Yoyo Loach (Botia Almorhae) Fish Species Profile
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The Yoyo Loach is a very active and friendly fish that makes an excellent addition to any community aquarium. It is hardy and enjoys swimming around in groups of its own species as well as others.
They can aggravate shy, delicate fish with their very active and outgoing nature and should not be kept with slow-moving or timid fish.
The yoyo loach has an elongated, slender, silvery-blue body with dark and pale bars which often look like the letters Y and O when they are young, giving it its name. However, when they mature these markings fade and give way to a more solidly reticulated pattern.
This loaches head is pointed, and their mouth points downward and contains four pairs of barbels. You can also hear the loach making a clicking sound when feeding on the surface. This happens because it swallows air, forcing it through the gills.
| Profile | |
| Scientific Name | Botia Almorhae |
| Other Names | Almora Loach, Pakistani Loach, Reticulated loach |
| Family | Botiidae |
| Genus | Botia |
| Origins | India |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Bottom |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 5+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Layer |
| Lifespan | 6-16 years |
| Maximum Size | up to 15 cm |
| Water Conditions | |
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| Temperature | 73 - 82 ℉ (22.8 - 27.8 ℃) |
| PH | 6.0 - 7.6 |
| GH | 3 - 12 |
Origins of the Yoyo Loach
The Yoyo Loach is endemic to Bangladesh and Nepal In the north and northeast India. This fish Inhabits clear, slow-running, warm, soft and acidic, well-oxygenated waters in bends in the river or small pools where the bed is a rocky substrate and the area is covered in plenty of aquatic vegetation.
In the wild, these loaches will make their way upstream when they are ready to spawn and return downstream where they will live most of their lives.
Diet
These fish will eat most food offered to them. They will happily accept pellets and flakes, as long as they sink to the bottom where they are more likely going to eat it. Diversifying the diet with some vegetable matter is also encouraged. They do enjoy snacking on small snails too.
Sexing the Yoyo Loach
Mature females are plumper, whereas males are generally more slender than the females and the males may also display a more reddish colour on and around their barbels.
Breeding the Yoyo Loach
The Yoyo Loach is incredibly tricky to breed, and this is because, in the wild, they migrate upstream before spawning.
It is not uncommon to see mature females filled with eggs, but it is doubtful that your Yoyo loaches will breed whilst living in the home aquarium.
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