Loaches Online Forum

Hi there,

I have 4 yoyos and 4 weather loaches in one of my tanks. All of the fish look super healthy however, since we have added the yoyos to the tank about 2.5 months ago; the biggest yoyo has put on some major weight. I think her girth is starting to approach her length (3 or 3.5 inches), I am pretty sure it is a female as she does not have red barbells and is well much more rounded and chubbier (even when she was a normal weight she was kinda curvy). Could she be filling with spawn? She looks heathy and active she just waddles a lot now...

Should I be concerned? She does seem to be an aggreeive eater but I am trying to keep the portions down. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

yes, pictures please.

LOL working on it she is a bit camera shy I might have to wait for their dinner tomorrow!

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... tsy+bertha

here's a link to some photos of 2 of my yoyos, Emma took them for me before i collected them. they were very fat, not gravid. you can see an example of a gravid yoyo a bit further down the thread.

is she fat around just the belly area, or fat along the back as well?


by the way, what temperature is your tank at? yoyos and weather loaches may not be the best of loaches to house together

Hi Helen , i wouldnt be surprized if the Almorhaes [Yoyo's] would be better suited to cooler water , unless you mean they might be a bit aggresive for the Dojo's ? funnily i have a B.Rostrata in an unheated tank and its growth rate is better than most of the ones i have i tropical tanks !

Hi Everyone,

You guys are great I was thinking of joining the forums for some time and I am glad I finally have.

I am still working on a PIC - I swear she knows I am trying to take her pic, normally she loves to come visit when I am by the tank; but not when the camera is around.

The water temp is always around 70 and they all get along really well, they do not seem to distinguish any favorites when it comes to cuddle time - the Dojo's hated the yoyos for a whole 5 mins when they were introduced but then after that they became best friends.

They even eat together well which was something I was a bit worried about because I know the yoyos can get a bit aggressive when food is involved.

She does not look like the fat yoyo pics you have - but she is still quite small compared to yours I think. She only really looks fat around her tummy. If you are looking her strait on it looks like she is a rounded triangle shape.

Will post pics ASAP.


Adrea

I've learned a trick about taking photos. It takes a little practice, but get one of those red laser pointers. You can get them at pet shops (they are sold for cats and dogs).

Shine the point where you want to take the picture. Its easier if you have the camera pointed where you want and on a tripod, but you can still work it out without too.

Most of the botias will go out to investigate since it seems to make them think there is food there...I also use it when food is missed to point it out...like that happens alot...lol

Kevin

While I will still work at getting a pic - I think mystery is solved.... She looks very similar to, but even more triangular than, the gravid loach that Emma posted in her pics for Helen. Poor thing; after looking at the pics of the other yoyos - I don't she think is truely fat at all, only gravid, because she is still quite slender by her dorsal/top fin. That must be hard on their little bodies! I thought she was too young to be filling up with eggs.

Does anyone know if she will she lay the eggs? - I read up on yoyo's and from the sounds of it I have a better chance winning the lottery than for them to sucessfully bred in captivity. If she does lay eggs I am guessing the dojos and yoyos will eat them up.

Kevin - GREAT tip on the picture taking I am am going to go pick up a laser pointer this weekend....

Yaaay I had some success - these are the best pics I could get http://www.flickr.com/gp/15401346@N04/V7y2X9

I think she is gravid - what do you think?

Adrea

Adrea , i wouldnt worry about that fish , it looks in wonderful condition , as you say it is possibly just eggs ! as for breeding as far as i know these have never been bred in the aquarium ! or should i say never been reported if they have ?
The pattern is breaking up as this fish is growing , wonderful !
Also the pic is great , hope you do some more , lets see the other Almorhae's in your collection these fish are never boring as they are all different i.e. just like fingerprints !
P.S. young fish tend to eat more , inbuilt need to grow big and strong [avoid predation] in other words they kinda grow into themselves !