Basic Principles of Breeding of Medicinal Leech, Hirudo verbana

Leeches are known as both therapeutic invertebrate live and parasites for people since ancient times.
In this study, the basic principles of leech breeding were prepared by evaluating of the data obtained
from studies carried out at Firat University, Faculty of Fisheries. Two soil pools that have total surface
area 1500 m², and five pieces 600 1 recirculating tanks for the culture of leeches were used. The criteria
were prepared to produce one million pieces of leeches with the knowledge accumulated on the
breeding of medicinal leeches over many years. For the culture of Hirudo verbana, 6250 m² in the fully-
controlled indoor system and 8500 m² in the semi-controlled outdoor system are required. It is
sufficient 12-15 pieces of rootstock leeches per square meter. Water temperature, oxygen and pH in
cultivation tanks should be set to 20-25°C, 3 mg/L and 7,6-8,5, respectively.