Small leaches on crabs?

[danielmancari]

So as I was cleaning my catch last night, I found a small, what I believed to be, leach.  This is the second one I've found, the other wasn't attached, but this one was.  I'm still quite the beginner with crabbing, so I pose the question.  Is this normal or are there any health risks with crabs with leaches attached?  I haven't found any with the pepper spots and all have looked good, but I still clean and cook them NJ style.

[danielmancari]

So as I was cleaning my catch last night, I found a small, what I believed to be, leach.  This is the second one I've found, the other wasn't attached, but this one was.  I'm still quite the beginner with crabbing, so I pose the question.  Is this normal or are there any health risks with crabs with leaches attached?  I haven't found any with the pepper spots and all have looked good, but I still clean and cook them NJ style.

(I posted this on the DE general board as well, but really meant for it to be posted here)

[captaincrab55]

By any chance, do you have a picture of the leaches ??

[danielmancari]

Nah, unfortunately I didn't think to take a picture until after the fact.  The first one I found I'm the bottom of my styrofoam cooler that I had crabs in the first time I went, the second was actually attached to the crabs leg last night.  These were two separate occasions about month apart.  They were very small, maybe a 1/4" in length and not much thicker than a quarter is flat and black in color.

[Ronster]

These are pretty common.    They die like the crabs when you steam them.   

[shedking]

Yup had a few myself this year. SteM kills a multitude of evil 

[Ronster]

Dan---->   I merged both your topics after moving them here.

[danielmancari]

Dan---->   I merged both your topics after moving them here.

Thank you, sir.  I was going to ask, but then I've seen how you guys are pretty on top of all of that, so I didn't bother.  As far as the leaches are concerned, glad to see that it's pretty much a non-issue.