yo-yo behavior

[AK yo-yo's]

We just added a 3rd yo-yo loach to our 10 gallon tank. We had 2 for a couple months already and the bigger of the pair became real shy and scared acting and grumpy and hides in a seashell most of the time ghosted out but still bigger and for a time was bruised looking in coloration like a week but back to more normal if not ghosted. Since the smaller loach is more social we got him a new friend and the 2 have fun together but the grumpy one is still grumpy and territorial of his shell. Wondering if the grumpy one could be sick or just not social.

[mikev]

Loaches require some time to adjust in a new tank, the time depends on the species, size, surroundings and the individual.

With yoyo's, very young animals (1") seem to adjust nearly instantly, but a 2"-3" animal may take a couple of weeks. It would be clearer if you mention the size/age of the three yoyo's you have and what else is in your tank.

Now, keeping yoyo's in a 10g tank for long is really not a good idea. This seems to stunt their growth, and they may not be able to resume it later in a larger tank. I've seen yoyo's remaining at 1"-1.5" after months in a 10g or 15g tanks. I might have stunted my own yoyo's too: I kept them in only a 29g for a few months, and now, in a large tank, they seem to have a real problem growing beyond about 4".

You do need at least a 30g tank for small young yoyo's, a 55g will be much better.

[lf11casey]

Mikev is right about the yoyos needing a larger tank. I had mine in a ten until I new better. Now he is in a twenty, but soon to be moved to a fifty-five.
Also you should not have gotten a new yoyo until you were positive the larger one was not ill. You should quarantine all new fish for a couple weeks before adding to established tanks anyway.

[Pixelated_Pirate]

I think if you increase hiding places inthe tank the "grumpy" one will feel more safe and come out more. The more spots loaches can hide = the better chance you will see them come out... it's funny how it works that way!

[brett_fishman]

yep, i had two yoyos in my 10g for about 2 years, they grew to about 1.5" in a few months then stopped..

they both unfortunately died a few months ago, but i will get more for my 70g (the big tank wasnt ready when i still had the yoyos)

yoyos can reach 6" when living in a properly sized tank (4' or more for adults), fed properly and given lots of water changes (all loaches love clean water)

-brett.

[Mark in Vancouver]

AK yo-yos, you have to plan now for getting a substantially bigger tank if you want to keep these fish for very long.