Fish Leech - Piscicola geometra

25 to 50 mm long, with a segmented, cylindrical body that has suckers at either end, enabling it to attach to fish for feeding. It can attach to the body, gills or mouth where it feeds on blood, then drops off when satiated. They can swim strongly in a whip-like motion. The eye pattern on the anterior sucker is usually characteristic.

There are two UK species of Piscicola, P. geometra is cyclindrical whereas P. siddali is flattened dorso-ventrally.

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Occurs in marine, brackish and freshwater, including garden ponds.

All year round.

Feeds on fish by attaching itself whilst feeding on blood, then detaching and hiding amongst stones or plants.

Piscicola geometra is the most common fish leech found in garden ponds. 

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland unknown.