YoYo loaches

[geowashlaw]

I am starting to see small pond snails in my tank from my plants. It's only a 46g and there is no way a clown loach is going to live happily in that tank. I read that yoyo's would also eat them and stay much smaller. Are they difficult to care for? How many do I need? Are they going to fight with my rainbow shark? I think my tank is fairly well stocked. Would they overstock the tank (see signature)?

Thanks!

[Red]

Very stocked, i would avoid the yoyo because they need groups and max out at somewhere around 6". I would try picking them out, or see if you can find assassin snails.

[Fishguy2727]

I wouldn't consider that tank that well stocked, especially if the nitrate concentration is low enough and adequate water changes are done. Most yoyos don't get much larger than about 4". A trio would work well.

[*Sarah*]

They do get pretty big...I have 3 in my 100 gal and the one is pushing the 6" mark and is very fat.

[Miltonic]

I have one in my 44g and it eats like a pig and its doing a nice job with the snails, right now, im trying to get some friends for it but i can't seem to find them at my LFS anymore. I left an order for two but they haven't called either.

[Red]

I wouldn't consider that tank that well stocked, especially if the nitrate concentration is low enough and adequate water changes are done. Most yoyos don't get much larger than about 4". A trio would work well.

They get 6" fishguy. And i think they would be in the red tail shark territory and cause problems with that too.

[nwnittany]

I have three in my 45 and they do a great job in eating the smaller snails.

In my tank, they stay mainly in the bottom 1/3rd. And they love decorations. I have a some PVC pipe and some drift wood and they are always goofing around in, out, under, and on top of them.

I'd get three or more though. They seem to really enjoy hanging with each other and essentially ignore everyone else.

I'll defer to the others on the stocking. But, imho and inexperienced opinion, it would seem like if you had good filtration and were good about water changes, you could handle them.

[Jacko]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about getting a fish to eat snails. The simple way is that if you keep on top of water changes and don't overfeed, be careful not to let too much food get stuck in the gravel or sand and the snails won't have food to reproduce, they can sense when there isn't enough resources for another generation and if there isn't, they won't make another generation.

Yoyo loaches get pretty big, you could be fine but personally, I would look for a couple assassin snails simply because they keep the population in check and have far less bioload than loaches. And they look pretty dang cool.

[mac]

They get 6" fishguy. And i think they would be in the red tail shark territory and cause problems with that too.


I agree. I have seen heaps over 5 inches. As for the shark trouble I have never had trouble with Sharks and Loaches sharing the same territory. That is if there is plenty of hiding spaces for the shark.

mac

[doug z]

Mine seem to be staying around 4", and they are awesome to watch, even just with the 2 of them..

Wish I had a bigger tank.. I'd get a whole school of them..

They are easily the biggest fish in my tank, but they get along great with everyone, especially the pandas..

[mac]

They are easily the biggest fish in my tank, but they get along great with everyone, especially the pandas..


The amazing thing about these fish. They stick around a nice size, and they are truly great with other fish, bigger or smaller, no matter the temperament.

mac

[bluebluecow]

my one is about 5 inches, adna real charecture, even though he is by himself in the tank, he gets on great with my sucking loach, flash plec and "sid", In fact quite often he and sid are snuggled up in sids hidy hole now thats a site, a fukky grown FAT syndontis and a yoyo

liz

[geowashlaw]

And i think they would be in the red tail shark territory and cause problems with that too.

This is my greatest concern ... I don't want to upset the balance ... everyone seems to get along very well right now ... maybe I'll try out a pair and see how they do and if they cause problems I'll just take them back

[mommy1]

i had a huge snail problem a while back. instead of buying fish that would probably grow out of my tank, i cut back on feeding my fish (i was way over feeding them) then as the snails climbed up the glass i picked them out. and at every water change i also picked out as many as i could. it took a little longer, a little over a month, but it took care of the problem.

i dont know if this is true, but i was told by my lfs employee, the juvenile loaches they had for sale probably wouldnt eat the adult snails anyway.

[sharonm]

I had 3 yo yo loaches but lost 2 when I had a nasty ick outbreak! The yo yo I have now is one fat yo yo. He is very happy scurrying around all say bt will chase the sand loaches. The yo yo's made quick meals out of the snails I had in my tank very, very quickly!!!

[dawguy]

These yo yo's love all snails I have 2 in my 70 gallon and they take all snails (crunch there goes another snail).And they get along with all fish.Included the 8 inch pleco.
Dawguy:19:

[aquakid]

snails arent a problem, they scavenge exess waste and eat algae.
40 gl 7 espei rasboras,
5 platies (2 born in tank about 1.5 cm)),
4 swordtails (2 born in tank about 1.5 cm now)
1 dwarf gourami
1 striped raphael catfish
1 rainbow shark
1 bumblebee goby
1-4 ghost shrimp

[Wild Turkey]

snails arent a problem, they scavenge exess waste and eat algae.
40 gl 7 espei rasboras,
5 platies (2 born in tank about 1.5 cm)),
4 swordtails (2 born in tank about 1.5 cm now)
1 dwarf gourami
1 striped raphael catfish
1 rainbow shark
1 bumblebee goby
1-4 ghost shrimp

No, nothing eats poop.

Snails eat excess food and plant matter, they are not problem if you control them. One way is loaches.
I agree the tank is not overstocked, but im afraid the shark may not enjoy their presence, and with 6+ loaches you will be pushing it a little. I would use the remaining room in your tank to sure up the schools that need it(neons, bleeding hearts), and find another way to control the snails.
- traps
- manual removal
- assassin snails
- dont overfeed