Melanie Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Okay, I was watching my gorgeous guppies today as they swam and suddenly I noticed a commotion. The guppies were attacking something that looked like a long, brown worm. At first I thought that they'd discovered a piece of poo or something of that nature, but then I saw it moving by itself. It really was a worm! Gross-a-roo! It was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my entire life. Okay, anyhow, I got a net to scoop the worm out andflush it but couldn't find it. It is WAY too big for those fish to have eaten, but even though I swished about in the tank for a bit, I coudn't find it. What the heck is this? Where could it have come from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Hi again Melster , Sounds like you had a leech in your tank. Could have come in with anything that you've brought into your tank from a pond or stream, or perhaps picked up with some fish. If it's a leech it can compress body segments and end up a little ball the size of a piece of gravel - which worms really can't do. Very hard to find once they try and hide. Do you put tonic salt in your water? It's very bad for some scale-less fish like elephant noses but very good for livebearers. It also helps prevent little critters from living too well in your tank. So, keep an eye out for the "worm" and put up a pic if you can. How to get rid of leeches? I think vinegar if it isn't salt. I know a member (Modern Angel) of our local fish club had a leech infestation... wonder how he got along with that.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 A lit cigarette kills leeches too, I remember from my tadpoling youth. But how do you keep a fag alight under water is a problem. Why not just syphon it out?? Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted August 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Okay, it's about 2 inches long. It doesn't really look like the leeches we used to get stuck on our legs in the river, but it is the proper colour. However the fact that I cannot find it now tells me that it very well could be a leech. I will get a picture of it if it comes back out again, but I caused enough havoc in the tank digging for it and it didn't come out. I don't know that the siphon will work as I don't know where it is. This is the baby fish tank. It has baby guppies and a few big guppies from various sourses--animates and a local breeder. I don't put any tonic in but I may have to go out tomorrow and get something. Is there a brand that's good for killing this sort of thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Maybe the guppies will deal to it - sounds like they were having a good attempt at it Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Yup, it's called bleach and they sell it with a Pam's brand name at Pack'n'save That was a joke. Did a little googling and most advice is to "soak the fish in a salt bath" but no overall treatment for them. Once again I advise adding some salt.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 has it harmed any fish yet? if the answer is no, dont worry bout it, identify it first and then see if you can catch it. No reason to take any measures against it at this stage, it could well be dead already. Shae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 True.... and add some salt anyways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modern Angl Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Salt didn't work with the leeches I have, had some in a 80L tank, ended up throwing around 10 tablespoons of salt in there and the wee feckers just would not die. I picked a few out and dosed salt directly on them and that did work, obviously you need to get *every* leech in the tank like that, which is impossible. Boiling water and cleaning the whole tank out worked wonders though , I'm going to try copper sulphate on my 6ft tank and I have no desire to dismantle that after just getting it to look good with semi decently established plants now growing happily in there. I'll update you on how I get on Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Hiya Modern, was hoping you'd chip in about the leeches. That's a lot of salt for a 80L tank! To anyone reading this that may be trying to deal with leeches - check compatibilty of all your fish before trying any medication. Copper based products may kill your catfish - including Bristlenoses, Plecos, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 The guppies were attacking something that looked like a long, brown worm. Just wondering if it is a "live" bloodworm, as they often come in with livefoods un-noticed. Also wondering if a piece of raw meat (steak or something).. would attract it so that you can catch the damn thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted August 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Well, seeing that I'm curious, we are having steak tonight and I can put a piece of it in the aquarium. I do recall seeing it a few days ago but I dismissed it as my eyes starting to go. The larger guppies were nipping it like crazy but it escaped from them. That's not to say they didn't finish it off and eat it during the night while I was sleeping. What does a blood worm look like? I don't use live foods on a regular basis and never have in this new tank, but it's possible it got in with the plants and rocks I brought in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klaymann Posted August 18, 2005 Report Share Posted August 18, 2005 Hey Modern , sounds like you have created a brackish tank ... hope yur fish are ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted August 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2005 Well, I put a bit of my steak in and that didn't draw it out. It's possible that it came out at night and the larger guppies finished it off. It's been over 24 hours since I last saw it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted August 18, 2005 Report Share Posted August 18, 2005 I know what it is...it is the Loch Ness Monster...that is why they can't find it...it is hiding in Melanie's tank Sorry...couldn't resist...if I saw anything like a worm in my tank I would go ballistic...ahhh...make that crazy! Sorry Ballistic But worms...and snakes...or anything that closely resembles...scare the...?....out of me :evil: :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted August 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2005 I'll list the Loch Ness Monster on Trademe and see what he gets... that is, if he ever comes out again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klaymann Posted August 19, 2005 Report Share Posted August 19, 2005 Hey one way of bringing it out will include a bottle of wine , tweezers and a cotton ball and some formuline.. first pour a glass of wine .. sit next to tank , place arm into tank along the bottom , commence to sit there finishing bottle until leech appears and attaches , extract arm and use tweezers (lit cig can subsitute) to remove said leech .. then use cotton ball to stop bleeding... then place said leech in the nasty liquid , formuline not the wine .. and send pic of said leech to this site for us to identify ........ hopefully it won't be a spiney eel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted August 19, 2005 Report Share Posted August 19, 2005 Wow, you really thought that one out. Good solution, let me know how it works out for ya. Personally, I think Mel should gravel vac her tank and try and find it. If it's gone, it's gone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klaymann Posted August 19, 2005 Report Share Posted August 19, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted August 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2005 Well, more than 48 hours and it hsan't come out again yet. I think they ate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted August 19, 2005 Report Share Posted August 19, 2005 Its a bit late but shouldnt that be the loach ness monster? :lol: Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanie Posted August 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Well, it's either hibernating or the guppies killed it and ate the body. I have not seen it since I posted this thread. I did see it wriggling in the gravel when I had just guppy fry in this particular tank, but dismissed it as a piece of poo. It was the first day that I put the large guppies into the tank that I saw its entire body and saw them attacking it. My bet is that it came out again and they finished it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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