Yoyo loach

Water parameters

Tolerated range for this species. Aim for the middle of each band rather than the extremes.

Tank and habitat

Substrate: sand.

Behavior

Plant interaction: digs up plants.

Feeding

Sinking pellets, sinking wafers, frozen bloodworm, frozen brine shrimp, frozen mysis, live blackworms, live snails, and blanched vegetables. They forage actively on the substrate, poking into crevices and under decor. Snails are a favorite food item and they'll systematically clear a pest snail population. Feed once or twice daily with sinking food. In community tanks, they'll also grab food that drifts to the bottom from surface feeders. Not picky about food type but need enough volume to fuel their active metabolism.

Compatibility

• Semi-aggressive bottom-dweller that harasses slow-moving or long-finned tankmates. Corydoras, in particular, get bullied by yoyo loaches. The aggression is territorial rather than predatory.
• Best kept with robust, active species that occupy other zones: barbs, larger tetras, rainbowfish, and other loaches. Avoid bettas, angelfish, and anything slow or fragile.
• Groups of 4+ help spread aggression. A single yoyo loach focuses all its energy on one or two targets. In a group, they sort out a hierarchy among themselves and bother tankmates less.
• Snail eater. Yoyo loaches eat pest snails efficiently, which is often the reason they're purchased. They'll also eat ornamental snails, so don't keep them with mystery snails or nerites you want to survive.

Origin and habitat

The true Botia almorhae (Almora loach) originates in slow-running and still waters of the Ganges basin in northern India and possibly Nepal; despite the common name "Pakistani loach," B. almorhae is not known from Pakistan, where the species present is the related B. birdi. However, most specimens sold as B. almorhae in the aquarium trade may be the closely related B. lohachata (reticulate loach), which occurs in Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh; the two species are frequently confused commercially. Described by J.E. Gray in 1831. A member of the family Botiidae. Found in clean mountain streams and slow-moving rivers, typically in rocky pools with shelter among crevices; juveniles tend to inhabit lower parts of river systems while adults occupy higher streams, with upstream migrations for spawning. The common name "yoyo loach" comes from dark markings on the body that in juveniles vaguely spell "YOYO" along the flanks; the pattern becomes a more complex reticulated network of dark lines on a silver-gold background as the fish matures. Attains a length of 14–16 cm. Wild specimens are rarely exported; most trade specimens are farm-bred. An active, social species that should be kept in groups of at least 5; effective snail control in planted aquariums. IUCN Least Concern.

Breeding

Not bred in home aquariums with any consistency. Like most Botia loaches, the species likely requires seasonal triggers (monsoon-cycle simulation, large water volume, migration cues) that can't be replicated in a standard aquarium. Sexing is difficult; mature females are slightly plumper but the difference is subtle. Commercial breeding reportedly uses hormone injection in large pond facilities in Southeast Asia. Spontaneous spawning in home tanks is undocumented despite the species being kept for over 70 years. The reproductive biology in the wild is poorly studied. Every yoyo loach in stores is either wild-caught or farm-bred using hormones.

Common problems

Aggression toward bottom-dwelling tankmates is the primary concern. Yoyo loaches are relentless chasers and will exhaust slow bottom-dwellers. Corydoras, in particular, fare poorly when housed with yoyo loaches. The solution is choosing tankmates that can handle the pace or keeping the loaches in a species-appropriate community. Ich is common in newly purchased fish; the species is scaleless and sensitive to full-dose medication. Treat with temperature elevation (30°C for 10 days) or half-dose malachite green. Skinny disease (internal parasites, usually from wild-caught specimens) causes progressive wasting. Treat with levamisole or fenbendazole. Jumping is a risk; they leap during the night or when startled. A tight lid is necessary. The growth from 5 cm juvenile to 12–15 cm adult takes several years but catches keepers off guard if they bought the fish for a small tank.

Bioload

Further reading

• How to cycle a fish tank
• Stocking ideas by tank size