Yo Yo Loach (Botia almorhae)

Bring a burst of personality and pattern to your aquarium with the Yoyo Loach! Named for the distinctive "Y-O-Y-O" markings that decorate their silver-gold bodies, these active bottom-dwellers are a favorite for hobbyists looking to add both visual flair and natural pest control to their freshwater setup.

Quick Stats & Origin

• Scientific Name: Botia almorhae

• Origin: The slow-moving and still waters of the Ganges basin in Northern India and Pakistan.

• Adult Size: Up to 5–6 inches.

• Lifespan: 5–8 years (with proper care).

Care & Environment

To keep your Yoyo Loaches thriving, you’ll want to mimic their natural riverine habitat. They are highly social and should be kept in groups of at least 3 to 5. A solitary Yoyo Loach can become stressed or overly aggressive.

• Tank Size: A minimum of 40 gallons is recommended for a small group. Because they are active swimmers, a longer tank is better than a tall one.

• Substrate: Use sand or fine gravel. These loaches have sensitive barbels (whiskers) that can be damaged by sharp rocks.

• Decor: Provide plenty of hiding spots using driftwood, PVC pipes, or smooth rock caves. They love to squeeze into tight spaces—just ensure they can’t get stuck!

• Water Parameters: * Temperature: 75°F to 86°F (24°C–30°C)

  • pH: 6.5–7.5

  • Hardness: Soft to medium-hard.

Feeding & Diet

Yoyo Loaches are omnivorous "scavengers" but shouldn't be left to live on "leftovers" alone.

• The Snail Hunter: They are legendary for their ability to clear an aquarium of nuisance snails (like Bladder or Trumpet snails).

• Daily Diet: Offer a variety of high-quality sinking pellets, algae wafers, and frozen treats like bloodworms or brine shrimp.

• Vegetables: They occasionally enjoy blanched zucchini or cucumber.

Tank Mates

These loaches are generally peaceful but very high-energy.

• Ideal Partners: Larger tetras, rasboras, gouramis, corydoras, and other loaches.

• Avoid: Slow-moving, long-finned fish (like Bettas or fancy Goldfish) that might be bothered by the loaches' frantic swimming. Also, avoid ornamental snails you wish to keep alive!

Breeding

Breeding Yoyo Loaches in a home aquarium is extremely rare. Most specimens found in the hobby are either wild-caught or raised in large commercial ponds using hormone induction. They are migratory spawners in nature, making their breeding triggers difficult to replicate in a standard tank environment.

Pro Tip: Yoyo Loaches are known for "playing dead" by laying on their sides. Don't panic! This is normal behavior for a relaxed loach taking a nap.

PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

• The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving. 
• Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process.
• We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish. 
• Unless specified, all fish are sold as unsexed.