Is this normal? Leaches in the pond...

These wont do any harm to your fish as it isnt the fish leech. they are very common in all british waterways, they are a british native. They often hitch a ride in plants when we buy them or more gross is that they hitch a ride in the nostrils of birds.well that is what my biology teacher told me years ago. We have them in our pond and they add to the rich tapestry of life.

I never worried about the little ones. It's the larger leeches that upset me when they wrapped around my fingers.

biggest fright i got was when we found a horse leech, they burrow through soil eating worms ugh. reminds me of the african queen with old bogart & katherine hepburn.

Phew! Thanks for the reasurance folks! They gave me quite a fright I can tell you! Hmmm - hitching rides in birds' nostrals eh? Yes, gross is the word! Do you know what they feed on then?

Yes, the whole episode did bring to mind ol' Humphrey and his "Ugh! Dirty little devils!" ha ha ha...

Do you know if these could bite me? I was frightened to touch them in case they latched on and sucked my prescious blood!

they george there selves on blood sid.theres loads of different kinds.they use leaches in operations to draw blood into a limb say if it had bean reatached after an accident.there living blood hoovers.they have an anti clotting agent in there saliva.i hope that helped lol

Yes NP I know they are blood-suckers. It's WHOSE blood they want to suck that's worrying me! LOL

If its any consolation sid i have never known this species latch on to me or the kids. I dont think their mouthparts are strong enough to do so. The nasal membranes are so much thinner so dont go snorkelling lol. I think they feed on the blood of amphibians, worms and the like.

yes dont have nightmares if you lived in the amazon you could have real nightmares lol

Thanks Sbg - that's a relief! And, no, I think I can remember not to put my head in the pond.... x-)

i believe sbg is bang on