Odd yoyo loach behavior...

[mduros]

Okay, now that I've gloated all day about my "beautiful plecos..." I'll post a ? I've had for awhile about one of my yoyos. I had two yoyo loaches for a long time in my 55 gallon tank. The two got along without any problems, were inseparable in fact, but one day they were fighting so viciously that my sig other called me on both my cell phone and at work asking me how he could separate them. He thought that they were going to kill each other.

Since then the larger of the two rarely comes out from under the driftwood. I tend to think that it's a female because it has fainter markings, perhaps? But when she does, watch out! She'll go after any fish in the vicinity and then swim around and pick on the fish especially the two opaline gouramis. Then she swims back under the driftwood. She no longer allows the other yoyo under the driftwood, too. This all happened long ago enough that I know she's not sick, there's no babies or anything like that. It's simply that they were friends, or were in love, had a fight, are no longer friends and now she's a grouch.

I brought home another yoyo a few weeks back hoping that she might socialize again in a group of 3, but no such luck. She wants nothing to do with either of them and now the other two loaches are bonded. And neither of them get to go near the driftwood...

Here's my question. My 29 gallon has a load of snails, and I want to move her into there. I think she needs to be the sole yoyo for awhile, at least until her spirit heals. I have 3 ghost shrimp in there though. Will she see the ghost shrimp as dinner? Will I have to move them into one of my 5 gallon betta tanks, or can loaches and shrimp co-exist?

I appreciate any advice you may have.
Take care,
Mary.

 

[Abilor]

I have nothing helpful, but I have two yo-yos who are inseperable right now, so I'd love to see how this resolves. I also want to add a shrimp one day, so double ditto. Hope somebody has some answers...

 

[DaisyTattoo]

I have 5 yoyos and they all get along great. That is too weird! As far as the ghost shrimp go, they could become dinner, but the betta might eat them too. I buy them as snackies for my community 55g. If it were me, I wouldnt worry about the ghost shrimp, but you might actually care for them in which case, I would get rid of the yoyo. Why keep her if she is causing problems?

 

[mduros]

Update!

I have 5 yoyos and they all get along great. That is too weird! As far as the ghost shrimp go, they could become dinner, but the betta might eat them too. I buy them as snackies for my community 55g. If it were me, I wouldnt worry about the ghost shrimp, but you might actually care for them in which case, I would get rid of the yoyo. Why keep her if she is causing problems?

While stuck in traffic on my way home I called LFS, and spoke to a fella there who I trust alot. This is the plan of action we decided on. Do nothing.

He agrees that what I have here is a female, but a dominant one. Not just dominant with her own kind but the dominant fish in the tank. She keeps everyone in line, but is not hurting anyone and to remove her would disrupt the balance and open the niche for another dominant fish that might actually harm the others. He also thinks she is dominant because she wants to mate, but has deemed the two others in the tank as inappropriate suiters for one reason or another. In the future, I could bring in another male... But right now the tank has a couple too many fish as it is.

When I got home I decided to switch the driftwood from the 29 into the 55 because it has a bigger footprint, I think. That would give them more room anyway. When I lifted the driftwood from the 55 gallon, all three loaches swam out, so their "ears must have been burning." This is the first time in many weeks that I've seen this. I switched driftwood and now they are all enjoying a smorgasbord of snails and snail eggs that were on the driftwood from the other tank.

Jodi's 100% correct, unless the shrimp are feeders, you don't want to do it. The loaches will eat them.

Wow, I love you guys! I really think that karma or something got involved here. And the fish shop actually offered to take her off of my hands if I want. Maybe she got vibes of that in her tiny fishy brain...
Take care,
Mary.