Question about yoyo loaches

[Plague]

I am finding conflicting information about these loaches. Some information says they are peaceful and are good for community tanks. Then I find information saying they are aggressive and will more than likely eat my neon tetras. So which one is it? I always thought of them being peaceful...

[LelandC]

I have a very very very active yoyo loach along with clowns in my community tank. (see my sig).
theres a lotta tetras, but non of them get harmed. as long as you feed them enough they're fine. I just feed regular flake food.
however, I have had molllies (1-2") dying of no reason. maybe the loaches' spine's gettin some use?

[Plague]

so you've never witnessed them being aggressive. I wonder if they will bug my farlowella gracillis'

[toddnbecka]

Yoyo's are a social species; given a group of their own species to interact with they're much less likely to be a problem for other fish. Keeping one or two is likely to result in problems though. IME not too many fish bother farlowella's.

[Plague]

I'm gonna have 5 kuhli loaches and 4 yoyo's. I believe this is a good enough number to keep the aggression down if any.

[Squawkbert]

I have just 1 YoYo - he chases my Cories around a bit, but I don't think he's being aggressive, just social. My remaining pair of Cardinals and my Otos have not suffered for having added a YoYo.

[jasonG75]

I am finding conflicting information about these loaches. Some information says they are peaceful and are good for community tanks. Then I find information saying they are aggressive and will more than likely eat my neon tetras. So which one is it? I always thought of them being peaceful...

:rofl:

:screwy:

thier mouths arent even big enought...You are safe, yoyo inhadit the bottom of the tank and are only agressive during feeding. LIke most fish.

[Plague]

I figured their mouths would never get big enough lol. I feel better asking now though :)

[toddnbecka]

Mouth size is irrelevant, it's the switchblade spines under their eyes that are their weapons for offense or defense. I had a single redtail botia a few years ago I bought to eliminate snails. After I had it in a 55 for a couple months I saw my praecox rainbows dying one by one, always at night, a couple days apart. I couldn't figure out what was going on until I found one of the dead rainbows actually in the redtails cave. After the redtail was returned to the lfs I didn't have any more mysterious deaths.

[RiVerfishgirl]

My large yoyo was pretty aggressive, mainly territorial (and yes he was with several other loaches, so it wasn't because he was by himself). He'd dart out and attack other fish. I don't know if he would have considered neons a threat though, or whether he would have bothered them.

Loaches that are large enough actually can go after small fish and eat them. But I don't know how likely a yoyo is to do so.

[Plague]

See now there is conflicting info again. Now I don't know what to think of yoyo's.

[toddnbecka]

Your mileage may vary; fish of any species are individuals. Some play well with others, some like are brutal, antisocial bullies. Yoyo's aren't typically on the more aggressive end of the spectrum, but bad ones do turn up occaisonally.

[Lupin]

Plague, I've kept yoyo loaches in community setups with no issues. You do need to keep them in a large group as they tend to socialize and build ranks. Buying only less than 3 will prompt them to pester other fish. There's no reason for you not to buy them if you really like them. Just be sure to keep at least 4-5 of them.

[Plague]

I'll be getting them. If any turn up aggressive I'll just return it until I get a good boy >.> I hope the kuhli loaches will interact with them :D

[Lupin]

I didn't know you have kuhlis. Glad you said it. I don't advise combining kuhlis with any botia. They don't do well with the hyperactive behavior of yoyos.

[Plague]

I don't have the kuhlis yet. I have a grand list of what to add to my new 55g and I was planning on having kuhlis and yoyo's. But now that you said that I don't know which to pick!!!

[Plague]

I also want to know if I can keep an open hood with either one.

[fishorama]

Yoyos would probably outcompete kuhlis for food & make the kuhlis hide a lot. Maybe 1 of the smaller botias would play nicer but I haven't kept them together. Like sids or striatas maybe. I would call yoyos "boisterous", or even semi-aggressive, you might be better off with a smaller loach in a 55g.
I have histrionica in a 55g, kinda similar to yoyos but a little smaller. Very day active but I don't think thay'd do well with kuhlis either, too rowdy.

[fishorama]

All my tanks are semi-open, glass tops but no strip along the back. I leave the water level down a few inches for a couple months so the loaches can learn the tank boundaries. I recently added black kuhlis to a rimless 40g long & was a bit worried when they did the dancing loops. Floating plants help too, lets them know there's a "ceiling" & some like to lay in them, I have Indian ferns.

[Plague]

would cory cats not be a good companion for them either? I'm gonna have 6 kuhli's. If you need a list of the other fish I'm gonna have just ask.

[Lupin]

Cories are fine with kuhlis.

[Plague]

Well I'll be getting 6 kuhlis and 5 julii cory cats that should do :)

[fishorama]

Sounds good...but in a 55g you could go with a few more of each ;) Got to love the bottom feeders!

[Plague]

Thing is I'll be having:
6 neon dwarf rainbows
6 kuhli's
5 julii cory
6 cherry barbs

and I already have:
10 neon tetra's
2 whiptail catfish (farlowella gracillis)
1 dwarf neon gourami
5 zebra danios
2 mystery snails

so I think I'm well stocked =P Thanks for the advice you helped me avoid fishy deaths.

[fishorama]

Should be very nice, we'll need some pics if possible please

[Plague]

I'll be sure to post them when I'm done. Right now I'm a hell hole cause the hood the tank brought is a total 30 watts. No were near what is needed for my plants. Being on a tight budget I won't be able to complete this tank for a while :(

[fishorama]

Shop lights maybe? Not that pretty, but not that bad...

[Plague]

It's ok someone here recommended these 48" T5 HO 108w light fixture for $60 just saving up to buy it.

[fishorama]

I need a link, that sounds nice!

[Plague]

http://shop.aquatraders.com/T5-High-Output-Aquarium-Light-s/9.htm

have fun ;)

[RiVerfishgirl]

I've kept kuhlis with yoyos, striata, and clown loaches, and they were all fine together.

In a larger setup kuhlis are likely to hide whether or not there are bigger loaches. It's just what they do. The only way I saw mine was to look underneath the tank (it was barebottom) and see them sitting under the driftwood, though they did come out to eat.

Kuhlis won't really interact with the larger loaches. They exhibit different behavior.

Cories are fine with loaches. They pretty much just ignore each other.

[fishorama]

I've kept kuhlis with yoyos, striata, and clown loaches, and they were all fine together.

In a larger setup kuhlis are likely to hide whether or not there are bigger loaches. It's just what they do. The only way I saw mine was to look underneath the tank (it was barebottom) and see them sitting under the driftwood, though they did come out to eat.

Kuhlis won't really interact with the larger loaches. They exhibit different behavior.

Cories are fine with loaches. They pretty much just ignore each other.

Some of my kuhlis are out at any 1 time but there aren't much bigger fish with them. It helps to have more of them, lots of hiding spots & plants.

[RiVerfishgirl]

Some of my kuhlis are out at any 1 time but there aren't much bigger fish with them. It helps to have more of them, lots of hiding spots & plants.

I had about 12+ of them. In a large tank (they were in a 125g) with lots of plants and driftwood they have so many places to go they don't swim around in view much.