Frequently Asked Questions

In which water should the leeches be kept in? 

Clear water that is free from chlorine is necessary for maintaining leeches. Avoid placing leeches in chlorinated water. Leeches are sensitive to substances such as chlorine, copper, and other chemicals. Non-chlorinated tap water in most areas is suitable for leeches. Do not use distilled water alone since its extreme purity can be harmful to the leeches’ metabolic balance. Keep the water clean. Once the water shows signs of becoming dirty or polluted, it should change

How can I get rid of the chlorine taste and smell in my drinking water?

It can be as simple as letting a jug of water sit open to the air for a period of time giving the chlorine in the water time leave the water. Other possible solution could be to install a faucet-mounted filter. 

How often do I need to change water for leeches?

Every 3-6 days, depends on quantity of leeches in a jar

How to change water for leeches?

Cover the jar opening by gauze and dump the old water. The gauze will absorb the grease from the jar (pieces of the old leech skin, etc.) Then pour some fresh water in the jar.

Sudden temperature changes could harm the leeches, so keep your containers with fresh water in the same room where you keep the leeches.

How many leeches can I keep in a jar?

Up to 50 leeches per gallon (4 liters)

What temperature is ideal for leeches?

Any temperature in a range of 40F to 80 F (5-27 C)

How long can I keep the leeches in the thermos/plastic container that you sent them in?

Don’t keep leeches in a thermos. The thermos is too small and we use it for transportation purposes only. 

Do I  need to feed leeches?

Leeches can live up to one year without food, so you don’t need to feed them. 

What is leech’s lifespan?

Up to 10 years. However, we can’t guarantee that the leeches will be alive many weeks after they have arrived. It depends on many factors that are out of our control : quality of water, smells, quality of ventilation,  sharp temperature or pressure changes, etc. Some customers execute mistakes what we can’t imagine, for example, leave detergent on the walls of the jar when they use a dishwasher, etc . That’s why we guarantee that the leeches will be alive only upon arrival.

Are you still able to safely ship leeches during the cold winter months?

We can deliver the leeches safely if the temperature in your area is in a range of 5F to 90F

How to store and take care of leeches

We receive many requests about how to take care of  leeches.

Take a glass jar, fill it to 2/3 by non-chlorinated water, cover by fabric with a good elastic band (leeches can crawl out without it – the smallest hole is big enough for them).
Keep in mind leeches must breathe (they can breathe through fabric but not through a plastic cover) 
Change the water every 3-6 days (depends on quantity of leeches in a jar).