Had a customer ring up yesterday enquiring about some little bug things she has found in her pond. Her pond is 38,000L approx and holds many fish.

Upon cleaning out one of the top ponds (from the sounds of it it has several levals) she noticed several leech like things latch onto her that were very hard to remove from her hand. She didnt say it caused her any discomfort but she had to use a knife to get the ones off her finger nails

She describes them as almost 'sperm' like and when they have been put into a container for a while they seem to elongate, not quite to a worm shape though.

Any ideas as to what these would be? Surely if they are latching onto her hands they would be going for the fish? My first thoughts were some type of fish lice but the pictures dont match up :-?

Nematodes - tell her to put salt on them next time - they will let go instantly.

Thanks Conch, so they arent harmful to the fishies? Worth chucking a few (hundred) tablespoons of salt in the pond?

They shouldn't harm the fish, they live in most natural ponds.

The 'cure' is probably worse than the problem :roll:

Cheers

Ian

I have had these latch onto me before, I freaked out.

You can use a lighter if you must.

But salt is probably the way to go..

Awesome, thanks guys!

they sound like a fresh water leach to me.