Loaches Online Forum

Now that I have a good group of them, how do you breed yoyo loaches?

Nobody knows how to breed them in the home aquarium. Breeding farms in Asia use spawning of this species to be induced by hormone injection.

dang.Any suggestions on how they might spawn?When/where they spawn in the wild?

Natural environment conditions.

PH Range and Hardness= Tolerates varied conditions. In the wild, pH ranges from 6 - 8 are accommodated. Water hardness (GH) between 5 - 12 dH. Temperature Range: 75 - 82 degrees F.

Throughout the Botia Almorhae's range, the Yo-Yo Loach is found primarily in very large slowly-flowing bodies of water although it is also found in ponds and lakes. It is primarily a bottom-dwelling fish (as we know) and prefers a substrate composed of smooth rock, silt and gravel. Hiding places in the form of caves or plant cover are much appreciated by the Botia Almorhae.

A lot of loaches depend on seasonal changes like flooded fields to reproduce. Some apparently migrate up or down stream to do this. From studies of fish in the wild it is known that eggs are laid on the substrate and receive no parental care.

Dang.Now i gotta recreate a flodded field in my 55 gallon tank

Well, you did ask.

Graeme Robson wrote:It is primarily a bottom-dwelling fish (as we know) and prefers a substrate composed of smooth rock, silt and gravel.

Interesting: not sand?

When I moved some yoyo's from a gravel tank to the new 125 with sand, they were actually afraid of sand for a while: fish touches the substrate, sand moves, fish is scared and runs for cover....this part is over now, but they clearly prefer to sit on the driftwood rather than on sand.

Good job they like Water eh?

Mine where instantly active within the sand when i changed over, many moons ago. Yours must of been the Posh ones from the upper basin.

Do you think theyd spawn if I pulled some grass out of my yard and threw it in the tank?

botiaboy wrote:Do you think theyd spawn if I pulled some grass out of my yard and threw it in the tank?

No. But they may die, if the grass has parasites or pesticides on it.