Is it possible? I’ve got a boundary waters trip in 3 weeks and leeches are never available that late or if they are, they’re super tiny. If I bought some now, would I be able to keep them alive and healthy in my fridge at home for a few weeks?
I by them by the pound and keep them alive all summer. Keep them in a very cold refrig. I put a rock in the container with just enough water to cover them. NEVER let them get above 60 degrees. keep any taken out to use seperate, change water every 3 days. Keep as cold as possible on your trip. Good luck and have fun.
Yes you can…
Since you’re asking if I can, no, no I cannot. Laziness or forgetfulness catches up to em after about one week.
Make sure its not softened water kill them very fast
Refrigerator and I use lake water or cheap bottled water, cool it first and change every few days. In addition, i find if i put them in one of those fabric leech tamers, then into a container of water they stay healthier. Maybe it makes them swim less or something else but it seems to work better than just dumping them into a container of water
No i can not.ive had ny jumbo 2 weeks in my fridge and couldn’t get them any longer then that.
Earlier this summer I kept leeches alive for about 6 week. Put them in an Engel 19 qt bait cooler, stored that in the beer fridge, changed water every 3 or 4 days and removed any dead or unhealthy looking leeches. Took a smaller container with what was need for that fishing trip. Worked great.
I use to get them at the beginning of summer and would keep them all summer. I would only change water once a week (sunday before leaving the cabin for the week). Sometimes it would be 2 weeks because I wasn’t at the cabin that weekend. I used lake water and kept them in an ice cream container.
Should be able to, I bought a 1/4 pound in June and and still have a couple dozen left. Keep cold, change water and away ya go!!!
Mark
I keep mine in ice cream containers at 37 degrees in fridge. The key is good water. Well or lake water would be best. I have city water so I have to let the water sit in the garage with no lid to let the free chlorine evaporate then sit in fridge to get to temperature. I have three one gallon jugs in fridge and three others staged on floor near the fridge and rotate through them. I get two lbs as soon as available in the spring and very seldom have any die. Used to clean them twice a week but this year once a week with no problem. I don’t just change water though. I rinse them to get rid of almost all waste. Do not put travel bait back with stock bait. I store a lb to an ice cream bucket filled about a third with water and put air holes in lid.
As others have already mentioned, keep them cold, change the water frequently, and preferably use lake water instead of treated tap water.
I have leeches in my fridge since opening weekend (I know that’s sad as they be used up by now!). Change out with sump pump water once a week.
The government keeps them for many years.
Sorry. Someone had to say it.
I have leeches in my fridge since opening weekend (I know that’s sad as they be used up by now!). Change out with sump pump water once a week.
That is kind of sad. 
The government keeps them for many years.
Sorry. Someone had to say it.
Now that’s Funny !!! – They have keep some not only alive but getting rich for over 40 years !!!
Since you’re asking if I can, no, no I cannot. Laziness or forgetfulness catches up to em after about one week.
Going on 3 weeks looking at a pink container of dead leeches in the fridge now. 
maybe longer..
Lol. Should take care of that. Tomorrow 
No i can not.ive had ny jumbo 2 weeks in my fridge and couldn’t get them any longer then that.
If you have a bait only frig. Turn the temp down 32 to 34 an they will last a long time. . Buy a pound or 2 of them early in the year. If you keep them real cold.! They will be in great shape in late august an sept. when you can not buy them any where.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
