Yoyo loach care guide
Also called: Yo-yo loach, Almora loach, Pakistani loach, Reticulated loach
The yoyo loach is a busy silver-and-black botia named for the 'yoyo' marks on young fish. It eats snails, digs in sand and grows to about 5 in (13 cm), so keep five or more in a 4 ft (120 cm) tank with lots of hiding gaps.
Yoyo loaches need a tank of at least 75 gallons (284 L), a group of 5 or more, and water at 24–27°C (75–81°F) with a pH of 6–7.5. They grow to about 13 cm (5.1 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with yoyo loachesSee all tank mates
Yoyo loach quick facts
| Scientific name | Botia almorhae |
|---|---|
| Family | Botiidae |
| Origin | Ganges River drainage, northern India and possibly Nepal (many shop fish are close relatives or farm hybrids) |
| Adult size | 13 cm (5.1 in) |
| Minimum tank | 75 gallons (284 L), at least 120 cm (47 in) long |
| Temperature | 24–27°C (75–81°F) |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 3–12 dGH |
| Group size | 5 or more (group) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 5–15 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Mostly (nibbles soft plants) |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
- Needs sand or smooth, fine gravel to protect its barbels and belly.
Tank setup
A group of five needs a tank at least 4 ft (120 cm) long, such as a standard 75-gallon (284 L). Use soft sand so they can dig without hurting their barbels. Add rock caves, wood and narrow gaps, which they love to squeeze into. A tight lid is a must, as they can jump.
How many yoyo loaches in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits yoyo loaches is a 75 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Yoyo loaches (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | Too small |
| 55 gallon | Too small |
| 75 gallon | 5–15 |
| 125 gallon | 5–26 |
What you need for yoyo loaches
Sized for a 75 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 5 yoyo loaches. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 75 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 75 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 626 lb (284 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- 2 adjustable heaters, 150 W each (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 78 °F (25.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). Two heaters keep the tank warm if one fails. How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 300–450 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 75 lb of aquarium sand (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 1.5 in (4 cm) deep. Soft sand protects the barbels of corydoras, loaches and other diggers. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 48 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for yoyo loaches
- Sinking pellets or wafers (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bottom feeders need food that reaches the floor.
- Caves and hides (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gives shy and territorial fish their own space.
- Tight-fitting lid for a 75 gallon tank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Yoyo loach can jump out of an open tank.
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Water parameters
Aim for 24–27°C (75–81°F), pH 6.0–7.5 and soft to medium-hard water. They like clean, well-oxygenated water with gentle to moderate flow. Change about 30% of the water each week, and add them only to a mature tank.
Best tank mates for yoyo loaches
These popular species share yoyo loaches' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 68 good matches.
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Tiger barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Chili rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 23–28°C (73–82°F)
Pygmy corydoras
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 23–28°C (73–82°F)
Cherry barb
5 cm (2 in) · 23–27°C (73–81°F)
Avoid keeping yoyo loaches with
- Cherry shrimp: Yoyo loach eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Yoyo loach 24–27°C (75–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Fancy goldfish: They need different temperatures: Yoyo loach 24–27°C (75–81°F), fancy goldfish 18–23°C (64–73°F).
- Nerite snail: Yoyo loach eats snails, including nerite snails.
- Assassin snail: Yoyo loach eats snails, including assassin snails.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful yoyo loaches.
Feeding
Yoyos are greedy omnivores that lean toward meaty food. Feed sinking pellets or wafers plus frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp or mysis, with blanched vegetables now and then. They hunt snails eagerly, which makes them good pest-snail control.
Behavior
Yoyo loaches are active by day and very social, with a pecking order inside the group. Expect chasing and squabbles, especially when new fish are added, but serious injuries are rare. They can pester slow or long-finned fish. Good tankmates are active barbs, danios, rainbowfish, larger tetras and other botia; skip dwarf shrimp and pet snails.
Breeding
Yoyo loaches have not been bred in home aquariums. Mature females often look full of eggs, but no home spawning has been recorded. Most fish sold as yoyos are probably Botia lohachata or other close relatives, and some are farm hybrids.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Keep at least five. In smaller groups, one fish often bullies the rest.
- Use sand, not sharp gravel, to protect their sensitive barbels.
- Give every fish a hiding spot. Pipes and rock gaps cut down on squabbles.
- Feed small amounts once or twice a day. Yoyos always act hungry and are easy to overfeed.
- Great for pest snails, so don't keep them with snails you want to keep.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called a yoyo loach?
Young fish have dark markings on their sides that seem to spell out 'yoyo'. As they age, the pattern breaks up into a net-like design.
Are yoyo loaches aggressive?
Not really. They are peaceful toward most fish but boisterous, squabble among themselves, and may nip slow, long-finned fish, so choose active tankmates.
How many yoyo loaches should be kept together?
At least five. A bigger group spreads out the squabbling and makes each fish more confident.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.