Have I got leeches in my pond?

[selfraising]

Hi
took the pond pump out yesterday to clean and underneath were flat worm coloured creatures. Are these leeches and if so, how do I get rid of them?

Yuk

[burnie]

Could do with a picture,how big were they and how many?

[selfraising]

Could do with a picture,how big were they and how many?

Yes I should have taken a piccie but I flicked it away. I only found the one on the bottom of the pump, it was quite flat and about an inch long and a pale pinky colour. However, last year I found some bigger ones. I'm a bit concerned because I have fish, although they didn't seem to be troubled by them last year. One of my friends suggested it might be a flat worm.

[Capsid]

Have a look here and see if you can identify your flat worm, which may or may not be a leech.

Leeches

[selfraising]

Phew thanks Capsid, doesn't look like those horrible leeches, must be some kind of worm. I'm so relieved cos I've heard leeches can attach themselves to fish. Thanks very much!

[Capsid]

I had a pond with leeches and goldfish in it, they seemed to cohabit OK.

[selfraising]

I had a pond with leeches and goldfish in it, they seemed to cohabit OK.

Well even better. Didn't fancy putting my hand in the pond tho when I thought they were leeches

[Snadger]

Flatworms are very destructive and feed on garden worms by lying beside them and exuding a slime which absorbs them! Yuk!!!
New Zealand flatworms used to be notifyable but I don't think they are now? Orrible things!

[selfraising]

Flatworms are very destructive and feed on garden worms by lying beside them and exuding a slime which absorbs them! Yuk!!!
New Zealand flatworms used to be notifyable but I don't think they are now? Orrible things!

double yuk, at this rate I'll have to put a barrier round the pond to stop them getting out!

They don't seem to have a NZ accent but they could be illegal immigrants

[FionaH]

double yuk, at this rate I'll have to put a barrier round the pond to stop them getting out!

They don't seem to have a NZ accent but they could be illegal immigrants

Next time I pop round should I wear wellies?

[selfraising]

Next time I pop round should I wear wellies?

Why stop at wellies, a full wet suit at the very least

[Printemps]

Want to borrow my pond gloves - they come up to the shoulders! Just the thing for when I find time to get into pond-cleaning mode.

[rana]

I'd be suprised if any established pond hasn't got leeches. They are part of the natural fauna.

[snohare]

The native species of leeches I try to encourage when doing wildlife ponds on conservation projects are vital to the pond ecosystem, like the watersnails they eat all the organic debris, minute algal growths etc, help keep the water clean.

[selfraising]

The native species of leeches I try to encourage when doing wildlife ponds on conservation projects are vital to the pond ecosystem, like the watersnails they eat all the organic debris, minute algal growths etc, help keep the water clean.

Thankyou Snohare, I never knew that. So basically if what I've got in my pond do turn out to be leeches, I should leave them in there