Tank mates for yoyo loaches

Good Compatible tank mates (68)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

• Bronze corydoras

  7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Tiger barb

  7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+

• African dwarf frog

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+

• Bala shark

  30 cm (11.8 in) · 230+ gal · groups of 5+

• Black skirt tetra

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Blood parrot cichlid

  20 cm (7.9 in) · 55+ gal

• Cardinal tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Cherry barb

  5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• Chili rasbora

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Clown loach

  25 cm (9.8 in) · 180+ gal · groups of 5+

• Dwarf neon rainbowfish

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Ember tetra

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+

• Glowlight tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• Harlequin rasbora

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Julii corydoras

  5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Kuhli loach

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Molly

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+

• Otocinclus

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Platy

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+

• Pygmy corydoras

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Rummy-nose tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+

• Siamese algae eater

  15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal

• Silver dollar

  15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+

• Sterbai corydoras

  6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• X-ray tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• Black ghost knifefish

  45 cm (17.7 in) · 125+ gal

• Black neon tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Black phantom tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Bleeding heart tetra

  6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+

• Bloodfin tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Bumblebee catfish

  7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal

• Clown killifish

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+

• Clown pleco

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal

• Diamond tetra

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Dwarf chain loach

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+

• Emerald green corydoras

  8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+

• Emperor tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Endler's livebearer

  3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+

• Forktail blue-eye

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Glass catfish

  7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+

• Golden wonder killifish

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal

• Head and tail light tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Kissing gourami

  20 cm (7.9 in) · 75+ gal

• Kubotai rasbora

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+

• Lambchop rasbora

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Lemon tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Marbled hatchetfish

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

• Peacock gudgeon

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+

• Penguin tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Red rainbowfish

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+

• Ropefish

  35 cm (13.8 in) · 75+ gal

• Rosy loach

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Rosy tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Scarlet badis

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal

• Serpae tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 10+

• Severum

  20 cm (7.9 in) · 55+ gal

• Sparkling gourami

  3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+

• Swordtail

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+

• Tinfoil barb

  30 cm (11.8 in) · 200+ gal · groups of 6+

• Upside-down catfish

  9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+

• Zebra loach

  9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 5+

• Black ruby barb

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Dwarf rasbora

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Flame tetra

  3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• Green neon tetra

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+

• Keyhole cichlid

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+

• Least killifish

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+

• Silvertip tetra

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+

Caution Possible, with care (56)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

• Angelfish · 29+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
• Betta fish · 5+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
• Bristlenose pleco · 20+ gal
  • Bristlenose pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Common pleco · 150+ gal
  • Common pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of dwarf gouramis are an easy target.
• Guppy · 10+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
• Neon tetra · 15+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Oscar · 75+ gal
  • Oscar may eat yoyo loaches, especially young or small ones.
  • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller yoyo loaches.
• Panda corydoras · 15+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Zebra danio · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
  • Yoyo loach hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
• Celestial pearl danio · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Denison barb · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
  • Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
  • Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• German blue ram · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 27–27°C).
  • German blue ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
  • Yoyo loach hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Honey gourami · 10+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of honey gouramis are an easy target.
• Kribensis · 29+ gal
  • Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of pearl gouramis are an easy target.
• Peppered corydoras · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
  • Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
  • Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Rosy barb · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
  • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller yoyo loaches.
• Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of three spot gouramis are an easy target.
• African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of african butterfly fish are an easy target.
• Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
  • Yoyo loach hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
  • Bolivian ram defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
  • Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Congo tetra · 40+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
• Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Yoyo loach may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
• Gardneri killifish · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Giant danio · 55+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Gold barb · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Odessa barb · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Panda garra · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Paradise fish · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Rubber lip pleco · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • Rubber lip pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Scissortail rasbora · 55+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
  • Yoyo loach may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
• Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
• Turquoise rainbowfish · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
  • Yoyo loach hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–27°C).
  • Zebra pleco defends its patch of the bottom and may chase yoyo loaches, which use the same area.
• Checkerboard barb · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Glowlight danio · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–24°C).
• Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
• Pearl danio · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
• Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
  • Yoyo loach sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.
• Variatus platy · 15+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.

Avoid Bad tank mates (25)

• 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.
• Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful yoyo loaches.
• Discus: They need different temperatures: Yoyo loach 24–27°C (75–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
• Dojo loach: They need different temperatures: Yoyo loach 24–27°C (75–81°F), dojo loach 18–23°C (64–73°F).
• Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Yoyo loaches don't belong in that setup.
• Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful yoyo loaches.
• Malaysian trumpet snail: Yoyo loach eats snails, including Malaysian trumpet snails.
• Mystery snail: Yoyo loach eats snails, including mystery snails.
• Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful yoyo loaches. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
• Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Yoyo loaches don't belong in that setup.
• Ramshorn snail: Yoyo loach eats snails, including ramshorn snails.
• Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful yoyo loaches. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Yoyo loaches don't belong in that setup.
• White cloud mountain minnow: They need different temperatures: Yoyo loach 24–27°C (75–81°F), white cloud mountain minnow 16–22°C (61–72°F).
• Crystal red shrimp: Yoyo loach eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
• Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful yoyo loaches. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Yoyo loaches don't belong in that setup.
• Frontosa: Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Yoyo loaches don't belong in that setup.
• Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful yoyo loaches.
• Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful yoyo loaches.
• Rabbit snail: Yoyo loach eats snails, including rabbit snails.
• Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Yoyo loaches don't belong in that setup.