What kind of loaches do I have???

[gothicangel]

My mother bought these a few years ago for her 30g tank. Neither one of us can remember what they are and since her tank is getting crowed(she has three of these, two indian algae eaters, 6 sissortails and 4 harlequins), I was thinking about moving them into my 55gallon to give them some more swimming space. Also, one of them looks a little different from the others, even though when we bought them, they were all the same, could this be a male??
Since I don't know anything about them, I'm wondering if they will be ok in my tank, or if it will make my tank too crowded? I have:
-1 leopard ctenopoma
-1 golden gourami
-4 kribensis(two are going into another tank soon)
-2 bolivians
-1 chinese algae eater
-1 red tail shark
-1 poor lonely corydora (he is very old, lol)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e310/gothicangel_69/pictures160.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e310/gothicangel_69/pictures161.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e310/gothicangel_69/pictures162.jpg

[KingFisher]

I beleive they are all Yoyo loaches, Botia almorhae. After looking at images on the web, I saw the different pattern variations all categorized as Yoyos.

[BigMac]

WOW! That is one cubby loach!

[Wild Turkey]

Agree with above, they look like yoyos.

[angelcakes]

i also agree with yoyo and thats a big yoyo:hmm3grin2orange:

[gothicangel]

so do you guys think they would be ok in my 55? I did a little researching and it says that they are good community fish but I would just like some opinions first.
They are kinda fat arn't they, I should put them on a diet:19:

[angelcakes]

they should be ok in a 55g

[Wild Turkey]

Oh yea, thats plenty. :19:

[gothicangel]

Well, I just went and moved them into my tank. They seem so happy! Much more space for them than that little 30g. At the moment their swimming around checking out all the different caves. They don't seem bothered at all with the other fish, and everyone's getting along.

[angelcakes]

thats good to hear:19: thumbs2: :19:

[mac]

Hi,
Yes they are Yoyos. And they are some beautifully nice Loaches.

And IMO they will be more than happy in a 55 gallon.

mac

[BigMac]

My Zebra Loaches only bother my (now one) Angelfish when it is resting. They nibble on it's long thin fins. They also will follow my Neons around when they are feefing. I think they think the red stripe is a worm ;)

I don't think they intentionally bother fish too big to eat. Great comunity tank residents thumbs2:

[Brookfish]

Great looking Loaches, glad they settled in their new home.

[LORENZO]

:goldfish: :fish: THE YO yo and zebra loaches are different don't you think? I thought zebras had more of a yellowish bronzy colour to them? Yo yo grey and white and well contrasted lines. hmm could they be one and the same?????

[mac]

:goldfish: :fish: THE YO yo and zebra loaches are different don't you think?

Much different. To different spices. The reason the color can look different is lighting, stress, age, and many more factors.



I thought zebras had more of a yellowish bronzy colour to them?

Two of mine do have this color you have mentioned. While the other two have the same type of color, just they have a gray sheen over them. Amazingly when I first bought them they looked the same till now. And the ones that have the gray are the biggest.



Yo yo grey and white and well contrasted lines. hmm could they be one and the same?????

http://http://images.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aqua-fish.net/imgs/fish2/yoyo-loach-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php%3Fh%3Dyoyoloach1&usg=__fPcW0J3N_V6s3SNSCeZtQAG9ZmM=&h=300&w=442&sz=32&hl=en&start=13&tbnid=qC7TIo-HaQecjM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyoyo%2Bloach%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa %3DX

http://images.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aquariumlife.net/profile-images/yoyo-loach.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aquariumlife.net/profiles/asian-loaches/yoyo-loach/100092.asp&usg=__nNlZmgEJMDjt2XUQ_170B4dwQIc=&h=127&w=250&sz=14&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=dR9FcjldI2orWM:&tbnh=56&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyoyo%2Bloach%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa %3DX


http://images.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/loaches/images/YoYoLoachWFLo_Ap4A.jpg&imgrefurl=http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/loaches/YoYoLoach.php&usg=__zYED52THC-uPWeOLFz2eSc_bUBo=&h=287&w=400&sz=38&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=zSwLgNijcP1v8M:&tbnh=89&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyoyo%2Bloach%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa %3DX

http://images.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fishandflora.com/botia3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fishandflora.com/trop6.html&usg=__cd254dGw2iBhIheydqUWVkUFgGc=&h=450&w=600&sz=143&hl=en&start=15&tbnid=f9KOBNgKUQt51M:&tbnh=101&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyoyo%2Bloach%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa %3DX

http://images.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://fish.carotcollins.com/photos/Botia_almorhae.png&imgrefurl=http://fish.carotcollins.com/&usg=__KqPWpBXV9UrJCL5p5XAAYRU_Lbk=&h=300&w=400&sz=178&hl=en&start=18&tbnid=W4hx4hgw8sHBmM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyoyo%2Bloach%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa %3DX

http://images.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/images/RV041.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php%3Fnews%3D1687&usg=___jjItwKaejL8jR3Mpaazj344umk=&h=260&w=390&sz=35&hl=en&start=20&tbnid=cXoDNbrClkZfyM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyoyo%2Bloach%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa %3DX

As you will see with each one of these pics, they are the same Loach, just different color patterns. The reason for some many links is because there are quite a few color patterns, and environments to show. The environment also helps to show a different shade of color.

mac