Single Yo-Yo?
Moderator: LoachForumModerators
Single Yo-Yo?
My wife and I are looking for an interesting fish to add to our current setup:
-55g 4'
-2 Rena XP4's
-21 4-5" African Dwarf Cichlids
-2 BN
A guy we deal with at LFS suggested the yoyo. We love the looks of these guys, but my research has shown that they prefer groups of 3 or more. We're not sure we'd want to add that many - our tank would probably be too overcrowded. Wanted to hear people's experice with having just one yoyo. Are thy unhappy without other loaches about?
Many thanks!
-55g 4'
-2 Rena XP4's
-21 4-5" African Dwarf Cichlids
-2 BN
A guy we deal with at LFS suggested the yoyo. We love the looks of these guys, but my research has shown that they prefer groups of 3 or more. We're not sure we'd want to add that many - our tank would probably be too overcrowded. Wanted to hear people's experice with having just one yoyo. Are thy unhappy without other loaches about?
Many thanks!
Yoyos are social fish and need groups to be happy. On the website (www.loaches.com) it says they should be kept in a group.
I'm not sure about dwarf african cichlids but if they are hardwater fish, then putting in yoyos isn't a good idea since they are softwater fish.
I'd suggest an alternative but I'm new to the hobby myself. Someone will come along and post better advice than mine but I'm pretty sure about the clowns in a group.
I'm not sure about dwarf african cichlids but if they are hardwater fish, then putting in yoyos isn't a good idea since they are softwater fish.
I'd suggest an alternative but I'm new to the hobby myself. Someone will come along and post better advice than mine but I'm pretty sure about the clowns in a group.
-
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:54 pm
- Location: North Jersey, USA
right now my dad has one yo-yo in a 38 gallon tank with 5 otocinclus catfish, and about 30 cardinal tetras.
The yo-yo seems to be doing great, is very happy, and extremely active.
There used to be two yo-yos, but the tank had a huge episode of ich, and only this one survived.
They say they are happier in groups though, so i don;t know what to tell you.
I have actually been trying very hard to convince my dad to get at least 2 more yo-yos, but he is kind of stubborn.
The one yo-yo seems to be doing great alone though.
The yo-yo seems to be doing great, is very happy, and extremely active.
There used to be two yo-yos, but the tank had a huge episode of ich, and only this one survived.
They say they are happier in groups though, so i don;t know what to tell you.
I have actually been trying very hard to convince my dad to get at least 2 more yo-yos, but he is kind of stubborn.
The one yo-yo seems to be doing great alone though.
- palaeodave
- Posts: 1370
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 5:25 am
- Location: London/York
We would prefer though that they be kept at a minimum of 3. Loaches are quite sociable. Perhaps, teling your dad that the more the merrier and more entertaining to watch the small group may persuade him.adamrf1126 wrote:They say they are happier in groups though, so i don;t know what to tell you.
I have actually been trying very hard to convince my dad to get at least 2 more yo-yos, but he is kind of stubborn.
The one yo-yo seems to be doing great alone though.
Passion for loaches + Passion for snails = Irony
my loach alone
my loach is alone and seams fine he is always out. he is very soital with the other fish.
My loaches.
-2 hillstreams l -2 clown loaches
-2 tiger loaches l -1 unknown
-1 yo-yo l
-1 poka dot botia l
-2 hillstreams l -2 clown loaches
-2 tiger loaches l -1 unknown
-1 yo-yo l
-1 poka dot botia l
I had a single yoyo loach, as suggested by my LFS, and it was a nightmare - he was great fun to watch, but antagonized the other fish mercilessly, and it was pretty obvious he wasn't happy. That's what brought me to this community in the first place, and because I didn't have the space to get more than one, I had to make the tough decision to give him up.
I'm glad you're doing the research beforehand - much better plan!
I'm glad you're doing the research beforehand - much better plan!
- Emma Turner
- Posts: 8901
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:07 pm
- Location: Peterborough, UK
- Contact:
Hi gizmo,
Dave sums it up perfectly here:
Hope this helps,
Emma
Dave sums it up perfectly here:
These are social fish which build a natural hierarchy within a group. Despite what the store have said, keeping one alone is simply cruel, and in Yoyos does often lead to aggression problems as the fish mature. A group of at least 3 is needed, but 5 will be better. Have a read here of their general requirements: http://www.loaches.com/articles/an-intr ... ping-botia They will not be suitable for keeping with your Malawi cichlids though, another article which may be of interest is here: http://www.loaches.com/articles/why-loa ... i-cichlids. So you need to decide whether you want to keep one or the other.palaeodave wrote:One yoyo tends to bother other fish. Two yoyos will torment each other. Three (more is preferable) are boisterous but great fun.
Hope this helps,
Emma
East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
About a year ago I decided to check this, by moving my Yoyo's into new tank one by one with intervals long enough for the behavior to stabilize.palaeodave wrote:One yoyo tends to bother other fish. Two yoyos will torment each other. Three (more is preferable) are boisterous but great fun.
Two was the worst. On the count of three I got two loaches tormenting each other and the third (slightly smaller and ignored) hiding from them in the corner...not much better than two. Four was indeed stable.
[Other people did find three to work and I saw it working myself too ... but this is ime pretty risky.]
Hey,
One yo-yo will be aggressive and/or hide most of the time. A group will be out all the time to perform their dance routines for you.
Batch
One yo-yo will be aggressive and/or hide most of the time. A group will be out all the time to perform their dance routines for you.
I had a similair experience with my Yo-yos. By twos and threes I increased it to nine.Two was the worst. On the count of three I got two loaches tormenting each other and the third (slightly smaller and ignored) hiding from them in the corner...not much better than two.
Batch
My two bits
After listening to Emma and a few of the others I would say no fewer then 5, I have three currently ( still holding out hope the one will suddenly surface). My group is the opposite of what someone posted I have two very nearly 3 inches and one at 3.5 and he is king! I am currently in a financial bind getting married and all so I cannot afford to increase just yet but when I can I will be getting two more. From what I have seen when I did have four they were much more active.
- palaeodave
- Posts: 1370
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 5:25 am
- Location: London/York
I'm with Mike, I want to see 9 yoyos doing their thing! I've got five.Batch wrote:Hey,
One yo-yo will be aggressive and/or hide most of the time. A group will be out all the time to perform their dance routines for you.I had a similair experience with my Yo-yos. By twos and threes I increased it to nine.Two was the worst. On the count of three I got two loaches tormenting each other and the third (slightly smaller and ignored) hiding from them in the corner...not much better than two.
Batch
Ordered Chaos!!
9 in a tank would be thus, and the ordered is only from it taking place in such a small area!!!
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 46 guests