Many people like to keep animals like cats or dogs as pets. Still, there are people out there who love having weird pets. An anonymous leech keeper in America bought his four buffalo leeches and feeds them by feeding on his blood.
The owners, who wanted to keep their identities secret to avoid harassment over their exposure, bought four buffalo leeches for $300 (RM1,243) each. They said in an interview that the leeches are amazing pets with personalities of their own. Despite feeding by his blood, the wound heals without scarring and barely hurts.
They said that the animal makes a great pet, it can even be said that the buffalo leeches have their own personalities.
“They’re amazing, curious creatures that grow like crazy and make wonderful pets. Some like to try and sneak a feed more often than others! But once they’re full, they’re content to sit and rest for a bit out of the water if handled gently,” the owner said.
The leech keeper describes the feeling of feeding his pet, telling readers that the initial bite to the skin feels does hurt.
“Once they get feeding you don’t even feel it, even with the large buffalo leeches, although the initial bite can hurt a bit,” they said.
The creature can take up to a year between meals, however, leech sellers recommend feeding larger species every three to six months. The bite healed without scarring as well, due to the anti-coagulants in the leech’s saliva. However, sometimes it takes a few days to stop the bleeding.
The ability to heal without scarring has linked humans and leeches for medicinal purposes for generations. The bites heal without scarring too, due to the anti-coagulants in the leech saliva. However, it sometimes can take a few days for bleeding to stop.
One thing for sure is anyone that is considering having leeches for pets, they’re simply literal bloodsuckers and not figurative ones. It is definitely wallet-friendly. Although some might see it odd, their medicinal benefits are undeniable.
Source: Daily Star
