Yo-yo loaches

[CAPSLOCK]

From what I've read, yo-yos stay pretty small and are good for communities. Would 2 do okay in my 10 gallon, and 4 in my 37? I need to use loaches for a science project, and I get to keep them afterwards . Kuhli loaches are a first choice because they'd definately get along in my tanks, but I'm having a hard time finding them and I know I can get yo-yos.

 

[Lotus]

Yoyos get to about 5", so I wouldn't recommend them for a 10g tank. Other small loaches sometimes available are skunk loaches and zebra loaches. Dojo loaches are also usually available, but get kind of big, too. Is there a certain trait in the loaches that is required for the experiment?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I'm going to study their preferred substrate, so I need something that is fairly sedentary. I need to check out the lfs nearby that had kuhlis before, they might still have some. For whatever reason they're really hard to find around New England. One site I was on said yo-yos grew to about 10cm... they must have lied.

What about giant kuhli loaches? Do you know how big they get?

 

[Lotus]

From the article here, giant kuhli is the same species http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/kloach.html

Weather/dojo loaches would probably be a good candidate, as they like to dig in the substrate, and tend to hang out on it too. I see them often in the chain stores (often in the coldwater section). I think the kuhlis would work well for your experiment, though.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Good, then I can definately get some sort of kuhli. The little lfs intermittantly has normal kuhlis, but a larger store always has "giants." Thanks a bunch!

 

[NoDeltaH2O]

Unless your science project is going to last for more than a year, the YoYo loaches will be fine. If you get small ones, they will still be small by the end of the project, and well after. Feed your fish lightly and they won't get enormous. Remember, a typical fish's stomach is no bigger than its eyeball. Use this as a guide when you feed your fish. Imagine their eyes ar ein your hand, and fill the eyes up with food and you'll feed the right amount.I've got a YoYo loach that I've had for almost 2 years now and he's only about 1.5 to 2 inches long.