Yo-Yo question

[lucas68]

I have some questions about Yo-Yo loaches.

First, how big do they get? My LFS finally got some in and I think they look soooo cool. :thm: I want to put one in my 16-gallon bow-front tank, and want to make sure he will not out-grow the tank.

Second, do these guy eat snails? I love having snails in my tanks, but they are getting out of control in the bow-front.

Finally, do they like to be by themselves or do they like having a friend? (A.K.A. How many should I buy?)

[pedzola]

Yoyo loaches are very fast growing.

They will quickly reach their adult size of around 4 inches, although I've heard of some growing larger.

You should have at least a 30 gallon aquarium, and they do prefer to be in a small group with other yoyo's or other types of loaches. If you have no other loaches I would recommend at least 3 yo-yo's. If you get 2, then the dominant fish will always pick on the smaller one.

They do eat snails... they are very fun to watch fish, very active. Unfortunately I would not put them in a 16 gallon tank unless it was temporary.

[mduros]

I have some questions about Yo-Yo loaches.

First, how big do they get? My LFS finally got some in and I think they look soooo cool. :thm: I want to put one in my 16-gallon bow-front tank, and want to make sure he will not out-grow the tank.
I think they stay pretty small but not positive. Under 4 inches.

Second, do these guy eat snails? I love having snails in my tanks, but they are getting out of control in the bow-front.
Boy do they eat snails! Not a good fish to have if you want snails.

Finally, do they like to be by themselves or do they like having a friend? (A.K.A. How many should I buy?)
They're pretty social, though not as social as clowns. I have two, but will probably get another one someday.
Take care,
Mary.

[kyle3]

all the profiles i've read for these fish say they reach between 4-4.5"

[lucas68]

Ok, the answer is;
Three Yo-Yo loaches
The new 75-gallon tank
A good divorce lawyer because my wife will kill me if I buy one more fish tank.

[pedzola]

I think they stay pretty small but not positive. Under 4 inches.

A quick scan of google pulls up "max size" anywhere between 2.5 to 6 inches.

After 3 months mine are already in the 3-4inch range (bought very tiny). These fish are voracious eaters and grow VERY fast.

Check out www.loaches.com for more info on these and other loaches.

Some claim the can get 8"+. After witnessing the amazing growth of my own yo-yo's, I wouldn't doubt it.

One thing to note when loach-shopping is that there are several species of botia that look nearly identical to b.almorhae (true "yoyo" loach). Some yoyo's keep the YoYo pattern into adulthood, and others have a more reticulated pattern once they get older. There is debate whether these are actually the same fish or not. However, the easiest way to tell if you have a yo-yo or not is simply the YoYo on the side. If it looks like a young yoyo, but does not say YoYo on the side, then it's something else!

[pedzola]

Ok, the answer is;
Three Yo-Yo loaches
The new 75-gallon tank



In a 75g you would have plenty of room for happy troupe of yo-yo's. Why only 3? ;)

[joephys]

Ok, the answer is;
.....
A good divorce lawyer because my wife will kill me if I buy one more fish tank.

I'm not even married yet and this is already a problem for me. (I only have two tanks!!)

[fish addict]

I have 2 Yoyo's in my 30 gallon long with 2 cories and a Leopard Ctenopoma. I've had the Yoyos for about a year and a half and they have grown from around 1.5" to 4.5".

They are very amusing fish; I was just watching mine before lights out and thinking about how social and easy-going they are. The loaches rub against the other fish and playfully swim around them.

These loaches need space to swim and company (maybe 5 in a 75g). I would like to upgrade to a 55g and add a couple of Burmese Border Loaches. A planted tank filled with loaches sounds pretty ideal to me!