Yo Yos and Hengel Rasboras

[WhitneyGail]

Hi All,

I was wondering if it is safe to get Yo Yo loaches for a 30 gallon tank that houses Hengel Rasboras (which are like Harlequin Rasboras, but a little smaller). My LFS says that they're totally peaceful, but I've seen people post on forums that say that they can get aggressive. When the Yo Yos reach full size, will they eat my little guys?

I'm also considering getting a couple of Blue Rams (which my LFS also says will be fine with the loaches)- What do you all think?

My tank is a tall 30 gallon bowfront. It doesn't have as much floor space as a long tank does, but it's a planted tank and has tons of little caves and hiding spots.

I love the way loaches look and behave, but I don't want to feel nervous that one day, the fish that I liked so much are bullying or killing my other fish. My experience (small though it may be) has taught me not to always blindly rely on what the fish store staff tell me, so I'd really appreciate your opinions. Thanks.[/img]

[mickthefish]

the yo yo's with the hengeli will be no problem, but i think the rams could get a hard time as they both live in the lower part of the tank,
and rams aren't the strongest of cichlids to put with the yo yo's.

[Emma Turner]

Hi WhitneyGail and welcome to Loaches Online.

Unfortunately, the aquarium that you are proposing to keep Yo-Yo loaches in is really not big enough for them. Have a look at the recent profile that we've been working on for this species: http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=2922

In my experience they can be quite fiesty, and personally I would not trust adults with Trigonostigma hengeli, particularly in a smaller aquarium.

Emma

[TammyLiz]

Since the yoyos may grow as large as 8 inches I think a 30 gallon tank is a little too small for them.

I know tank size is a sensitive issue and people can get really mad about it, so I hope that doesn't happen (again) here, but I thought I'd mention it just so you can think about it yourself. Look at the tank and think about an 8 inch fish trying to swim around in there. Do you think he'd be comfortable? Its your decision.

Keep in mind they will probably be more agitated and so more likely to pick on the rasboras out of boredom in a smaller tank.

You might want to consider one of the smaller species, such as striata.

[WhitneyGail]

Ok.

It's so funny how people in the aquarium stores (which one goes to, presumably because the information there will be more reliable than at, say, petsmart) will tell their customers one thing, and then when you talk to people who have had experience with the fish in question, you get a totally different account.

Striata? I've seen them....they're very cute, but the ones I saw looked a little aggressive to me......Are they peaceful?

[mikev]

Since the yoyos may grow as large as 8 inches I think a 30 gallon tank is a little too small for them.

Worse. Since they are very fast-growing too, 30g really becomes too small within a few months, a 3"-4" yoyo already needs a larger tank.

I have four 3"-4" one-year olds now in a 6" tank, and they can run the entire length of the tank very quickly,...and look much happier than they were in a 29g which did not provide enough of the length for a good run. 6" may be an overkill at this size, but anything less than 55g/4" is really not good enough.

As for mixing them with small rasboras: it is really a question of luck....maybe you'll be ok, and maybe not.

[NancyD]

Striatas are very peaceful, I love mine. A very small amount of food guarding once in a while. They love to "dance" up & down the tank. Of course if the rams breed I don't think any fish can ignore eggs.
Nancy

[Graeme Robson]

Striata? I've seen them....they're very cute, but the ones I saw looked a little aggressive to me......Are they peaceful?

Botia striata's are a active/curious loach but not classed as a aggressive loach by no means.

[TammyLiz]

Striata will probably cause less trouble than the yoyos. I only have a single one in the same tank with my group of yoyos (a couple more will hopefully soon be added), but he is not as bold as they are even though currently the same size.