Cultivation of leeches as a business. Leeches: reproduction, breeding features, life cycle and use in medicine

Today we will see a report from a leech farm. You will learn how leeches live in captivity, what they eat, how they reproduce. For the first time, we were able to capture unique footage of the birth of a leech in natural conditions and in captivity.

Today we will tell you about the International Center for Medicinal Leeches, created on the basis of the Medpiyavka association formed in 1937, which was engaged in keeping leeches in artificial ponds of the holiday village of Udelnaya (Moscow Region).

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3. For 2500 sq. m. production facilities are located for growing more than 3,500,000 medicinal leeches and production of cosmetic products.

4. In total, 400 species of leeches are known to science, which look approximately the same and differ mainly in color. Leeches are black, greenish or brownish. The Russian name for these nimble worms indicates their ability to “dig into” the body of the victim and suck out blood.

5. Leeches live in three-liter jars. Nothing better as a house for them came up with. The leech breeder must ensure that the vessel with leeches is constantly closed with a thick white cloth, which is tightly tied.

6. Leeches are unusually mobile and tend to often crawl out of the water. Therefore, they are able to easily leave the container in which they are stored. Escapes occasionally happen.

7. A leech has 10 eyes, but the leech does not perceive a complete image. Despite the seeming primitiveness of the sensory perception of leeches, they perfectly orient themselves in space. Their sense of smell, taste and touch are extraordinarily developed, which contributes to their success in finding prey. First of all, leeches respond well to odors emanating from objects immersed in water. Leeches do not tolerate foul-smelling water.

8. Unhurried, devoid of sharp movements allow you to see the entire body of a leech. On the back, against a dark background, bright orange blotches form a fancy pattern in the form of two stripes. On the sides there is a black piping. The abdomen is delicate, light olive in color with black edging. The body of an ordinary medical leech consists of 102 rings. On the dorsal side, the rings are covered with many small papillae. On the ventral side, the papillae are much smaller and less visible.

9. But behind the harmless external beauty of the leech lies its secret weapon - the front sucker, outwardly invisible. A large, frightening rear sucker does not cause any physical damage, but in the depths of the front jaws lurk, geometrically located according to the sign of the prestigious company in the automotive world - Mercedes. In each jaw, there are up to 90 teeth, a total of 270. Here it is - deceit.

10. The record for the largest size of a leech grown in this center is 35 centimeters in length. The leech in the photo still has everything ahead.

11. Bitten by a leech - like a nettle stung. The bite of the same horsefly or ant is much more painful. Leech saliva contains painkillers (analgesics). The leech feeds exclusively on blood. Hematophagus, that is, a vampire.

12. The epidermal layer of the leech is covered with a special film - the cuticle. The cuticle is transparent, it performs a protective function and continuously grows, being periodically updated in the process of molting. Normally, molting occurs in leeches every 2-3 days.

13. Dropped films look like white flakes or small white cases. They clog the bottom of the vessels for storing used leeches, and therefore must be removed regularly, and the water is also periodically stained from digestion products. Water is changed twice a week.

14. Water is specially prepared: it settles for at least a day, is purified from harmful impurities and heavy metals. After cleaning and passing control, the water is heated to the desired temperature and enters the common network for leeches.

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16. Leeches poop up to several times a day, so the water in the vessel where the used leeches are stored is periodically stained. The clogging of water that occurs from time to time does not cause any harm to leeches if the water is systematically changed.

17. The most important condition for the rapid cultivation of full-fledged medicinal leeches is their regular feeding with fresh blood, which is purchased from slaughterhouses.

18. Large clots are used, formed during the coagulation of the blood mass. For the full feeding of leeches, only the blood of healthy animals, mainly large and small, is taken. cattle. Clots are placed at the bottom of special vessels, where leeches are then released.

19. To make it pleasant for leeches to eat, a film is laid on them, which they bite through and suck blood out of habit.

20. During growth, the leech feeds every one and a half to two months.

21. After the leeches have grown and starved for at least three months, they are collected in a series and sent for certification, and then they go on sale or are used in the production of cosmetics. The Center has an accredited laboratory of the quality control department.

22. For one feeding, a leech sucks out five times its weight, after which it may not eat for three to four months, a maximum of a year. After eating, the leech looks like a solid muscle bag filled with blood. In her digestive tract there are special substances that protect the blood from putrefaction, which preserve it in such a way that the blood always remains complete and stored for a long time.

23. A leech usually eats up in 15-20 minutes. A sign that the leech is full, foam appears.

24. Well-fed leeches are trying to escape from the "dining room".

25. Yum-yum!

26. After feeding, the leeches are washed.

27. And they put it back in the jar.

28. And they wash the dishes.

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30. Leeches communicate with each other extremely rarely, only during the mating period. And then, most likely, out of necessity, so as not to die out. Leeches that are suitable for reproduction, that is, carefully fed and have reached a given size, are called queens.

31. They are placed in pairs in jars filled with water and stored in special rooms where the optimum temperature of the environment is observed, which supports the activity of leeches and their reproductive abilities. Copulation and laying of cocoons with eggs occur in leeches at an environmental temperature of 25 to 27 °C. And although each individual carries both the male and female principles (hermaphrodites), she cannot satisfy herself in this intimate matter and is looking for a partner.

32. The mating season, during which mating takes place, takes about 1 month, after which the leeches are seated in queen cells - three-liter jars. Moist peat soil is placed at the bottom of the mother liquor, which is a favorable environment for medical leeches and their cocoons. Soft moss sods are lined over the peat, which regulate soil moisture. The queens move freely on the moss, in which they feel comfortable, and gradually dig into the peat.

33. Leeches practice different positions in which copulation is carried out. There are 2 main positions that make biological sense. First position: the front ends of the bodies of copulating leeches are directed in one direction. The second main position: the ends of the bodies are opposite, that is, they look in different directions.

34. Peat is thoroughly washed so that the leeches are damp and comfortable.

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36. By light rings, you can identify a pregnant leech and plant it in a jar of peat.

37. Breaking through a shallow passage in the soil, the leech lays a cocoon in it, from which the threads are subsequently removed - this is the name of the leeches of small young leeches. Their mass reaches a force of 0.03 g, and the body length is 7-8 mm. Filaments are fed in the same way as adults.

38. Each mother leech lays on average 3-5 cocoons, each of which contains 10-15 fry.

39. After a while, the cocoons become like soft foam balls.

40. It can be seen through the light that fry are sitting inside the cocoon.

41. And here are unique birth shots. The leech leaves the cocoon through a hole in the end.

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43. The first minutes of the life of a small leech.

44. And this is how they are born in the conditions of the center. The cocoons just burst.

45. A leech lives in the center for a year and a half, then it is given away for the treatment of people or processed into cosmetics.

46. ​​As shown by laboratory studies, the average life expectancy of a leech is 6 years. How long wild individuals live, scientists do not know for certain, although it is possible that there are long-livers among leeches.

In the first half of the XIX century. due to increased predatory fishing, medical leeches have practically disappeared from water bodies. As a result, artificial breeding of medicinal worms - leech breeding - has become widespread.

Leeches were bred both in artisanal conditions and on an industrial scale. Entire worm farms were set up, which were in great demand in hospitals and clinics, as well as in educational institutions having medical and zoological departments and faculties. At that time, leeches were bred in ordinary ponds under open sky.

Currently, medical worms are bred in special laboratory farms that have artificial reservoirs (concrete pools with stepped walls or ponds) that imitate natural environment worm habitat.

The main requirement for water containing leeches is its purity.

Reservoirs should be well lit by the sun, at their bottom heaps of stones are laid out, which leeches use as houses.

They feed medical leeches with large clots of fresh blood, which is purchased at slaughterhouses. In this case, the blood of only healthy animals is taken (mainly cattle and small cattle, as well as pigs).

After the leeches reach a certain weight (1.5-2 g), they are no longer fed to make them suitable for medical procedures. Some individuals are used for reproduction.

Artificially grown leeches develop much faster than those in natural conditions, and are in no way inferior to them in terms of quality. In ordinary reservoirs, leeches grow to a "healing" state only 3 years after they leave the cocoon. In private farms, this period is reduced to 1 - 1.5 years. In the 1920s The world's first bdello-logical laboratory was created in Russia. As a result of numerous studies, a system of rules for breeding, keeping, storing and transporting leeches has been developed.

Leeches that have reached the reproductive state and the required size are called queens.

After the mating season, which lasts for about 1 month, the leeches are planted in queen cells. The mother liquor is a container-terrarium in which natural conditions are simulated, combining the presence of land and water. The bottom of the mother liquor is lined with moist peat soil, on which moss turf is laid, which contributes to the regulation of its moisture content. Leeches first break through a shallow passage in the soil, which is on land, and lay a cocoon with eggs in it. After some time, the cocoons are transferred from the queen cells into the water. From the eggs, the threads of small young leeches subsequently develop, the length of which is only 7-8 mm, and the weight is about 0.03 g. The threads, like adults, are fed with fresh blood of animals.

In the cold season, worms are transferred to winter storage in cool rooms. To do this, they are placed in containers containing a moistened mixture of peat and earth.

From above, the container with leeches is closed with a clean cloth and tied.

During this period, leeches burrow into the ground and fall into a stupor until spring. If necessary, they are removed from the container and placed in a warm environment, after which the worms quickly become active and become suitable for use in medical procedures.

For the content of leeches, only clean containers, previously thoroughly washed, are used. In the process of storing leeches, the water in the container must be changed periodically. In this case, the leeches are not extracted. In the process of changing the water and cleaning the container, you should also carefully wash the leeches, as they are prone to molting. If this is not done, then the old shell (cuticle) can over time pull the leech and lead to a violation of its blood circulation.

In addition, the inner surface of the container should be cleaned of the mucus secreted by leeches. Water with leeches floating in it can be carefully poured into another vessel. The main container must be rinsed, filled with clean water. After that, the leeches are carefully returned to their place. At the end of the procedure, the container is covered with a cloth and tightly tied.

With a conservation approach, the main condition for preserving the healing properties of leeches is high-quality water, preferably from a natural reservoir. Do not use boiled or distilled water. Tap water, before placing leeches in it, should first be allowed to settle, and then passed through special cleaning filters.

Another important condition for proper conservation storage is maintaining the required temperature and lighting of the environment in which the leeches are placed. The optimum temperature is room temperature. The lack of heat, as well as its excess, adversely affect the condition of leeches.

Since leeches are amphibians and often crawl out of the water, air purity is of great importance for their maintenance. Therefore, in the premises where they are located, smells of perfumes, medicines, tobacco, chemical mixtures, etc. are unacceptable. It is necessary to regularly ventilate their storage areas.

Lighting should be sufficient, but not direct sunlight or artificial.

In all institutions involved in the production and storage of leeches, their daily inspection is practiced. In case of detection of unhealthy individuals, appropriate measures are immediately taken to prevent the spread of the disease. Sick and dead leeches are removed from the container in which they were stored, and the container itself is sanitized. When processing, chemical disinfectants should not be used, since impurities in the water (even in very small concentrations) can adversely affect the condition of the leeches. Therefore, hot water is mainly used and heat treatment.

Sick individuals in research institutions are used to develop methods for treating leech diseases, of which there are many open to date.

Leeches tolerate transportation on cars, trains and even airplanes quite well. For transportation, leeches are placed in a bag with moistened peat soil, which is placed in any container convenient for transportation.

Breeding leeches could be a profitable legal business, but officially this kind of activity is equated with the production of medicinal pharmaceuticals. This means that a license from Roszdravnadzor is required for its implementation, and the leeches themselves and their production must undergo certification. Of course state structures impose a number of stringent requirements, including the education of personnel, sanitary control of premises and devices needed for work, feeding regimes, and much more. Therefore, only 4 companies conduct their work legally in this area. farms in Russia. Their owners received licenses back in the 90s, when it was much easier.

The market demand for medical leeches is met mainly by illegal producers. But in the aggregate they do this by no more than 30-40%. So the daredevils, who are not embarrassed by the difficulties that the content of leeches directly causes and all those related to the sale of products, are waiting for a rather unclaimed niche.

Despite the development of science and the introduction of the most advanced medical techniques, hirudotherapy is reviving its popularity. Basically, the supporters of this method are attracted by the action of the leech extract, which contains the enzyme hirudin. In addition, the dosage in blood loss and a complex of body responses to a bite, which can have a beneficial effect, useful in a number of diseases, the treatment of which will be greatly simplified.

Our business valuation:

Starting investment - 50,000 rubles.

Market saturation is low.

The complexity of starting a business is 2/10.

What should not be believed?

Information that this requires registering an individual entrepreneur, and OKVED must indicate 01.49.9 - “Breeding other animals not included in other groups”. Everyone decides for himself how to build relations with the state, but it is hardly necessary to draw too much attention to himself. If an entrepreneur is able to obtain a license, then he will definitely be able to solve the issue of registering activities. Otherwise, you need to proceed from the reality of the situation.

It is also impossible to say something definite about what the room should be like and how many containers and other equipment will be required. It all depends on the ambitions of the manufacturer, his experience and how successful he is in finding outlets for selling his products. Many seek to buy medical leeches, but this does not mean that it is so easy to organize an independent retail sale. It should not be considered as a rule the stories that you need a room with an area of ​​​​100 square meters. meters. For a beginner, an ordinary rack is enough, which can accommodate 50-60 three-liter jars and a couple of aquariums.

What do you need to know?

First of all - to have the practice of breeding itself. Beginners are encouraged to treat it as a hobby. Let's write down the first steps in this fascinating business.

We prepare containers. For starters, a few three-liter cans may suffice. But ideally - the presence of an aquarium and several dozen jars of different sizes - two-liter, three- and five-liter ones, you can also prepare something like a terrarium, since there are no clear rules here. We think over where all this household will be located - on tables or racks, some kind of wall shelves. Useful and additional containers needed to defend ordinary tap water. To prepare it, you can use any dechlorination methods that aquarists use.

In one three-liter jar, you can not keep more than 10 leeches, and in an aquarium of 10 liters, you can safely settle 50 worms of this species. It is a good idea to add some vegetation to jars, aquariums and other containers, for example, the usual floating Riccia.

In this case, we are talking about the development of the process itself. If the business is on a grand scale, then a real, fully medical pharmaceutical factory for growing leeches has other approaches. Everything happens under stably regulated conditions, with strict adherence to the technology of the process, much of which is automated. True, the specialized company Gerudo-Med LLC, which exists in Russia, is a completely official leech farm, also uses the canned method of breeding these useful vampires.

Things are normal...

Daily maintenance activities should include water changes and compliance with general conditions maintenance, monitoring the condition of pets. If the leeches do not like something, then they "dirty" the water. And everyone is happy - they cling to the walls and hang in an upright position. At the same time, they protrude halfway out of the water. It also needs to fill the container up to about half.

You should strive to ensure that in one bank there are leeches of the same age. Therefore, another action is the transplantation of leeches from one dwelling to another. We should not forget that they can be active, so aquariums and jars should be closed with lids that allow air to pass through. Suitable for regular gauze strapping.

The most important...

More responsible actions are feeding and reproduction. If we assume that the cultivation of leeches is carried out strictly officially, then first of all, the inspection commissions will be concerned about the question of where the blood comes from for this purpose. For a small home complex, you can buy blood clots on the market. Some farmers sell them to make blood sausage. Higher volume production will require ordering blood from the slaughterhouse. At the same time, legal production requires not only compliance with the rules of sanitation, but also strict documentation.

Private practitioners advise this method. The blood clot is wrapped in a sticky film, which is used in stores to wrap meat or fish, and hung in a container with leeches. This method is suitable for feeding young and mature individuals. This is done once every 2-3 months. Before the delivery of medicinal leeches to retailers begins, they must starve for about the same period.

Reproduction of leeches is a more complicated matter. For mating and the copulation process, you need to prepare peat, check it for the possible presence of impurities, and then fill it with infused dechlorinated water. It is important to keep the proportions right. If the mixture is too thin or too dry, then the leeches will not be able to make the moves needed to deposit cocoons. Half-adult leeches of similar size, which have already been fed 3-4 times, are placed in jars of water in pairs. They wrap around each other, stick together and the process of fertilization begins. Mating can last about a month. Leeches do not have females directly, but in a pair, one of them will play its role.

Then they are transplanted into jars with the composition of the diluted peat, you need the consistency. After a certain number of days, it will be possible to find cocoons in it, which are similar in structure to foam rubber, and somewhat smaller in size than a quail egg. Cocoons can be found inside the passages made in peat and even on its surface. When they are examined in the light, small leeches that are inside the nutrient will become noticeable.

Newborn leeches appear in the bank after about thirty days. From each cocoon, from 10 to 15 threads are obtained, as the young are commonly called. At the same time, some inheritance dies from time to time.

It's time to think about income

Having received general ideas about the features of keeping these toothy worms, let's think about how to open a business for breeding medicinal leeches. The first thing that should interest us is its profitability. Let's assume that our microfarm has about 500 individuals permanently. This is 250 pairs, which can bring about 4-5 cocoons per mating season. From one cocoon, on average, 15 threads will be obtained, which means that the offspring of one pair is 75 new individuals. Since we have 250 pairs, we will have 18.750 young leeches.

Since we do not plan to engage in retail ourselves, and most likely we will have to start our production unofficially, it will be very good if each one goes for 30 rubles. In total, this will give 562,500 rubles. Of course, that in a year ... But the monthly income from such an enterprise will be higher than average salary in Russia, among representatives of many professions - not only doctors and teachers, but also engineers and other specialists. At the same time, one person, with experience, patience and love for this business, will be able to serve about 1000 main individuals. This is usually how they are divided. A certain number are considered as permanent producers of offspring, and some leeches feed several times, then starve and go to sales points. After the mating season, the "population" of the farm reaches its maximum mark. 20 thousand leeches will require 2000 three-liter jars. This is not so much when it comes to commercial breeding. 200 jars will fit on one medium-sized rack, and it will not be difficult to place 10 such racks in a large room. Of course, no certification commission will even go into such an impromptu economy.

Breeding leeches at home can only be considered as a business that will always be semi-legal or illegal at all. There are two main components of success in it - sales points and own diligence. And the wholesale cost of medicinal leeches in this case becomes a relative concept. The main problem is that the usual wholesale buyer may suddenly refuse to purchase goods. For example, state inspection and control structures will set more stringent requirements for the availability of certificates for products sold by a pharmacy, as its owner will immediately demand the relevant documents from the seller.

Because of this, all novice businessmen need to realistically assess their strengths in terms of ensuring that the sale of leeches in bulk is completely legal. If there are not enough of them, then it is hardly necessary to aim at breeding in large volumes. It does not matter at all how much leeches cost if the inability to obtain a license and certify products will not allow one to be sold.

Five pairs of eyes, three jaws and two hundred and seventy teeth... A predator weighing one gram and about twelve centimeters long, feeds on blood and replaces drugs... Medical leech is the most common species for breeding out of five hundred that exist in nature. And the only one useful to humans. Only a few farms breed medical leeches. However, at home, you can also achieve the reproduction of these worms.

natural healers

During hirudotherapy, leeches, having stuck to the body, suck out blood. But the therapeutic effect is not at all in this process. What matters is not what leeches suck, but what they give. Hirudin is a unique enzyme found in the saliva of the medicinal leech. Through bites, this substance enters the human body, providing a curative property. In general, the leech secretes sixty-four types of amino acids and forty types of enzymes that are beneficial to humans.

Experts managed to artificially remove hirudin, but it only works for three days, while natural is effective for three months. Hirudin and other leech enzymes have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immunostimulating effects, and also normalize lipid metabolism in the human body.

Hirudotherapy is used to treat diseases of the endocrine and digestive systems, gynecological ailments, diseases of the joints and respiratory organs.

Leeches are a natural medicine with no side effect. Their size does not matter, all individuals are useful and safe. Usually, doctors prescribe nine sessions of hirudotherapy every six months. The interval between sessions should be three to four days.

Having sucked, the leech increases in size up to ten times. An individual weighing from one to three grams can suck out about fifteen milliliters of blood.

Breeding leeches on special farms

In Russia, there are hardly a dozen centers for growing medicinal leeches that work legally. Their capabilities do not cover even 50% of the demand of hirudotherapists. A large leech breeding farm operates, for example, in the Moscow region. There is a large biofactory in the Saratov region.

Breeding of natural healers is carried out under the supervision of specialists - "cultivators of leeches". They monitor the process, create comfortable conditions for the breeding and growth of offspring.

On farms, leeches live in ordinary three-liter glass jars of 200-300 pieces. Vessels are stored in rooms protected from sunlight and any odors. Aromas medical leeches do not tolerate either during growth or during treatment.

Some individuals go to breeding stock. Leeches are hermaphrodites, in an even number of up to 16-18 pieces they are placed in jars for reproduction. After fertilization, light rings appear on the body of leeches. Two weeks later, the queens are laid in peat. Here they release foam, forming a cocoon that will mature for about three months.

For breeding, the largest individuals are selected. They are grown for almost two years, fattened to a weight five times the weight of an ordinary commercial individual.

When the babies crawl out of the cocoon, they are fed for about five months. Then - three months of a hunger strike, so that individuals would be ready to perform their healing function for sale.

In general, the breeding of medicinal leeches is an artificial cultivation, for which it is sometimes necessary to plant brothers from the wild. Because with each generation, farm leeches weaken and become smaller.

Before sending leeches on orders, they are subjected to medical examination and an activity test. A leech is considered fit if it is ready to suck.

Business on leeches

Breeding medical leeches as a business - a good option to earn income without serious investments. To be registered as individual entrepreneur or legal entity. But more trouble will bring the process of obtaining required license from Federal Service for health care supervision. The leech is equated to a medical preparation, therefore its cultivation requires the support of special documents.

The starting batch of leeches can be ordered at specialized farms. The selling price is usually from thirty rubles per individual.

If, when thinking about a business, you decide to save money and catch leeches in a pond, then most likely you will spend more than you will earn income. Water leeches are not suitable for hirudotherapy.

Large biofarms can grow seven to eight million leeches per year.

Conditions for growing leeches

In the private business of cultivating leeches, the same conditions must be provided that are observed on farms. For each stage of development of an individual, you will need separate containers:

1. Cocoon maturation in boxes with peat.
2. Growing fry in glass jars or plastic containers.
3. Aquariums, jars or containers for keeping adult worms.

It is important to monitor the water in the vessels where the leeches are placed. In order not to miss the moment of pollution or the formation of mucus, it is better to use aquariums or glass jars. Some grow individuals in food-grade plastic buckets. Also a valid option, but transparent glass vessels are preferable. Banks or buckets should be covered with a piece of cloth or a perforated lid.

Without maintaining a certain state of water and microclimate in the room, leeches can die. Air humidity should not be lower than eighty-eighty-five percent, water and air temperature - twenty-four - twenty-seven degrees.

Water in any containers where leeches live must be changed at least twice a week. You will need aerobic filters to keep the water circulating.

Leeches need to be fed once a month. They feed on bull blood.

Nutrition of leeches

The only suitable food for leeches in the breeding process is bovine blood. You can get it at meat processing plants, but watch the quality of the feed. The blood must be from a healthy animal.

Where to promote the product

Given the medicinal properties of medicinal leeches, it can be assumed that they are in demand in medical institutions and among private hirudotherapists, as well as in pharmacies. This category of consumers should be emphasized.

Features of transportation

In order for the leeches to be delivered to the customer in integrity and in full readiness to treat, prepare the conditions for them. It is recommended to transport a batch of leeches in a glass container filled with two-thirds of water. Only distilled water should be used.

During transportation, it is necessary to ensure a comfortable temperature, protect containers from sunlight and odors.

How to deliver leeches to the customer

If the distance to the customer is not more than one hundred kilometers, then it is possible to deliver leeches in plastic containers covered with a perforated lid. For each container of three liters - two hundred leeches.

If the distance is more than a hundred kilometers, then it is more convenient to use fabric bags. For their manufacture, it is better to use coarse calico, the size of one bag is thirty by twenty centimeters. Up to three hundred leeches can be placed in a bag.

The bag must be damp. You can tie it with an ordinary rubber band and wrap it in wrapping paper. It is better to transport bags in cardboard boxes. In such conditions, leeches will survive a two-day journey.

Keep in mind that leeches are very sensitive to changes in the microclimate. At the slightest deviation from the conditions of detention or transportation, they may die.

No special equipment and equipment is used in the process of growing individuals. All work on transplanting and catching must be carried out manually.

Breeding at home

Breeding leeches at home for beginners can seem like a laborious task. However, if you strictly follow the recommendations, then taking care of pets will cease to be troublesome.

After delivery, place the leech in a food-grade plastic container half filled with water. Water can be tap water, but settled for about two days, so that chlorine leaves. Usually leeches tolerate transportation well if it is organized correctly. But sometimes there may be a sick individual in the party. Recognizing it is quite simple: a non-viable leech will be almost motionless in the center of the container.

After you make sure that only medicinal leeches remain, move them to a jar of water. Cover the container with a towel. Use only clean rubber gloves. Active leeches will contract in the muscles if you lightly squeeze the individuals in the palm of your hand.

How to feed leeches at home

Nothing. The sense will be only from hungry leeches. They can live on hunger strike for six to twelve months. During this time, they are usually already used in therapy. So don't worry about the nutrition of worms, and don't listen to ridiculous advice about the need to sweeten the habitat of leeches with sugar. They don't emaciate.

But it is worth monitoring the microclimate in the room. Room temperature should be maintained, jars of leeches are best stored in a shady room. Water must be changed every three to five days, well filtered and sufficiently oxygenated. Do not be afraid if the water becomes cloudy - this is the result of the excretion of waste products of leeches.

Breeding leeches at home as a business

Medical leeches are small, medium and large. Breeding leeches at home begins with the order of large individuals that can bring offspring. As soon as you get a delivery with a batch of leeches, feed them. Then place individuals in pairs in banks, no more than 18 worms in a vessel. In a month, light rings should appear on the leeches - a sign of fertilization. Soon they need to be moved to peat.

In peat, leeches lay a cocoon in which fifteen to twenty fry mature. From a hundred queen leeches, you can get a thousand - two thousand individuals.

If you are not going to grow leeches for sale, but want to use them for your treatment, then it would be right to consult a doctor before starting therapy.

Biologists classify leeches as an annelids. The length of a medical leech is about 12 cm, it is armed with 270 teeth located on 3 jaws, and has 5 pairs of eyes. It feeds on the blood of animals and humans. She can remain without food for six months, and then suck out blood 7 times more than she weighs herself. Although there are cases of leeches surviving without food for 2 years!

With the help of leeches, many diseases are treated. In the USA, they are used in ophthalmology and plastic surgery, where up to 45,000 leeches are used per year. For the treatment of various diseases, specimens of different sizes are used. In ophthalmology, for example, small leeches are used. Europe annually consumes up to 120 thousand leeches. In Russia, treatment with leeches ( hirudotherapy) has become very fashionable. The price of leeches ranges from 30-50 rubles. In the CIS countries, an increasing number of people are now showing interest in treatment with leeches. And demand began to significantly exceed supply. Therefore, it makes sense to seriously think about such a business idea as the cultivation of medicinal leeches.

You can buy medical leeches for growing at biofactories. For breeding, the largest and strongest individuals are selected. They are supplemented and grown, and then placed in 3-liter jars, several pieces, leaving alone for 2 months. Each leech can carry offspring, because it is a hermaphrodite, that is, for its children it will be "both mom and dad." If she has signs of offspring, she is sent to the bookmark - transplanted into a jar of peat. There, one leech lays from 2 to 10 cocoons: it secretes foam, which, slightly hardening, forms these same cocoons. They develop future offspring. Young leeches are fed with sterile calf blood heated to a temperature of 36 degrees. For feeding use special drums. The film stretched over them imitates human skin. Leeches cut through it, gradually becoming saturated. They eat a lot, significantly increasing in size. Then they are washed with clean water. Before being sent to pharmacies, leeches are not fed for 3-4 months and sent for sale.

This is a serious business based on very promising idea. Farm work is mostly done by hand. Lighting, temperature indicators of water and air, air humidity, ventilation are of great importance for success. Such a farm pays off within 5 years. It is also necessary to obtain a license for this production and all kinds of permits in the regulatory authorities. When entering the network of pharmacies, a certificate is issued for each batch of leeches. The demand for leeches is quite high, so this business niche is very promising. There is a black market for medicinal leeches, and it has arisen because of the difficulty of legalizing small-scale leech farms.

Video: growing leeches