Leeches as food.

[Selkielass]

After doing more reading on T. Butlerii I've decided to try treating them more like the wetland dwellers they seem to be. I want to offer them more variety in diet and it seems leeches may have been a mainstay of their diet before the introduction of worms
has anyone here fed bait or wildcaught leeches? Any parasite risks that anyone is aware of?

[guidofatherof5]

I found this article which might be helpful.

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/midorcas/research/Reprints/McCoy et al. - 2007 - Leech parasitism on turtles - SENaturalist.pdf (http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/midorcas/research/Reprints/McCoy%20et%20al.%20-%202007%20-%20Leech%20parasitism%20on%20turtles%20-%20SENaturalist.pdf)

[BUSHSNAKE]

i have fed leeches to garters but they are expensive and not always available. my butlers get fish, worms and pinkie parts, i prefer a varied diet as well

[Selkielass]

Thanks for the paper Steve- I just got to the library and downloaded it for reading at home.

I've suceeded in getting my butlers to take worms and live guppies so far, but I'm looking for other options, and while tadpoles etc. are a no-go, leeches are pretty common around here in 'clean' marshy areas- I could probably trap some with kidneys if the risk of them carrying parasites isn't too great.
I haven't priced leeches out at local bait shops yet- wanted to research risks first.

Honestly I hate leeches. They make me feel 'oogy' just thinking about them,even though I find them fascinating, but if my Butlers go nuts for them I'd be willing to offer them occasionally as a special treat.

[Light of Dae]

I wonder if you could catch n breed leeches and use a fish dewormer type product on them to rid them of parasites?

[Selkielass]

Haemogregarines in Reptiles and Amphibians (http://www.vet.uga.edu/VPP/clerk/faggioni/index.php)

"Unlike mammalian hemoparasites, haemogregarines in reptiles and amphibians generally do not cause significant clinical disease. Changes associated with haemogregarine infections may include displacement of hemoglobin within infected RBCs and mild dys..."

"In summary, haemogregarines are a common parasites of reptiles and amphibians. Parasitic infection can be diagnosed easily by microscopic examination of a Romanowsky-stained blood smear observing the presence of organisms within RBCs and/or leukocytes. However, if parasites are observed, they generally are considered benign and do not warrant treatment. "

No treatment, but relatively benign.
Not sure. must ressearch more if I can.

[chris-uk]

Aren't those papers discussing leach family as parasites of reptiles themselves, rather than leaches carrying parasites that will harm snakes that eat them?
Farming leaches is supposed to be fairly easy, if it turns out they are suitable live food for garters (kind of like tadpoles I suppose) I'd consider setting up a leach tank.

[Selkielass]

The paper Steve linked to is about the numbers of smooth turtle leeches paratasizing vatious species and sizes of turtles in ponds.

The page I linked to is about an intracellular parasitecarried by leeches that infects. Reptiles (skunks for sure) but doesn't seem to cause much harm. There. Is no treatment.

I have found lots of methods for trapping the types of of scavenger leeches used for bait, and a bit on raisingmedical leeches, but nothing onfarming bait leeches.

[Selkielass]

This fellow raises bait leeches in ponds. Raising leeches a brisk business | Peninsula Clarion (http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/062701/out_062701out0pm0010001.shtml)
Care in a tank varies by species, but they need to be fed meat, insect larvae, or blood.
Not hard, but not exactly a breeze either.
The Newt people have raised a similar question; Anyone raise snails/leeches for feeding purposes? - Caudata.org Newt and Salamander Forum (http://www.caudata.org/forum/f46-beginner-newt-salamander-axolotl-help-topics/f47-newt-salamander-help/36159-anyone-raise-snails-leeches-feeding-purposes.html)