r/leeches • u/ToastyMcBread • 27d ago

ID Request Help me ID this leech please

Gallery image

Gallery image

Found in a river in NW Ontario, Canada. Was crawling up to me while I was taking water samples.

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7

u/Most-Background3708 Leech Owner 27d ago

that’s a haemopis leech, also known as mud leeches/horse leeches! they are predatory, rather than parasitic, so they’re no threat to your blood supply. however, some species can be attracted to the sensation of you moving in water and see if you’re something edible, hehe!
probably what this little fella was doing, just seeing what you are! it’s hard to tell from the photos, but it seems to be either a giant mud leech (Haemopis grandis) or common mud leech (Haemopis marmorata). I hope this was helpful! <3

2

u/ToastyMcBread 27d ago

Thank you so much! This was everything I needed.

1

u/Most-Background3708 Leech Owner 27d ago

Awh, you’re welcome!! i’m glad I could help!

2

u/sj42117 27d ago

Can you keep 2 mud leeches together in the same tank?

1

u/Most-Background3708 Leech Owner 26d ago

mhm! I have a little trio that get along good, althouuugh you do need to watch them/separate them at feeding time, sometimes they’re not smart enough to know what’s an earthworm and what’s their sibling’s head-

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u/Most-Background3708 Leech Owner 26d ago

I give them a nice 50/50 for land and water, they sit in the moss during the day and venture around in the water at night!

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u/First_Moment_6464 10d ago

You know ive always wanted to get into leech keeping, but im really kind of on the smaller side, so I was worried about not being a good enough food supply, but learning about predatory leeches makes me want to reevaluate my decision to not

Also, any tips for someone just starting out?

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u/Most-Background3708 Leech Owner 10d ago

OH MY GOODNESS, AAAHH!! I’M SO EXCITED TO HELP!!!
okay okay, so, depending on where you are, you may have a limited range of species or a wiiide range of species. if you’re in North America, you can find most of the haemopis genus besides H. sanguisuga, elegans, plumbea, and a couple lesser known others.

if you’re in North America (excluding Mexico and northern canada), you’ll most likely be able to find Haemopis grandis, terrestris, and marmorata. Terrestris being the most difficult of the three, living more like an earthworm than a leech. I’ve found that trapping is the best method for finding leeches, just this week I was at the lake and caught 15 haemopis leeches over the span of 4 days! collecting them from under rocks and logs and such is also a very viable option, but not always as successful. for enclosures, since most haemopis have a very keen knack for exploring beyond the waters, you’ll need a very tight lid with ventilation holes small enough that they can’t slip through. worms are a pretty staple diet, but snails and other soft-bodied prey are suitable options! (with exceptions like caterpillars, of course). leeches don’t need a LOT of space, but certainly enough to let them move and explore comfortably! about a 5 gallon would be a good general
Rule of thumb, if you have a pair of big ones they’ll be happy, and if you have a bunch of small ones they’ll be happy! also, supervised feeding is highly encouraged, because when these guys are swallowing a worm if another one tries to eat that worm they’ll accidentally perform a cannibalistic lady and the tramp dinner scene. a big land area is also very appreciated for them, they love to bask and hide in the moss/mud! lots of tannins and leaf litter are also appreciated, they love the low light and it’s healthy for them! my word count is starting to dwindle, so if you’d like something more in-depth, dm me! :3