fading yoyo

[frog]

Hello all I have a 60 litre community tank with a yoyo loach, 2 platies,2 goldfish!! and a molly and i have just introduced a kubotia loach (burmese border loach). I have read that young loaches will normally get on but this does not seem to be the case as my yoyo's colour keeps fading and she won't leave the burmese alone. Can anyone help me with this please!!!!!!!!!

[Martin Thoene]

Hi frog and welcome to LOL.

I don't know where you've been getting advice from but goldfish should not be mixed with tropical fish.
60 litres is around 15 USGallons which is unsuitable just for 2 Goldfish alone. Goldfish can easily grow as long as that tank!
All Botiine loaches are fish that should be kept in groups, ideally no less than 5. They are highly social animals and need the company of their own kind. Keeping one singly is cruel.
As you have introduced the kubotai after the Yoyo what is happening is that the Yoyo has its own territory in that tank and the kubotai is viewed as a rival. the Yoyo going pale is something they do during altercations with another loach. She is reacting like that to the kubotai because of the lack of more Yoyos to interact with. It is likely that eventually she'll accept the kubotai as a buddy merely because it's the nearest thing she has to her own species company.
Botia are very active fish and you cannot look at adding more Yoyos or kubotai into that tank to make a larger group.
I wouldn't keep either species as a group of 5 in anything less than a 120 litre tank.

You should read:

http://www.loaches.com/articles/an-intr ... ping-botia

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-almorhae

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-kubotai

Martin.

[frog]

Thanks Martin

Im looking to get 2 4foot tanks. One for the goldfish, one for the tropical fish (the goldfish are growning at an alarming rate).

But it will be okay to get more Loaches when there home is bigger?

P.S Thanks for your advice much appreciated!!

[Martin Thoene]

That's great news. Sure, once you have a 4 foot tank you can have a lot more. When you get round to setting up don't hesitate to ask us here for advice.

Martin.

[frog]

Cool

Thanks again for your help.