FAQ about leeches
Please read before you ask about my pet leeches! If these don’t answer your q, send away!
You have leeches???
Heck yes! You can search my blog for “the squish squad” to see pics and videos of them!
How many leeches do you have/what are their names/how do you tell them apart?
I currently only have one leech. The Squish Squad originally consisted of five leeches named Squish Baby, Chungus, Burrito, Chocolate Chip and Wormitha. Over the years they have all passed on except Wormitha. I could tell them apart by their different colors, patterns, and sizes.
What species are your leeches?
They’re H. verbana, one of three species of European medicinal leeches.
How do you feed your leeches?
I usually feed them on myself. They latch on, take roughly 30 mins to feed, and then drop off.
How often do you feed your leeches?
Roughly once every 4-6 months is best, but they can go up to a year between meals!
Does it hurt to let a leech feed on you?
The initial bite feels like pinpricks. It’s equivalent to/slightly less painful than a flu shot. Once the leech has broken the skin and starts feeding, their natural anesthetic kicks in and it usually doesn’t hurt after that.
Are there any negative effects from letting leeches feed on you?
The main side effect is bleeding. They have a very powerful anticoagulant in their saliva that will keep blood flowing to the bite for 10-12 hours. But it will leave your system on its own and the bleeding will stop after the first day. Other possible side effects are allergic reactions and infections, but they are rarely seen in medicinal leeches.
Isn’t letting leeches feed on you dangerous?
Not when they’re a domestic species that’s been bred in captivity. Mine were purchased from a responsible breeder and were given a specific diet to minimize chances of infection/disease. Don’t ever just plop a wild leech on you and expect the same results as a captive-raised medicinal leech!
How do you keep your leeches from having babies?
Leeches only lay their eggs on land, so keeping them in an all-water enclosure will prevent them from reproducing. They will simply reabsorb their eggs, which doesn’t hurt them, and is actually much less energetically costly than laying eggs would be.
Where did you get your leeches?
Leeches.biz
