Leeches in Tropical Fish

When dealing with tropical fish illness and disease, it's always a good idea to have a good guidebook at your side. We recommend this book as a handy desktop reference.

Parasites are one of the most aggravating problems for your fish that can ever get in an aquarium. It will cause them to rub up against anything handy, to help them try and dislodge the pests. But they aren't something airborne, they come in via water from an infected tank, or even in water that you may have poured in from a pond where you were catching mosquito larvae.

Unlike other parasites seen in tropical fish, leeches are a little larger in size, and thus easier to remove from a fish with either tweezers or forceps. Lift them carefully from the water, and grasp the leech as close the fish's body as you can. After removing it, apply a topical medication and place affected fish in a hospital tank.

Because it's hard to tell just how many there may be in the tank, especially in the cyst stage, it's best to treat the home aquarium with the appropriate medication for leeches, as not all of them will be suited for every parasite.

Raising the temperature gradually by four degrees, as well as adding 1 tbs. of aquarium salt for every five gallons of water, will also help kill off leeches that are in the various stages of their life cycle.

Remember to add your salt to the daily change of water, about 20%, that your tank will require until it is free of the parasites. Never add aquarium salt directly to a tank, as it can injure fish that it comes in contact with.

Recommended! A-Z of Tropical Fish Diseases and Health Problems: The aim of this book is to help aquarists recognize signs of illness so they can identify and resolve problems. Divided into three sections, the first focuses on health and husbandry, describing the signs of a healthy fish, anatomy and general care; the second provides signs of diseases and health problems and is cross-referenced to section three, which covers the treatment of diseases and health problems. Illustrated throughout with top-quality color photos, the book is an invaluable reference for novice to experienced fishkeepers. Click here for your copy.

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