Yoyo Loaches....why Are They Displaying This Behavior?

[lilmisshertz]

Hi all,
Just a question about the pakistani/yoyo loach.
I have 4 of these guys in my cycled tank, along with 4 blue rainbowfish,10 debra danios, 1 plec.
I got them yesterday and they always seem to be swimming up and down the sides of the tank. Whenever I look at them, thats all they ever seem to be doing. Just swimming together, but constantly swimming up and down, as if trying to get out!
What might this behavior be? Could it be that their just not used to their surroundings yet or something different?
Has anyone experienced this behavior with these fish before?
Any advice or information would be appreciated!
Thanks all in advance!

 

[Applerust]

My 2 Dojo Loaches are doing the same thing and barely eating as well. I read that a lot of Loaches like to jump out of water and are very good at it.

I read about my loaches here:

http/www.loaches.com/

Maybe this will help you? Good luck.

 

[DevUK]

Hi all,
I got them yesterday and they always seem to be swimming up and down the sides of the tank. Whenever I look at them, thats all they ever seem to be doing. Just swimming together, but constantly swimming up and down, as if trying to get out!

My Chinese algae eater does this sometimes, when he's stressed (he's been moved around a few times). He also does it occasionally for no reason. I think part of it is maybe getting to know their surroundings, and how deep the water is and the other part will be stress. They should calm down soon hopefully

Have you got a lid on the aquarium, just in case?

 

[lilmisshertz]

Thanks you two, at least I know I'm not the only one whos experiencing this odd behavior as ive never seen it before!
My tank dimensions are 100cm length, 45cm width, 65cm height. So the tank is not overstocked - the plec will be moved to a larger tank when older. I have one on standby for when he grows into a big boy as i think hes a common or gibby!
So its probably down to stress of being moved to somewhere they don't know? They have plenty of hiding places, but thats what they prefer to do at the moment! Well I'll have to just wait and see what they are doing in a few days or so....
Oh and DevUK - Your brave keeping a CAE, i've heard their little monstors and can be a nightmare to keep! Especially with other fish!!
I have a lid on the tank thats secured all the way round!! I've read their good jumpers too lol

 

[DevUK]

Oh and DevUK - Your brave keeping a CAE, i've heard their little monstors and can be a nightmare to keep! Especially with other fish!!

I had problems with him at first, when he first matured. I was sold him as an algae eater with my goldfish. He used to attack my current fancy goldfish and suck on his scales They were in a tiny tank too, but I've rectified all of that now I actually know what I'm doing Now he's got his own 180litre tank that he shares with some smaller fish (rasboras,pentazona barbs and some danios). He's happy enough and doesn't disturb the others generally, just zips around the tank occasionally.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yoyo loaches will display behavior from time to time like this, especially when introduced to a new tank, its just their way of exploring the boundaries and size of the tank etc .

What size tank are you keeping them in though and what sort of substrate does it have?

 

[loachman]

Yoyo loaches will display behavior from time to time like this, especially when introduced to a new tank, its just their way of exploring the boundaries and size of the tank etc .

What size tank are you keeping them in though and what sort of substrate does it have?

Very common loach behavior. Some call it the "loachy dance". They can do it for 10 minutes going over the same path over and over, up and down the glass.

 

[DevUK]

My CAE used to jump the internal filter I had in my tank at one point. The top was just on the surface, till he managed to splash water onto the wall. I moved the filter then

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah I have seen loaches do this as well. I have also wondered if it is because they can see their own reflection in the glass and they are trying to "swim past this damn fish that keeps getting in my way" .

 

[lilmisshertz]

tokis-phoenix - My tank dimensions are 100cm length, 45cm width, 65cm height. Fine gravel substrate. I've heard they like to dig and you need fine substrate as they have sensitive barbels on their mouths. Is there any other reason why you should have fine substrate??
Loachman - You say they do this for 10 minutes at a time, mine seem to be doing it constantly!! Must be obbsessive!
DevUK - What a clever CAE!!! Still I wouldnt get one though! Especially not for my current tank for obvious reasons lol.
XXbarneyXX - Thats a good point! What a funny thought!! haha. Poor things "its your reflections you silly fish lol"

Well thanks for the replies, At least I know it is loach behavior but I just hope they settle down as doing it constantly like that worries me they might be stressed.

 

[loachman]

Loachman - You say they do this for 10 minutes at a time, mine seem to be doing it constantly!! Must be obbsessive!

They can do it for longer, it's very common for them to do it for a considerable amount of time. I've had one go over the exact same diagonal pattern for probably 30 mins straight while watching it.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

tokis-phoenix - My tank dimensions are 100cm length, 45cm width, 65cm height. Fine gravel substrate. I've heard they like to dig and you need fine substrate as they have sensitive barbels on their mouths. Is there any other reason why you should have fine substrate??

Sounds like a good size tank .

Apart from being softer on the fishes barbels, have a fine rounded gravel or soft sand substrate simply allows them to feeding more naturally .



When i first got my yoyo loaches, they behaved like yours for a few days, but after that they settled down fine and now just chill out in their favorite part of the tank most of the tank, occasionally looking for trumpet snails and other morsels of food- they went crazy over the frozen bloodworms i gave them tonight though, i don't think they've ever eaten them before, they loved them .

 

[Bozza]

Yoyo's are crazy. I use to have 2 of them. Wish I still did they were really interesting and fun to watch. As long as you have a big enough tank to house them they will continue to act this way