YoYo loach with Oscars?

Sean W.

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Aug 8, 2013
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Hey guys,

I have a 120 gallon tank with two juvenile Oscars, they are probably about 3.5", one Tiger Oscar and one albino Tiger Oscar. I have a full grown Yo-Yo loach that is about 6" and a full grown Tiger loach, hes about 5", both are a little over 7 years old. The loaches are currently in my moms 30 gallon community tank, id really like to move them over to the 120 gallon with the Oscars, but ive had those fish since they were both under an inch, easily my most prized fish right now, im terrified that if i add them to the 120, the Oscars will bully them. There is a lot of hiding places in the 120, but i dont want them to have to always hide. Do you think the Oscars will bully the Loaches?

Future stock ideas for the 120 are an Arowana and a tiger Datnoid...

thanks for any input!
 
I think your chances are good enough to try it out. Depending on the species you're referring to, botias have those suborbital spines to their advantage along with their size. I'd guess it'll work out just fine
 
heres the zebra loach

zebra-loach-1278796953-800.jpg


and the Yo-Yo loach

yoyo_P8108939.jpg
 
If you mean zebra (b.striata) rather than tiger (usually sycrossus hymenophysa or a similar species), then NO, striata are too shy & too small, too bite size for adult oscars. Both yoyos & zebras (& tigers) would be better in groups without the Oscars. I kept young American cichlids (dempseys, firemouths etc) with small skunk loaches, more aggressive than yoyos & WAY more so than zeebs & there were problems...The loaches learned the cichlids spewed food from their gills & tried to get them to dispense the food all the time. The cichlids tried to prevent that behavior, none of them were a good mix.
 
If you mean zebra (b.striata) rather than tiger (usually sycrossus hymenophysa or a similar species), then NO, striata are too shy & too small, too bite size for adult oscars. Both yoyos & zebras (& tigers) would be better in groups without the Oscars. I kept young American cichlids (dempseys, firemouths etc) with small skunk loaches, more aggressive than yoyos & WAY more so than zeebs & there were problems...The loaches learned the cichlids spewed food from their gills & tried to get them to dispense the food all the time. The cichlids tried to prevent that behavior, none of them were a good mix.

The botias are already pretty sizable. They are bigger than the Oscars already. I've seen huge Oscars living happily with mollies because they were raised with them. The only guy I've kept in contact with long enough for a long term result said he couldn't introduce new mollies, but the old ones were safe
 
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