Surprise in Blackworms

[creativityasaweapon]

Recently got another pint of blackworms to feed our ray (although he's pouncing bloodworms like crazy) and found a few of these buggers in there. What are they? At first I thought more fish lice, but then they stretched out like a leech.

I'm at a loss, and they look sinister so it's bloodworms until I get some confirmation on safety.

 

[Oddball]

Nice leech. They're usually not harmful if fed to tanks with larger fish. They'll become food just like the worms. If you're worried, just pick them out.

 

[creativityasaweapon]

Alright, that was what I thought it was, I'm just used to the archetypal ugly black bloodsucker. Thanks!

 

[fisher12889]

Alright, that was what I thought it was, I'm just used to the archetypal ugly black bloodsucker. Thanks!

Many leeches are predatory, not bloodsuckers. They can actually be pretty interesting in a tank!

 

[FuriousFish]

Many leeches are predatory, not bloodsuckers. They can actually be pretty interesting in a tank!

+1

 

[MonsterMinis]

pretty sure my retics eat them.. I get a few now and then. never had a problem with them. they tend to stick to the bag... so i just dump the worms and they stay in the bag. btw oddball love the new avatar.

 

[KellyFrancis]

Many leeches are predatory, not bloodsuckers. They can actually be pretty interesting in a tank!

Just for clarification, wouldn't they still be predatory if they were sucking blood? I have not heard of a non-blood-sucking leech. What do these one eat?

 

[crappiekeeper]

my LMB has eaten leeches and has had no problems.

 

[Oddball]

Back in the days when there were no prepared store-bought foods for aquariums, we used to feed the fish what could be caught or bought in grocery stores. Food items caught around the home included snails, daphnia, scuds, leeches, ant eggs, crickets, maggots, earthworms, etc. Leeches were readily taken by medium to large fish.

 

[Nighttouch]

Just for clarification, wouldn't they still be predatory if they were sucking blood? I have not heard of a non-blood-sucking leech. What do these one eat?

No, if they suck blood they are parasitic, not predatory.