Help i.d. my aquarium invader?

[firedreams]

Hi all,

I was hoping that someone out there might be able to help me identify a mysterious invertebrate in my aquarium.

A few weeks ago I noticed a strange worm in my juvenile P. Chinensis tank. At first glace I thought it was an earthworm, but when it started to move it was clearly aquatic - it moved in the same undulating fashion as a leach. The worm was about 1"/2.5cm long, reddish-brown in colour, and round and tube-like. Once I removed it from the tank and was observing it in a glass of water, I noticed that it seemed to have some sort of suction pad on both its front and back end - it would stick itself to the glass for a few minutes with one end, and then swim over to the other side of the glass and stick itself on using its other end.

I was not able to get a picture of it, but a few days ago I spotted 3 or 4 more of them in the tank eating a small piece of uneaten earthworm. Does anyone know what they are and if they are a cause for alarm?

Thank you for your help!

 

[Azhael]

Sounds like a leech. Do you feed blackworms? I think people from the states report leeches that come with them and are introduced to the tanks unnoticed.

 

[firedreams]

Hi Azhael,

We do not feed blackworms - only chopped earthworms.

The creatures seemed attracted to a piece of chopped earthworm - is this consistent with something a leach might do?

If they are leaches, I'm guessing that they are a potential threat to our juvies.. is there any way to get rid of them?

Thanks.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Definitely a leech. It most likely rode in with any live plants you are using.

 

[Jennewt]

Most leeches are not parasitic, so the odds are in your favor. If they are interested in pieces of earthworm, this would also suggest that it's not parasitic. It would be understandable if you chose to get rid of them, just to be on the safe side. But if you've never seen one attached to a newt, it's unlikely to be a threat.