Yoyo loach
Botia lohachata
The loach with the 'Y-O-Y-O' pattern written on its flanks: dark reticulated bands on silvery body resembling alternating Y and O letters. Active, social and energetic.
Température de l’eau
22 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
6 - 7.5
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
11 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 115 L
Groupe minimal
>= 5
GH
5 - 12 dGH
KH
2 - 6 dKH
TDS
95 - 240 ppm
Conductivité
148 - 375 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Species related to the B. almorhae complex (often sold interchangeably under the same name in stores). Comes from Indian and Pakistani rivers, inhabiting clear rivers with moderate currents, gravel and natural shelters among rocks or roots.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Reticulate Loach (Botia lohachata). Considered for years a synonym of B. almorhae, the true lohachata has a less stocky profile, a more pointed mouth and a different reticulated pattern. It also remains slightly smaller.
Social Behavior: Very lively, gregarious and extremely playful (sometimes annoyingly so for other fish). Must be kept in tight groups to dispose of its intra-species hyperactivity. If solitary, it will become fearful, sick or aggressive.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Pale golden coat covered by a sharp black or burnt brown "Y" and "O" net which, unlike almorhae, tends to remain sharper and more defined even in adulthood. Females are significantly clumsier and more pot-bellied than males.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: 100-120 cm (40-48 inches) tank. Needs lots of hiding places (coconuts, half terracotta pots, hollow roots). Fine sand is essential. It is known for sneaking into internal filters or squeezing under stones, so every decor must be very stable.
Diet and Feeding: Scourge of pest snails. Once the snails are exterminated, it should be fed with red mosquito larvae, bloodworms, tubifex and protein sinking tablets. They eat noisily.
Water Quality: Being a scaleless Botia, it does not tolerate any kind of negligence or poor biological filtration. Requires oxygenated water (with the use of airstones in summer) and regular water changes without major thermal alterations.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Unsuitable for Discus or Angelfish (due to its neurotic swimming), it is the ideal cleaner for Asian tanks containing large schooling fish such as Puntius tetrazona (Tiger Barb) or Danio rerio, with which it will share the swimming zones.
Aquarium Breeding: Does not occur spontaneously in the aquarium. It is a seasonal spawner that needs the monsoon variations of Asian rivers.
Risks and Diseases: High probability of wounds (belly abrasions, barbel lesions) caused by sharp ceramic quartz or sharp-edged sand. Ich (white spots) is a constant presence if the animal is stressed or poorly fed.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Species related to the B. almorhae complex (often sold interchangeably under the same name in stores). Comes from Indian and Pakistani rivers, inhabiting clear rivers with moderate currents, gravel and natural shelters among rocks or roots.
Origine
Europe, Méditerranée et Asie occidentaleAsie du Sud et du Sud-Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Peaceful
- Yoyo loaches are generally peaceful but highly energetic and boisterous, exhibiting playful and sometimes erratic behaviors. They form a social hierarchy within their school, occasionally engaging in minor squabbles to establish dominance, which is completely normal. While not predatory, their high activity levels and occasional nip-y behavior can stress out very slow-moving or long-finned tank mates.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- As opportunistic omnivores, yoyo loaches require a varied diet to thrive in captivity. They eagerly accept high-quality sinking pellets, flakes, and wafer formulas, supplemented with live or frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. Additionally, they are famous for consuming nuisance aquarium snails and will appreciate fresh vegetables such as blanched zucchini or cucumber.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-15 years
- Taille adulte
- 11 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Group
- Yoyo loaches do not have a strict sex ratio requirement but must be kept in a group of at least five to six individuals. Within a group, they establish a complex social hierarchy with an alpha leader, which helps distribute and minimize conspecific aggression. Keeping them singly or in pairs often leads to extreme stress, shyness, or heightened aggression toward tank mates.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- It is recommended to feed yoyo loaches two to three times daily in small amounts that they can consume within a few minutes. Because they are bottom-dwellers, care should be taken to ensure that food actually reaches the substrate before being consumed by faster mid-water fish. Feeding them varied foods at different times of the day, including occasional evening feedings, aligns well with their natural foraging behavior.
- Charge biologique
- Medium
- The yoyo loach has a medium biological load, primarily due to its active nature and requirement for a group setting. Keeping a school of these fish means that they generate a moderate amount of waste, necessitating efficient biological and mechanical filtration. Regular water changes and a substrate-vacuuming routine are essential to maintain pristine water quality, as they are sensitive to accumulated nitrates and organic waste.
- Courant
- Strong
- Yoyo loaches prefer moderate water flow with high oxygenation, replicating the clean, moving streams of their native South Asian habitats. While they do not require a torrent, a reliable filter or powerhead that generates a gentle current will encourage active swimming and playful behavior. Adequate surface agitation is also important to ensure high dissolved oxygen levels, which these active loaches need.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- Yoyo loaches pose a high risk of jumping, especially during their active nocturnal foraging or when startled. Their slender, streamlined bodies allow them to easily squeeze through small openings in the aquarium cover. It is critical to equip the tank with a tight-fitting lid and block any gaps around pipes or cables to prevent them from leaping out.
- Reproduction
- Rare / not documented
- Breeding the yoyo loach in a home aquarium is extremely difficult and rarely documented. In the wild, they migrate to spawn during the monsoon season, a complex environmental cue that is hard to replicate in captivity. Most specimens available in the ornamental trade are either wild-caught or commercially bred using hormone injections in large fish farms.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- With caution
- This species is compatible with a wide range of active community fish, such as larger tetras, danios, rasboras, and robust barbs. However, they should not be housed with slow-moving, long-finned species like bettas or angelfish, as their boisterous nature can lead to stress or fin-nipping. Small freshwater shrimp and snails should also be avoided, as the loaches will quickly view them as food.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- This species primarily occupies the bottom and middle levels of the aquarium. They spend most of their time foraging along the substrate, exploring caves, and sifting through sand for food. However, they are highly active and will occasionally dart to the upper levels of the tank, particularly during feeding time or when exhibiting playful behaviors.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 3,2 ± 0,4 se
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.502
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.00871, b = 2.9
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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