View Full Version : Feeding Leaches?
Just wanted to know if any of you who keep leaches for extended periods of time feed them anything ? and if so what ?
Thanks
Jim
Larry
06-10-2001, 12:23 PM
A few years ago we had a bait dealer give a talk to our fishing club about storing bait. He mentioned feeding leeches beef brains that you can pick up from the butcher......yea, I know...it makes them "smarter" !! He claimed it was high protien and no fat to mess up the water.
To keep you leeches for a long time do the following.
-Keep in a shallow container. 3" or less of water.
-Keep in the fridge. Set temp so that a thin film of ice forms. Be carefull not to get too cold and freeze them out or they will die. The cold water keep them dormant.
-Change the water often.
Lunker
06-11-2001, 05:31 AM
About once a week, put a dead minnow in the container overnight. That should take care of it for you.
Lunker
BobEaton1
06-12-2001, 05:49 AM
I agree with Chad. I've had the same leeches alive since a year ago April. I do exactly what Chad says but the most important think I feel is I keep them in Leech Tamer bags made by JNB Origionals, there the best. The leeches have never been out of the bag and I have never fed them and they are in great shape.
Just My opinion
Bob NPAA #292
Omaha,Ne
Backwater Eddy
06-12-2001, 06:03 AM
As Chad mentioned keep them dormant and in clean water and they will last a very long time.
Feeding would complicate this and contaminate the fresh water with the most likely result the loss of your bait stash.
Cool, quality fresh water is key! Chill the fresh water in the same cooler prior to changing it, this will lessen shock just as you would with minnows or shiners stored in a cooler.
Backwater Eddy...><Go Piggy>
Dave S
06-12-2001, 08:16 AM
Backwater Eddy and Chad are absolutely correct. Last year I had my refrigerator temp set too high and they all died in 1 month. This year I spent $5 on a refrigerator thermoter, keep temperature at 40 degrees, change water weekly with identically chilled water and they are doing great. If you keep the water cold enough the leeches will remain dormant which is the key!
I have half my leeches in a Tamer bag and other half in a pail. So far both are doing fine although changing water with leeches in Tammer bag is allot easier. Also allot easier to take leeches along fishing with Tammer bag as can just put bag of leeches in cooler with chilled water.