How to Keep Leeches in an Aquarium

Tere are several reasons for owning leeches. Leeches have been used for centuries for healing a myriad of health ailments, from a black eye to an infection. What may not be common knowledge is that leeches are very crafty and can easily escape a home aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Cloth
  • Rubberband
  • Leeches
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Instructions

  1. Setting up the Aquarium

    • 1

      Put leeches in a fresh-water aquarium. Leeches are very sensitive to chlorine. Using chlorine-free tap water is safe for leeches; distilled water is actually too pure and should not be used. The water should be cleaned frequently to avoid disease. You can keep up to 50 leeches in a gallon of water, so puchase an aquarium according to the number of leeches you intend to keep.

    • 2

      Cut a piece of cotton fabric so that it covers the top of the aquarium with excess on each side.

    • 3

      Place the cloth over the top of the aquarium and fasten securely with a rubberband. Leeches can live to up to a year without food, so you do not need to worry about feeding them if you let them suck blood at least once a year. A leech will not be ready to suck again until 50 to 70 days after a feeding.

    Cleaning the Aquarium

    • 4

      Change the aquarium water ever three to six days.

    • 5

      Store enough fresh water in the same room as your aquarium overnight so that it becomes the same temperature as the water you intend to remove.

    • 6

      Cut a piece of gauze big enough to secure with a rubber band over the opening to the aquarium. Remove the cotton cloth over the aquarium and replace with the gauze, securing it with a rubberband.

    • 7

      Tilt the aquarium slowly so the old water pours out. The gauze will capture all dirt and oil the leeches have secreted into the water.

    • 8

      Remove the gauze. Slowly pour in the fresh water and replace the cotton cloth you removed, securing it with a rubber band.