Yoyo loach - Aggressive behaviour?

[ey]

I have recently added 8 Yoyo loaches to my 360L tank.

I have 20 rummynoses and 16 cardinals, all tetras are mature and have been in the tank for over a year now. The other fish in the tank are 18 clown loaches.

During the last two days, I have noticed one cardinal and one rummynose dying with no known cause as the water quality appeared fine (No nitrites, No ammonia, 25 nitrate, pH 6.2) as I had did a water change over the weekend.

It was then I noticed when I turned on the tank light that some of the cardinals and rummynoses had their tails nipped at. I'm not sure if this is due to the yoyo loaches as I haven't caught them in the act. I'm only assuming its due to the yoyos as I have not experienced any similar problem with the tetras before I added the yoyos as the clowns never did any harm to the tetras.

Is there anything I could do at this stage? Is this the general behaviour of some yoyos? I.e. they can tend to get quite feisty? I have noticed that the yoyos haven't been getting much food during feeding as the clowns simply eat "everything" I put in. Will hunger cause them to nip at smaller fish like tetras? I am only speculating here.

I don't want to lose any more tetras so the only thing else I can think of is to get some plants so as to provide shelter and hiding spots for the tetras. Currently, I only have some vals in there, the only reason why the tank is not planted is that each time I add plants, the clowns will destory it with ease within 7 days. Maybe java fern will be the way to go.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I can move the tetras with torn tails to the other 90L community tank, but I don't want to separate them.

Thanks in advance.

[starsplitter7]

Could you post a picture of your tank and inhabitants? I have Clowns and Yoyos with Rummynoses and Cardinal/Neon Black Neon tetras without any issues. But these fish have grown up together. I think that makes a difference. My fish show no signs of nipping. If the Yoyos are new, they may be trying to get their pecking order sorted and are having a go at the tetras. Are there lots of hiding places for everyone?

I think a 360 L tank is about 95 US gallons.

[ey]

Could you post a picture of your tank and inhabitants? I have Clowns and Yoyos with Rummynoses and Cardinal/Neon Black Neon tetras without any issues. But these fish have grown up together. I think that makes a difference. My fish show no signs of nipping. If the Yoyos are new, they may be trying to get their pecking order sorted and are having a go at the tetras. Are there lots of hiding places for everyone?

I think a 360 L tank is about 95 US gallons.

Hi starsplitter7,

Thanks for the reply.

I will post a photo as soon as I get a chance. You might be right in regards to the yoyos having a go at the tetras as they are new to the tank. The reason is because prior to adding the yoyos, the clowns were well behaved and left the rummynoses and cardinals alone and I had no deaths for a long time.

Is there anything I can do now? Yeah there are hiding spots, but not a lot - I have a driftwood cave, PVC pipe and large pirate ship in there.

If you read my other more updated subject, I just found one of my clowns eating another dead rummynose. Not sure if it was dead when he ate it, but I decided to move the rummys (10 out of 20) to the smaller 90L tank.

[starsplitter7]

I did reply to your other post. I am pretty sure that the tetra was dead before the clown ate it, so don't worry too much.

[ey]

[ey]

I did reply to your other post. I am pretty sure that the tetra was dead before the clown ate it, so don't worry too much.

Thanks for the reply. I think so too, but was worried if the rummy that died was sick, if the clown would also get sick too by eating it?

[starsplitter7]

That is true. I have a feeling that if the Yoyos added something bad to the tank, the fish already have it. I have a feeling this stress related, but I am not expert.

[mickthefish]

ey, i can tell you straight away that there's just virtually no hidind places for your botia and as for plants even java fern will get a ragging of the clowns, i think your best bet would be to go for plasic plants for the tetra's security.
try some pieces of bogwood some large and small pebbles and some cut down pipes.
i know at the end when all these things are put into the tank your fish will be alot happier looking.
yoyo's will only chase other fish is either at feeding time or sometimes if they spot a fish having a poop, they must get some nourishment out of it. haha

mick

[newshound]

good god
add some plastic plants and some caves t oyour tank!
your fish will be better for it.

[TRDNiteLife]

Your tank looks like the holding tanks at my LFS. Listen to everyone and get some rocks/caves/wood/plants, even PVC. Give those fish some place to hide.

[helen nightingale]

you will know if you have enough hiding places, as at times you will not be able see a single loach! when you peer in, you will learn where to look to see a bit of snout, fin, or small part of the fishes.

normally, during the day, my tank looks empty of loaches, and i have seen Emma's clown loach tank look like it doesnt have loaches in too. i am sure they were in hidey places, looking at me and wondering whther to come out and show off in front of strangers. sometimes when i have strangers look at my tank during the day, only a few loaches can be bribed out with food. my fish are very much evening fish though

[ey]

Thanks for the replies, I will definitely add more driftwood/rocks and plants to the tank ASAP.

Its worth pointing out that the photo is actually of the tank 3 weeks ago before I added the Yoyos, I have since added a PVC pipe and driftwood in that has given the loaches a big more hiding spots.

Plants don't last very long as the clowns tend to dig at the roots and slowly destroy it. Even java fern lasts 1 month max. Is there any alternative as I would not want to get plastic plants.

As for caves made out of driftwood and rocks - my tank is only 50cm deep (front to back of tank), if I was to add driftwood so that it covers the tank a lot more (as I have seen from other members' tanks), would the clown still like it? For instance, if the driftwood/rocks covered 90% of the bottom of the tank, would the clowns mind since they would not be able to dig at the gravel anymore?

[mickthefish]

ey, if you build the rocks/bogwood at the sides and back of the tank leaving a crescent of area in the middle will give your fish security plus a viewing area for you to see your fish.
as to plants it's difficult as you know but if you put the javafern half way up your tank on the bogwood they might not rag it as much.
you can tell us how you went on with the plants in the future, i too don't like plastic plants but if that was my only alternative i think i'd go with it.

mick
ps, i have anubias & javafern half way up the tank and so far they've left them alone.

[starsplitter7]

For plants in my loach tank I use anacharis and hornwort. Both plants float and the loaches don't bother it. This provides subdued lighting and a place for the dithers to hide. You can also grow Java moss on driftwood by tying it to driftwood.