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Ponds in the UK

When I was cleaning out the bog/lily-pond I got bitten

18 years ago

by something. I was bare legged in the pond and the bite marks were neat circles slightly less than 1/8" in diameter. One bite was mid thigh , another was mid calf and the third was ankle height. The mid calf bite is level with my wellies tops.

At the time I just hoses my legs down so I didnt get azolla etc inside my trousers.

I suspect the culprits are either leeches or cleggs but the latter are generally felt, I didnt feel a thing.

The following day the I quite suddenly developed a sore spot at my welly top and thought I had got a trapped fold in my trousers, I shifted my trousers and the sore spot remained so I had a look and it was the bite, it wasnt septic but looked rather angry. Germoline and a plaster were applied, that evening it was still angry looking so I gave it a vigorous washing. It looked better in the morning otherwise I was going to casualty. Its still red but not nasty looking, the ankle bite is a wee bit red and the mid thigh bite isnt red but itches at times.

The moral is, if you get similar bites be a big girl and wash them well immediately and antiseptic cream them.

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Comments (4)

chippewacat
18 years ago
Now you know how Humphrey Bogart felt in the African Queen, only the leeches were bigger!
Aaron_UK
18 years ago
There are very few leeches in this area that bite and those are generally rare. Other water creatures that may bite include water boatmen and saucer bugs.
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The PH of my pond is currently 8.5 (as of last week). The pattern last year was that it went up slowly to about 9.2-9.5. So by the time I add this fish, the PH will probably be higher than 8.5. Although I still have floating algae and sludge in my pond, I'm not going to do a total cleanout. I'm just going to do 10% weekly water changes and scoop out some of the sludge and algae with a net. It feels wierd that I'll be putting the fish which is in clear water, perfect conditions, into a pond with a higher PH and all kinds of algae and stuff in it, but I guess thats how it must be when you keep fish indoors and then move them back into the pond. I almost feel bad moving the fish from its sterile environment back into the natural 'dirty' pond, but she will have so much more room to swim and will finally won't be alone anymore. I guess what seems dirty to me, for her is bugs, algae, food, and whatever.
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I've seen their website at www.waterlilyfarm.com It is definitely on my list to visit but I haven't made it up there yet. It looks like the best place on the island. Hicks nursery in Westbury is OK for plants and Pondmaster replacement parts, but I wouldn't buy fish from them as last spring they had none, and I saw their whole stock of tadpoles die off one year; before the die off I got two and one is still in my pond 2 years later (other one wandered off). Starkie Brothers, Main St south of 109 in Farmingdale is lovely. I did get some Koi there last year. Lots of parts and plants too. I get my water lettuce off EBay from Florida as it pains me to spend $4 a plant for something as they grow so fast I know I will be dumping into my compost heap a month from now.
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Annabel_uk_
18 years ago
just dont get in there ;-)
I am more afraid of the koi getting me,,they are getting biggies!
calypso
18 years ago
I have seen leeches in our (quite large) pond in Essex -- they were about 2 inches long and maybe 1/2 inch across. I fell in once while trimming an over-hanging rose bush but having already seen the little beasties I got out again in a hurry ! I assume they must have been introduced to the pond on a purchased plant.

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