<p>The presence of predators influences the selection of oviposition sites, with females often choosing locations that minimize the risk of predation. Bitterlings, freshwater fish that deposit their eggs into the gills of mussels, face the threat of predation from mussel-associated leeches <i>Hemiclepsis kasmiana</i>, which feed on bitterling embryos. In this study, we investigated the host preferences of two species of spring-spawning bitterlings, <i>Tanakia limbata</i> and <i>T. lanceolata</i>, based on the parasitic density of mussel-associated leeches. Our methodology involved observing female bitterling spawning behavior and dissecting mussels to locate bitterling embryos. Our results revealed a preference of female <i>T. limbata</i> for spawning on uninfested mussels or those with lower leech infestation densities, supported by both spawning observations and mussel dissections. Female <i>T. lanceolata</i> exhibited a tendency to avoid mussels with higher leech infestation densities, supported by only mussel dissections, although this avoidance is not statistically significant. The difference in host preference between the two spring-spawning bitterling species may be due to their contrasting reproductive strategies aimed at minimizing the total risk of predation and host mortality.</p>