These are relatively uncommon among goldfish, but are serious once contracted. These are not the leeches that we see as free living creatures in lakes and ponds. The leeches I’m talking about are parasitic, worm-like creatures that feed on the flesh and blood of your fish. They need to be removed as quickly as possible. Don’t attempt to remove them with forceps or tweezers. The leeches are quite strong and you will do more damage to your fish than the leeches by trying to pull them off. Again, call your pet store for advice on commercially produced cures.

Another solution is this one: Prepare a salt bath consisting of eight level tablespoons of table salt for each gallon of water. Once the salt is sufficiently dissolved, add the fish for no more than ten minutes. The leeches that do not fall off can now be removed with tweezers or forceps quite easily.

Again, the aquarium needs to be treated immediately with commercial parasite-control chemicals. Check all your fish for just such a problem. Always isolate the infected fish.

Related posts:

1. The Basics of Pet Goldfish: Fish Lice (highly contagious)

2. The Basics of Pet Goldfish: The Old-fashioned Salt Bath

3. The Basics of Pet Goldfish: Swim Bladder Problems (not contagious)

4. The Basics of Pet Goldfish: Fish Pox (probably not contagious)

5. The Basics of Pet Goldfish: Fin Congestion

6. The Basics of Pet Goldfish: Velet and Fungus

7. The Basics of Pet Goldfish: Diseases of the Goldfish

8. The Basics of Pet Goldfish: Pond Keeping

9. Understanding Osmotic Pressure, General Salt Content, and Conductivity in the Aquarium

10. Selecting the Right Fish for a Community