They say the cost of keeping a pet can bleed you dry.
But one man's devotion to his giant leech means he feeds it his own blood when it feels peckish.
A stomach-churning video of the bloodsucking parasite drinking from the man's forearm has been spared online.
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The huge bloodsucking leech enjoying a tasty treat from its owner's arm as it sits on a white counter
Red prick marks can been seen on the man's arms, although it's not clear if these were done by the leech
Not for the squeamish, it shows the bloated leech - which is as long as the unidentified man's arm - sucking from a counter as the man calmly films it in the dark, using a spotlight.
It is not known where the leech-lover and his adoring pet live, but it is thought the film was shot in Japan.
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