HELP PLEASE! Pregnant YoYo Loach

[Pearlescent]

Hi

We just noticed one of our 4 YoYo Loaches, Luna is heavily pregnant. She's about 4" long and around 3 years old.

We have 3 other YoYo's besides her. Lupin who is around 3 years old and two other smaller ones Lucifer and Lucky at around 1.5 years old.

I have no idea how to tell if any of them are male and as you all probably know there is very little information out there about breeding them as it doesn't happen very often... if ANYONE has any gleened knowledge at all we would really appreciate it as we would dearly like to successfully breed these!

We have in the tank besides them 4 Amano Shrimp, 3 Khuli Loaches, 4 Neon Tetras and 3 Pearl Danios in a 4" tank.

We would have gotten a photo for you but there is lots of bogwood and plants and it's near impossible to get a glimpse of her at the best of times let alone a photo!

So... err... help... please?

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Hi Pearlescent,

Pregnant YoYos is not a rara case. Problem is that male YoYos do not reach sexual maturation to fertilize those egs. I had a few cases of pregnant YoYos. Actually, one of mine is pregnant this very moment.
Anyway, in a comunitary tank would be impossible to have them breeding. Other fishes would eat the egs as soon as they show up.

Marcos

[Emma Turner]

Hi Pearlescent,

Some of these more difficult to breed species are likely to do so in the wild following seasonal changes. This article may be of interest to give you some ideas as how to best simulate this in the aquarium: http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/bre ... asons.html

Good luck!

Emma

[LVKSLoachlady]

Hi Pearlescent,

Pregnant YoYos is not a rara case. Problem is that male YoYos do not reach sexual maturation to fertilize those egs. I had a few cases of pregnant YoYos. Actually, one of mine is pregnant this very moment.
Anyway, in a comunitary tank would be impossible to have them breeding. Other fishes would eat the egs as soon as they show up.

Marcos

Why don't they? Does it take many years?

[Marcos Mataratzis]

I´m afraid nobody has that answer. Fact is that they cannot fertilize the eggs.

[LVKSLoachlady]

Could It be something else? Like they eat the the eggs before they get fertilized, Or that the fry need brakish water?

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Definetely no brakish needed as loaches do not like salt. They were able to breed YoYo and some other Loache species at the by hormone shots. Seams female get pregnant, lay down her eggs but males don´t show any interest on them.

[LVKSLoachlady]

Definetely no brakish needed as loaches do not like salt. They were able to breed YoYo and some other Loache species at the by hormone shots. Seams female get pregnant, lay down her eggs but males don´t show any interest on them.

hummm... What a mystery!

Did you read my thread about the dance my yoyo's do sometimes... can/will you comment on it? thanks...

[brndette21]

Hi Pearlescent,

Pregnant YoYos is not a rara case. Problem is that male YoYos do not reach sexual maturation to fertilize those egs. I had a few cases of pregnant YoYos. Actually, one of mine is pregnant this very moment.
Anyway, in a comunitary tank would be impossible to have them breeding. Other fishes would eat the egs as soon as they show up.

Marcos

Oh, really, congratulations for your pregnant yoyo, you can now breed your yoyo. On the other hand, it is difficult to breed of that kind of fish, yoyo, but then you could. I'm hoping for healthy pregnancy of your yoyo.