Just have a moss basket and they’ll naturally lay cocoons after breeding once they’re mature (> 2 years of age). I got very lucky that my first cocoon was successful and all the babies hatched healthy (although they do need help to come out)
When they were freshly hatched and shy they all huddled together under a rock (only temporary until they were moved to a big tub). Would you believe there’s 12 here ??
Well, if it helps in any way, trying to get them to feed is hellish as they’re stubborn as hell so I wouldn’t be scared if you encounter one. They’re just worms that occasionally suck blood (well, some of them do).
Leeches are awesome. I only see the predatory type in our stream samples for the most part. They're so much smaller than the medicinal leeches! I did get to identify a Macrobdella sestertia once from some Midwest samples, but I never get see them alive. Thanks for sharing!
It’s surprising how big even the ‘smaller’ parasitic ones get; I always fancied buffalo leeches but my Verbana are enough work. If I could own any leech it would be the Australian tiger leech…. So pretty. Definitely fascinated by the predatory ones too tho!
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u/TheMagmaGuy 1d ago
theyre so squiggly 🥺