals.

[Zilla]

I'd bring it back to your LFS and tell them that you didn't appreciate the free gift that came with your plants. Just to make the point, I'd wait until there were other customers around to hear the conversation....

[HorrorShowRot]

Na zilla doing that would cause problems. They didn't intentionally put the leech in there it was probably brought in on the plant and they had no clue that it was there. If he were to attack the employees they could A. Throw him out B. Get pissed off and not help him with future purchase. Aswell it would be the same when I got some snails. I just disposed of them. No need to fight or even argue everyone has accidents.:22:

[Wetpets]

Freezer. 15 minutes. Problem solved. LOL

[Algenco]

you should expect hitch hikers in plants, snail, etc
disinfect before placing in your tank

[Kaz]

Not all leeches are the blood-sucking beasts from the Amazon Queen. However, without knowing what this little guy's story is I can't say he won't glom onto a fish. lol

Anyway, I think I'll drop in on one of my old profs and see if he has an idea. Thanks Guys 'n Gals.
True, few leeches suck blood.

Leeches usually wait sometime before sucking blood too so it's not like instant danger either. I have had leeches crawl across my hand and such.

I am probably one of the only people here who think they're pretty awesome.