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How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

The Plantkeeping Classroom is for those who dream of creating Amano-like aquascapes but realize that there is much to learn first. If you are just getting started and have questions, post them here and we will do our best to help you become successful.
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How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby familyfish (57) » Fri Oct 24, 2008 4:12 pm

We were given several Cryptocoryne balansae plants at our planted aquarium club meeting last night. They came from a member's beautiful large tank. In looking them over today, I noticed what I am sure was a leech (definitely not a planarian) on one leaf. I removed it. My question is, is there anything I can do to these plants before adding them to our planted community tank that would kill any potential leech eggs?

Looking online I saw references to only killing leech eggs by drying them out completely for an extended period. I imagine that treatment would do in the crypts also.

It is unclear to me whether any kind of bath (bleach, salt, anti-parasitic) would actually kill leech eggs. Or a quarantine to see if any leeches emerge?

I have examined them closely and I see no other leeches, and nothing that looks like an egg. Apparently leech eggs are small, flat and brown. So it could have been a lonely single leech. But I certainly do not trust myself to be sure that there are no eggs, especially on the thick brown parts of the roots.

I could, of course, just toss the plants - and I would prefer doing that to creating a leech infestation in our healthy and thriving tank. I am not a big fan of risk-taking when it comes to the health of the fish. But if there is something I can do to ensure they are not bringing unwanted guests into the tank, that would be great.

Thanks for any thoughts!
Lydia
40 g FW planted: Harlequin rasboras, Angel, panda cories, otocinclus, dwarf bristlenose
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby J.B. (3178) » Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:00 pm

You can place your new plants in a 5 mg/l potassium permanganate solution for around an hour before adding them to your tank. The PP (KMnO4) will kill any leeches that might be taking residence in your new plants. Generally, you can find the PP at pool supply stores and I'd recommend getting a pair of kitchen gloves to use while working with it; it will stain anything it gets on, including your filangies. :D

Good hunting...
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby familyfish (57) » Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:27 pm

Thanks, JB! Will that kill eggs too?
Lydia
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby J.B. (3178) » Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:30 pm

It will take care of pretty much any hitchhikers that may be on the plants.
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby Dutchman (2431) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 1:11 am

J.B. wrote:. . . and I'd recommend getting a pair of kitchen gloves to use while working with it; it will stain anything it gets on, including your filangies. :D ...
I would include a plastic apron. That stuff stains anything.
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby montanahh (418) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:52 am

Agreed. PP is the way to go. You can also find it under pond supplies at Drs. Fosters and Smith. It is an organic oxidizer to the utmost. It will definately take care of your hitchiking nasties. I wonder if a strong solution of Polyoxyethylene might work as well :think:
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby familyfish (57) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:52 am

Thank you, everyone! I will try to find some PP locally. I see Steve Hampton's site also mentions Alum for things like snail eggs. Can I just do the PP or do I also need to do Alum?

Thanks again! They are lovely big plants so it will be great to be able to save them.
Lydia
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby J.B. (3178) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:21 am

You'll only need the PP. Make sure you get some pics of the plants in your tank so we can oohhh and aahhh over them. :D
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby freshfish (9512) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 12:09 pm

You can find liquid PP in the pool supply section of Ace Hardware, if you have one of those locally. $10 for a lifetime supply. :)
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby familyfish (57) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 12:32 pm

J.B. wrote:You'll only need the PP. Make sure you get some pics of the plants in your tank so we can oohhh and aahhh over them. :D


As a digital-camera-less person I can only get pics when I borrow a camera! But here is one from last week when I was playing with my dad's camera. We were thinking of adding the crypt balansae on the left edge where there is kind of a hole (behind the short sagittaria and to the left of the gray speckled rock).

_MG_0009verysmall.JPG


And thanks for the tip on where to find the PP, Laura!
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Lydia
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby freshfish (9512) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 12:34 pm

That's a gorgeous jungle! :thumb:
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby J.B. (3178) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:40 pm

Oh, WOW! That is a very lush underwater garden you have there. :clap: Thanks for sharing that, and just so you know...we WILL be expecting new pics once you get the new plants in there...K...Ok :thumb: :P
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby Crazygar (18146) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:20 pm

Wow, thats an impressive tank you have there!

I use PP quite a lot (.054% Solution in liquid form) just to zap any nasties that may come in with the plants. Though I think 1 hour might be extreme, 10min - 20min maybe a little easier on the plants. Just give them a repeated bath along with a good rinsing with RO Water.

Leeches need both a Male and Female to produce viable offspring.

Gary
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby familyfish (57) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:04 pm

Thanks, everyone, for the very kind comments!

Gary, you are saying bathe for 10-20 min in PP, rinse, and bathe another 10-20 min in PP?

Here in cold WI everyone seems to have put away their pond/pool supplies and we have struck out at Sears, Ace, Home Depot etc, etc, etc. But one pet store has Jungle Clear Water which appears to be a PP solution. So I guess I can hopefully just add enough of that to turn the bath a deep pink.

Steve Hampton's page said to add dechlor to the tank after dipping the plants (outside the tank), but is that necessary as long as you rinse the plants thoroughly in water w/ dechlorinator?

Thanks again - this has been so helpful!
Lydia
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Re: How to treat new plants for possible leech eggs

Postby Crazygar (18146) » Sat Oct 25, 2008 5:13 pm

Gary, you are saying bathe for 10-20 min in PP, rinse, and bathe another 10-20 min in PP?

Yes. Its a little easier on the plants. And yes, I would add some dechlor to the tank after the procedure is done. Better being safe than sorry.

Gary
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