yo yo loach behavior...

[fishnewbie]

I have kept 3 yo yos in a 55gal community for about 2 years now. I have raised them since they were about 1" long, (they are now about 3-4"). About 2 days ago, I found a solo yoyo at my lfs about the same size for only 3 bucks. Well, you know I had to get it.

at first all my yoyos rejected the "new guy", constantly chasing him and nipping at him. but as of this afternoon, all looked well.

well, now down to the question. I just recently noticed a pecuilar behavior with the new loach and one of my originals. the new one faded out to almost white, and both loaches laid side by said, convulsing and nipping at the others tails and fins. is this some show of aggression and dominance, or is it a mating ritual.

It is the first time I have seen my loaches act this way, of course when the 3 originals were added, it was all at the same time...

thanks

 

[jfthomas]

I'm no expert...but I have seen that behavior w/ my yo-yo. I had two in a very small tank...(sorry, my first tank...over a year ago...would always go w/ a large tank now). In any event, the larger is with me 15 months later...the smaller died about 9 months in...both of them showed similar behavior...ie, fading almost white and convulsing...I used to think it was water parameters...but everything always checked out

My loach shares the tank w/ 2 glassfish (my 6 yr old son picked them!) and he chases them mercilessly...he is about 3 inches now.

I take it that your other loaches were not behaving similarly...ie, convulsing?

 

[kuhli]

re yoyo behaviour

HI I have a troop of 7 yoyos as well as 7 other botia type loaches. The behaviour you are witnessing is actually dominance and mock fighting. They have a sharp spine beneath each eye. They shimmy next to each other to actually poke each other. They have a social order like wolves ie alpha fishy... They will grey out when stressed or to show dominance.
Kuhli

 

[Sting]

My Yoyo Loaches are new and have done that once that I have seen, but I only have two (all they had left at the LFS!) They did this less than a week that I had had them, but I was sure that it was mating rituals. They were completely white with the brown "yoyo" gone, and were swimming in circles around eachother, up and down the tank. It may have been mock fighting, but I had just assumed they were "pairing up". It's too soon to notice baby fry or anything, but there's always a possibility. I got nervous when it happened, though, and immediately gave them soon food, and their color came back immdeiately. I thought it was somehow my fault, but I guess it wasn't after all! I mean, I keep Angels, Neons, Gouramis, everything in my water and they are fine, I know the Yoyos are fine too. Glad to know it is in fact their behavior, and it's happeneing to other people as well, and it's always good to know I'm not a bad fish keeper! Been there, done that- don't ever need to go back! HA! I guess we've all probably been there...:: sigh :: Later Days