Yo Yo Loaches Questions?????!!!!

[Yo_Yo_Luver_69]

Hi, recently I got 2 yo yo loaches for my tank. (Yes, I know that they do better in a group but I was helping out a friend who was getting rid of them)('')
I have a few questions about them though.

1: One of the loaches is way smaller than the other one, but they are both 3 years old.... wutever.... anyways the bigger one is constantly chasing the littler one around. I'm worried that he'll beat the poor thing up. (':?')I have more than 2 caves, so hiding places shouldn't be a problem...
If you have any suggestions on that question plz reply. (I have no room for others so dont tell me to get more.)

2: I have a 46 gallon tank that I will be setting up shortly. I would really like to have a bristlenose pleco in there. But I thought it would be nice to move my yo yo's in there, and get them some more buddies. I have enough room - I think - but some people say not to put them together. I don't know what to do. Could I put the pleco in my 20 gallon is I got some wood for him????
Any help would be appreciated.

3: Can you mix loach species together? Because I was thinking of getting some dwarf loaches cuz they dont get as large.... but I dont know if that would go too well with my yo yo's.

4: If I decide to keep my yo yo's in my 20, what other kinds of loaches are good. A personal opinion would be nice(':mrgreen:')

Thanks. Sorry about the amount of questions, hope it isn't too much!!!(':oops:')

[Mark in Vancouver]

Space is the real issue here. I can't talk about plecos, but Yoyos will want a minimum of your 46 gallon - and that would have to be temporary, IMO. These fish don't stay small.

Of course, if you do get a bigger tank (which you don't have much choice about if you want to keep Yoyos or other loaches), you can also get them the tankmates they need to prosper.

Yoyos mix well with other Botiid loaches - striata, dario, histrionica, kubotai, etc... But you want to aim for a tank with the largest possible footprint - or floor area. You'll also want to provide a group of these with ample cover - really a lot of cover compared to other fish tank setups.

My advice would be to aim for a 65 or 70 gallon tank as a minimum size.

[Mark in Vancouver]

PS - 20 gallons is far too small for loaches. That may be inconvenient, but it's reality. They should go in your 46 for now.

[Yo_Yo_Luver_69]

Okay...
but what if I wanted the dwarf loaches? they only get around 2"
is that too big for a 46 gallon?

[Mark in Vancouver]

You could have a nice little group of Y. sidthimunki in a 46 gallon. I would add a small powerhead, maybe, to increase water flow. And I'd also add live plants. Kuhli loaches would also fit into this size of tank nicely.

The substrate is another thing that gets overlooked. You want a relatively fine grade of gravel or sand for loaches. If the bigger tank is out of the question, you might consider eventually finding the Yoyos a new home.

[starsplitter7]

I have Bristlenoses with my Yoyos, striatas, clowns and Darios. I don't have any problems.

Unfortunately your yoyo problem is because you have too few (as you already know). They establish hierarchies. I have 6, and I never notice any bullying. You'll notice that problem go away when you get a bigger tank a few more friends. I am upgrading my tanks soon I hope. I agree with Mark. Get them into the 46. Provide lots of hiding places. You can look in my tank, and all you see is dithers. All the loaches are sleeping.

If you are getting dwarf loaches (Sids, right?), what else do you plan to keep in the 46 with them? You would need a minimum of 5 dwarfs, but I think most members would say 10 is better.

Good luck.

[Yo_Yo_Luver_69]

Here's the thing with my yo yo's that i forgot to mention.
they are 3 years old. I don't know how fast they grow... but they seem an okay size for my tank at the moment. the biggest one is 3"
I know they can get to 6" but they are still fairly small.

In my 46 gallon tank I was planning on having these fish.
(im still not sure on how many of each but if you have any suggestions or opinions, shoot.)
rummy nose tetras
cardinal tetras (maybe)
danios
pearl gourami
BN pleco
and then maybe a few loaches.

if i did get some dwarf loaches, could I put my yo yo's in the 46 gallon with them, with the BN pleco? or is that pushing bottom level space?

[helen nightingale]

you really should put the 2 yoyos in the bigger tank, and get some more yoyos. i understand what you mean about them looking Ok in the smaller tank, but they will be feeling very cramped and grumpy. that will not help with the agression you have seen. untill you see them in a bigger tank, you dont realise how active they are and how much they need the swimming space.

i would not get dwarf loaches AND yoyo loaches in the same tank, especially a smallish tank. that sounds like an invitation for the biggest yoyo to torment the other loaches

i would also avoid the gourami. they do better in stiller water than the loaches need. they come from quite different habitats. i would be carefull too with the danios. check out their temperature requirements carefully before you choose which species to get. most of the ones i would like need temperatures slightly cooler than my yoyo tank

how about 1 BN plec, 5 dwarf loaches, and 6 or so cardinal tetras. its better to have more of each type of fish than just a few of lots of types

[Yo_Yo_Luver_69]

I kind of HAVE to put the danios into the 46 gallon cuz I already have them in another tank. I've had them for years. I'm getting rid of that tank, so they must go into my 46 gallon. Unless....
could I fit them in my 20 gallon?
I have 6 gold barbs
1 dwarf gourami
3 platies
and then my 2 yo yo's which I would transfer to my 46 gallon.

"how about 1 BN plec, 5 dwarf loaches, and 6 or so cardinal tetras. its better to have more of each type of fish than just a few of lots of types"
Okay, you saying that confused me cuz u said I should put my yo yo's in my new tank, but then don't get dwarf loaches. but there you said get 5 dwarf loaches. How does that work with my loaches?

[helen nightingale]

i think you need to have a really good think about which species you really want, and what their specific needs are. in my opinion, you will need to either get another tank, or give some of your fish to somebody, be it a friend, LFS, or advertise them in a local paper, or change your ideas of which fish you want to get.

i have my yoyo loaches in a 132 US gallon tank. they use all the space. my tank is 5 foot long. i see a tank this sort of size as essential. if you really want to keep them, you MUST view a 46 g tank as temporary, and upgrade to a bigger tank as soon as you can. only then should you consider getting any more loaches. sorry to have caused confusion.

what type of danios do you have, and how many?

which fish do you already own, and how many of each?

also, what filters do you have on each tank, and what is your water changing routine? this can affect the number of fish you can safely have in a tank. my loach tank is understocked, but i still have filters that are rated at more than twice the water volume i have. i would like to upgrade as soon as i can afford it.

[Yo_Yo_Luver_69]

the whole danio cold water thing... um.... I've had my danios for years which a temperature of 78-80. And they are fine and healthy. So i don't think them being in a warmer water climate would really effect them.
Also, I would like to get your opinion on filters.
For my 46 gallon I'm setting up I was looking at a marineland canister filter. I think it was for 30-70 gallons. (I think)
Would that be enough filtration? Or should I go even higher???

Also, I would like to try live plants. Any suggestions or tips?

[Mark in Vancouver]

YYL, the best advice you'll get here will be genuinely tied to and informed by a general sentiment that the needs of each fish in any tank should be the priority. It's hard to give tank setup advice to someone who appears to only respond to bits of the overall advice. In this case, the proper housing of your fish - the species of fish, not the house - should be the priority.

Just my opinion, and I tend to be overly opinionated. Please don't take this the wrong way. We are here to help, and anxious to do as much.

[helen nightingale]

i'd like to add that, although Mark may say he might be opinionated, he is in the position where he has got a lot of knowledge, and is opinion is normally right.

as per your question regarding the marineland filter, i dont think that would be enough for my loaches

for answers to your question about live plants - i believe you asked this in a another thread and got some replies there: http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=13781

if can answer these questions, you will be able to get better advice on the best fish combinations for both your tanks. we are making an effort to help you, please make a little effort for us rather than just asking the same questions over again.

what type of danios do you have, and how many?

which fish do you already own, and how many of each?

also, what filters do you have on each tank, and what is your water changing routine?

[Yo_Yo_Luver_69]

well sorry if i got you frustrated but i am trying to provide as much info as possible.
ill answer those questions of yours.

I have 7 danios in my 10 gallon

3 platies
1 dwarf gourami
6 gold barbs
and 2 loaches in my 20

as for water changes, I dont really have a schedule for it. I just kind of change the water every so often.

hope i put enough 'effort' in.

[Emma Turner]

hope i put enough 'effort' in.

Yo-Yo_Luver_69, there is no call for that. People here are giving their time to repeatedly give you good advice. The least you can do is show a little respect.

Thank you,

Emma