Growth rate of Yoyo loaches

[ey]

I was wondering how much and how fast do Yoyo loaches grow? I have 5 yoyos that range from 4-6cm, do they take a long time to reach their max size?

Also is their max size 10cm (4") or do some yoyos grow bigger?

Finally, what is the average life span of yoyos? Do they have shorter life spans compared to clown loaches?

Thanks for reading.

[poeticpyro]

yo-yos like all loaches grow in spurts, they seem to slow around 3-4" and then they grow again.. i have seen them as big as 8-10" and from what i have been hearing 7-8" is normal... so.. yes they will get pretty big and they can be very aggressive.. to cut down on the aggression.... add more hiding places and if possible more yo-yos. full size... it can take a while.. we're talking years.

[Wendie]

When I got my three they were about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in size. That was six months ago and they are now about 4 inches in size. They've reached the limit for this tank and will be rehoused in a larger tank this week once I set it up.

Before this crops up... I'm using some water from the old tank, a cup or so of gravel, all the plants, all the decorations, and a filter which has been running as an extra filter on the old tank plus Bio Spira so I don't envision any problems. It should be like a massive water change for them.

[mikev]

When I got my three they were about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in size. That was six months ago and they are now about 4 inches in size.

About the same observation here. I got mine at 1" in mid-January, the current size is around 3", and they slowed down a bit. Another inch will force a new tank, so an upgrade is being planned.

[ey]

Thanks for the replies. Wow, I never knew that yoyos would grow that fast. When they grow (in length), do they also get chubby and fat like clown loaches?

[poeticpyro]

yes and no... they don't get as fat, but they do plump a little

[mikev]

Thanks for the replies. Wow, I never knew that yoyos would grow that fast. When they grow (in length), do they also get chubby and fat like clown loaches?

In my case, they started fattening at about 2.5", before this most of the growth went into length.

I *think* the same applies to clowns: the proportions of my larger (3.5") are a little different from the smaller (2.5"-3"), the larger have a larger depth/length ratio.

[Wendie]

The largest of mine has a fairly large girth and has had it since day one. Looking down it's almost like love handles.

[Tikobird]

I have three yoyo loaches that I purchased at the same time. One is about 4 or more inches, one is about three, and the other is tiny and only about one and a half inches. Why are they all such different sizes? The tiny one is very active but so small. He still has the dark black markings.

[NancyD]

It could be due to internal parasites, they can cause stunting. Have you ever treated them with flubendazole or levamisole? you might consider it.