David C

Not sure where to post this...

One of my 3 yoyo loaches has a distinctly pronounced stomach, it looks swollen but only in the forward stomach area. He/She is swimming fine and looks overall healthy, not sure if an illness or pregnant I'm trying to get a photo but I couldnt find my camera until after I changed my substrate so it's a bit cloudy right now... all my readings are 0 ammonia/nitrite and 7 nitrate with a temp of 78*... AACCKKK!

David C

Here are some photos, they're the best I can do considering yoyo's wont sit still for a second, Argh!

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I wish I could've done better, I hope this helps someone help me

Butterfly

Yoyos aren't good about posing for a photo shoot are they LOL Looks like you have a female. They will frequently fill with eggs and get chunky looking even though they don't breed in aquaria.(Maybe you could be the first ) Heres some interesting information about Yoyos. Don't know if you've seen it or not.
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-almorhae
Carol

David C

So do they just discharge unfertilized eggs then or does she continue to hold them in her? Thanks for the reply Carol, that was a good site with good info and now I'm not so worried.

Phew!

Butterfly

She will stay a little chunky because female Yoyos are thicker through the body anyway. She will just re-absorb the eggs most likely. When I had mine she would rock on her tummy she was so fat but she was still very active. They would go up and down the tank in front of the cat and my husband said thats how they got their name..... because they were always yoyoing around. LOL
With loaches(and most fish I guess) there are breeding triggers (cooler water, lots of protein, large water changes, weather changes etc.) and theres just not a lot known about what they are. There is a book how ever about Loaches called "Loaches : Natural History and Aquarium Care" http://www.amazon.com/Loaches-Natura...8326357&sr=1-1
This book from what I've heard is wonderful. This is on my Christmas list
Carol

David C

Wow, thanks for all the info, it would definately be cool if I could get lucky and she'd breed... but the only luck I have is the bad kind. I'll check out the book though, more info never hurt anyone