CarlosR

Over the past few days one of our two yoyo loaches has become extremely withdrawn and droopy, failing to eat in a normal fashion. We have an 18-gallon tank that has been up and running for a few months now (after the cycling period, of course), with all proper maintenance (water changes, etc.) being done at regular intervals. The fish just sort of drifts about, and doesn't appear to be interested in anything. This is extremely odd, because the fish is usually bouncing off the walls with energy, the first to eat, and always engages the other fish (another yoyo loach and three tetras) in playful activities. All of that is gone, though, and I'm not sure what to do. Is it sick? If so, should I quarantine the fish? Or is it just going through one of its sad phases? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated...thanks!!

ATKINSON

Welcome to Fishlore
I dont know much about yoyo loaches but Im sure someone will help soon.

aquarist48

Hello Carlos and Welcome to Fish Lore. So sorry to hear that your yoyo isn't up to par. I don't have personal experience with them myself. Have you checked your water chemistry as far as ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, pH levels? I think that would be the best place to start. Hang on for some more responses. I'm sure some yoyo owners will respond before long.
Best of luck for a speedy recovery. Hope you enjoy the site.
Ken

HaileyF

Hey, so I'm the co-owner of the loach described above. We've have one other yo-yo loach and three red-nosed tetras since the beginning of July. I just did a 30% water change yesterday and all of the water parameters are normal. We do have rather hard water (although it varies depending on the time of year) and the pH is always around 7.9. However, this hasn't been a problem before. Really the only thing that has varied at all has been the temperature. We have a heater, but I haven't had it plugged in for a while because it has been so warm here for the last few weeks (it's been between 84 and 88F). Yesterday, however, the temperature had dropped to 74. I have since plugged the heater back in and the temperature is up to 78F.

In addition to what Carlos described, the loach has taken to resting on the side of the filter where the water intake is. Occasionally, it starts to breath rapidly and it looks like his gills *might* be swollen (but they don't really look inflamed). It also shakes its head when it tries to eat. Other than this, I cannot see any visible sign of infection (white spots, discoloration, etc...).

Thanks!

Butterfly

Could you tell us the results of your water tests for ammonia, Nitrites and NitrAtes please.
Any time there's a problem in a tank the first line of defense is a water change and you did that. Good job!
Keep an eye out for ICH. Loaches are notorious for getting it when they get chilled.
Raising the water temp was a good idea also. Keeping the heater on and set keeps the water at a more even temp. It won't come on unless the water starts to cool.
Keep us posted on how he does.
carol

HaileyF

K, so last weekend we decided to treat the tank for ich by turning up the water temp to 86 (although it got so hot here last week that the temp got up to 88 for a few days), adding about 3/4 tbsp of salt/gallon of water, vacuuming the gravel every day and getting an air filter. The two tetras and one of the loaches seem much better now, but I don't think that the bigger loach (which was the first to appear ill) has been eating anything. It seems like when he tries to eat now, he can't, or it's uncomfortable or something. He'll sniff at the food, then quickly swim to the bottom of the tank and sit there almost like he's sulking. Sometimes he'll start breathing rapidly also. I'm worried that he's starting to get skinny. The other fish seem totally fine now, absolutely no symptoms what-so-ever. Could this still be from the ich? He seems relatively fine other than this.

Incidentally, we lost our big fat stupid tetra last weekend when is randomly swam into the side of the tank. I think it injured its swim bladder, because after that, it just started trying to swim upside-down, then lost control of where it was going, and a little while later he died .

Sarrixx

Hhmm I own a Yoyo Loach and they are interesting little critters. Very easy to tell when they are sick because they lose all their energy (as yours has) so they are not swimming around the tank as usual. Loaches are scaleless fish as well. This is something to remember when trying treatments out in your tank. The wrong treatments can make the sickness much worse, or even kill the poor little guy!
I have personally never had any problems with my Yoyo Loach, I have found that they are very very hardy fish. I wish you luck in your quest to find a cure for the poor little guy!

misterblobby

Could your pH be a bit high? I have a couple of yoyos and keep the pH around 6.8-7.0, the maximum listed on loaches.com is 7.5. They also aren't too fond of medications.

Adding food that sinks (like bottom-feeder pellets) to the tank seems to keep them happy, I don't think they were getting much of the flake food after the angels and tetras demolished it before it got anywhere near the yoyos.