h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We all now how amazing nature is, but it never fails to surprise me.
A short while ago, i was sitting watching the activities in my pond. Thats not what i went in the garden for, but i can never resist a look. There were hundreds of flying ants emerging all over the garden and alot had fallen into the pond. The first on the scene to grab a meal were the pond skaters, followed by something i had never seen before. Suddenly all these small leeches came to the surface, there were hundreds of them As i watched they too attached themselves to the drowning ants. Some of the many baby newts came to investigate, they did'nt take any of the ants. I wondered if perhaps they were too big for the tiny newts to manage.
I also took the opportunity to catch some of these ants and feed them to my pitcher plants.
Anyway back to the pond. I've had endless problems with algae for the past few weeks, despite treating it regularly the problem is'nt improving Whilst watching the ants struggle to get out of the water, it dawned on me why the algae is so bad; all my snails have dissapeared I'm wondering if the large number of leeches in the pond could be responsible for the demise of my lovely snails?
Now i have a dilemma. Do i get more snails now and hope they survive, or do i wait untill Auntumn when maybe the leeches will go away? I don't even know how they arrived in the pond to start with and if they will go away or die in winter Anyone know how to get rid of leeches?

Ummmm, vote in the other electoral party?

Sorry, Lady, I can only hope some of your learned friends are a help here.

Venus, try this link and you may find a solution..http://www.pond-doctor.co.uk/longatozL.html



Sir Peeb

Just a thought Venus - you could try this link too!

http://www.absoluteponds.com/faq.htm#How%20do%20I%20get%20rid%20of%20leeches%20or%20bloodsuckers?

The Lady connects here predominantly via digibox, and can't follow 'links'. So I have sent her a mail, with the pertinent info from both of those.

Thank you kind sir!

Oh PLEASE, don't call me 'sir' !!! I work for a living !!!

*flash-backs to military time, and worthless officers and stuff ... *

I thought you just might find something like 'mate' a tad too familiar.

I'm sure that you have found h2g2 quite comfy with casual stuff. Mate, friend, that stuff always works for me.

Thanks for the info folks
Now, who is going to offer to sit and dangle their toes in the water untill all the leeches are attached to them?
Asking too much do you think

Possibly

I could think of a few people that I would like to lend you for the purpose though

I used nematodes last year for my slugs and I am beginning to think it worked! Don't know what's available for leeches though!

Websailor

I could think of a few people too
Strangely, there does'nt seem to be alot of info available on how to get rid of them. Theres plenty on different types of leech, how they live etc.
I quite like the idea of ducks eating them, but they would have to be minute to even fit in my small pond. The Bass idea is even more absurd in relation to my pond

Ahh, but you could still offer your visitors to have a refreshing bath in the pond, eh?

Venus, according to all the info that I have looked at, the only way to get rid of them is virtually to empty out your pond of everything, plants, fish, water, etc..leeches of course..hahahaha. Then give the pend a really good flushing out, let it stay dry for a couple of weeks, then start again. Apparently the leeches come with any plants that you may have put into your pond over a period of time.

and

Stephen

Thanks for the information Stephen, it was kind of you to go looking for me.
Unfortunately, emptying the pond is not an option just now. It's full of baby newts, dragonfly larvae and other forms of water creatures. I may look to cleaning it on October, once most things have left for the winter.

B'el.
I don't want to scare my guests of that quickly.

Ok, then wait until the last day.
I'm sorry I can't come up with anything useful.

Maybe after dinner at the carvery with your tribe, we can all bring niblets of meat back and go 'fishing' for leeches? I'd bet the lad would get a kick out of that.

When will you fly over, Nick? Bet you're getting excited by now.

Venus gets the pleasure of cooking at us for Saturday supper.

Well, I hope it will be a pleasure for you, too.