The Yoyo Loach Loaches are always an interesting addition to an aquarium.
However, most loaches often tend to be a bit reclusive, the Yoyo loach is a happy exception
to that,
and here is a closer look at this really lively and playful fish.
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A little background This fish is known by many names including Pakistan loach which
is a misnomer as this fish does not originate from Pakistan.
Instead, it is naturally found in the upper reaches of the different rivers in India and
Nepal.
These are fishes with a highly streamlined body which is very typical of a loach.
Its silver coloration with black bands makes it
a very striking fish that will liven up the aesthetics of any aquarium it is introduced
into.
Sometimes,
the black bands can look as if they are spelling out the word 'Yoyo' which is where this loach
gets its most common name.
Natural Habitat Even though these fish naturally occur in rivers, their typical habitat is
usually located in the slow-moving parts
of the riverine systems they inhabit.
They spend most of their time near the bottom of the river amongst pebbles and rocks where
they forage for food.
These places are usually devoid of vegetation with plenty of open spaces.
These fish commonly move in groups often darting in open water from one spot to another
Ideal Tank Setup As is the case with any fish, trying to replicate the natural habitat of
the fish in question is often recommended but the yoyo loach
isn't too picky when it comes to the tank setup.
You can almost use any type of substrate as long as there is one.
If you are using something sandy or fine, make sure to add plenty of pebbles.
The ideal substrate would be a combination of coarse gravel and pebbles.
Also,
add plenty of decorations so that these fish have plenty of places to retreat to if and
when they feel threatened.
As for plants, these loaches really don't care.
It is all up to you.
Just make sure to leave plenty of open spaces to accommodate their highly active lifestyle.
As these loaches are highly social, you will need to keep at least four of them together
and that means a tank that is at least 40 gallon
in size when the fish are young.
For adults, you will need to provide at least 15 gallons per fish.
This number is not set in stone just be sure to use your best judgment.
Be sure to keep the water flow to a minimum especially along the bottom of the tank.
Diet This is perhaps the easiest aspect of keeping these fishes.
Thanks to their penchant for scavenging and active foraging, getting them to eat isn't
an issue.
They are also active during the day, which while being a rarity among loaches is incredibly
helpful in keeping them well-fed.
As for the food itself, they will accept almost anything that will sink to the bottom of the
tank.
To keep them healthy, provide these fish with a mix of plant-based foods and protein-rich
foods.
Behavior Yoyo loaches are highly endearing and a lot of that comes down to their inquisitive
and curious behavior.
They can bring life to any aquarium thanks to their constant movement and foraging.
They also keep mostly to themselves and this coupled with their generally peaceful disposition
makes them a great addition to a community tank.
They can occasionally show some aggression towards others of their own kind but it very
rarely amounts to anything serious.
They go back to foraging and generally swimming about after chasing each other for a short
while.
Water parameters Like all loaches, the yoyo loach has few scales and thin skin.
This makes them vulnerable to a lot of diseases
and that is why it is important to keep the tank's water parameters as close to perfect
for them as possible.
They are generally hardy but if they are exposed to rapidly fluctuating conditions or a tank
that is too dirty for prolonged periods of time,
they can become sick which is usually fatal for these fish.
On the plus side, it does not take a lot of effort to create the conditions that these
fishes thrive in.
Here is a summary of what these fish prefer when it comes to the water condition.
Temperature: 75°F to 86°F or 24°C to 30°C
pH: 6.5-7.5 Hardness Range: 3-10 dGH
Stability is key to keeping these fish happy and healthy and you can achieve that very
easily by using a good filtration system
and following a regular maintenance and partial water change schedule.
These fish can also be particularly vulnerable to ammonia and nitrites and that is why it
is very important to only introduce them in tanks
that have been properly cycled.
While they can tolerate small amounts of nitrates, it is advisable not to let the nitrate levels
become too high.
Tankmates While these fish are on the smaller side and they generally have a peaceful disposition,
they have the ability to fend for themselves
and can stand up to more aggressive fish.
This ideal combination of tenacity and a peaceful disposition makes them a great fit as
tankmates for a large range of fish.
As long as their tankmates aren't too big or too fast, the yoyo loach would do just
fine.
Some great tankmates for the yoyo loach include Tetras Corydoras catfish Clown Loaches
Goldfish Angelfish Glass Catfish Plecos Rams
Do keep in mind that these loaches are vociferous feeders of crustaceans and hence they should
not be mixed with snails and shrimps.
Breeding In their natural habitats, these fish migrate for breeding purposes and as
this is pretty much impossible to replicate in the home aquarium,
breeding the yoyo loach in captivity, especially in a home setup, is not something that is
feasible..
If you’ve had success breeding yoyo loaches in the past let me know in the comments.
Loaches as a whole are great fish and their inquisitive and curious behavior gives them
an adorable outlook and the yoyo loach
is a slightly underrated gem of this family.
It is active during the day which makes it a great addition to a display tank.
If you are building a community tank then definitely consider these fish as they will
add tons of personality to the tank without asking a lot in return.
I hope you enjoyed this video.
Don't forget to hit that like button and I will see you in the next video.