Do I Need To Rehome My Yoyo?

Hello! I'll jump right into it: I own a YoYo loach in a 29 gallon high tank. I'm aware that many consider this too small for YoYos and I'm worried they might be right: he acts fine, but I'm sure he'd be more active in a larger tank. I'd like to get him a small shoal (4-5 others), but I don't want to bring anyone new in if the tank is too small. I just don't think I'm able to purchase a larger tank, so I'm afraid the 29 is what I have to work with right now.

The YoYo in question is mature and 4 inches long. He's lived in the tank for at least six or seven years, and currently his only tankmate is a solitary black kuhlI (I'm hoping to restock with 5 or 6 more black kuhlI as soon as my QT cycles). He's pretty dormant in the daytime, but swims through all the levels of the tank searching for food in the mornings and evenings

I posted about my plight on Reddit, where I was told my only option was to size up or rehome him. I can't bear doing the latter, although I will try if it's the only way, but a new tank is probably beyond my budget at least for the next year or so. Do you really I think I have to rehome him? Is there anything else I could do to improve his quality of life.

 

Hello! I'll jump right into it: I own a YoYo loach in a 29 gallon high tank. I'm aware that many consider this too small for YoYos and I'm worried they might be right: he acts fine, but I'm sure he'd be more active in a larger tank. I'd like to get him a small shoal (4-5 others), but I don't want to bring anyone new in if the tank is too small. I just don't think I'm able to purchase a larger tank, so I'm afraid the 29 is what I have to work with right now.

The YoYo in question is mature and 4 inches long. He's lived in the tank for at least six or seven years, and currently his only tankmate is a solitary black kuhlI (I'm hoping to restock with 5 or 6 more black kuhlI as soon as my QT cycles). He's pretty dormant in the daytime, but swims through all the levels of the tank searching for food in the mornings and evenings

I posted about my plight on Reddit, where I was told my only option was to size up or rehome him. I can't bear doing the latter, although I will try if it's the only way, but a new tank is probably beyond my budget at least for the next year or so. Do you really I think I have to rehome him? Is there anything else I could do to improve his quality of life.

Have you checked used markets? Craigslist, facebook marketplace & local facebook fish groups? Also I think the petco $/gallon sale might still be going on.

 

Yeah, I imagine I could get an affordable tank (I just got a $10 10 gallon for QT, Petco's sale is still on) but I'm more concerned about the cost of purchasing filtration, water, decor, et cetera, not to mention stressing the fish with the move and water quality change. I'd be open to trying, but I'm worried I might be jumping in prematurely with so large an investment. Bottom line, though, I'll do it if it's right for the fish.

 

What's the problem with the tank it's in? I have no experience with Yoyo's so I can only go by what i've read.
If you can upgrade i'd do it if not I don't see an issue. I heard the can sometimes get over 10 inches? but if he's 6 or 7 I doubt that's an issue.
Some fish get used to being on their own and can react badly if introduced to their own kind, don't know if that's the case with Yoyo's though.

 

There’s no overt problem, I’ve just heard they need bigger footprints, and I imagine this effect would be compounded if I was to get more.

Mine is 4 inches long and not getting any bigger. 10 inch YoYos exist somewhere, I’m sure, but I can’t imagine mine getting that size.

He’s doing alright alone, and I am worried about creating a YoYo hierarchy, but based on the way he played with my old mollies I bet he’d like to have some partners in crime.

I’m really just guilty about having kept fish so wrong, and people on Reddit aren’t always nice to sensitive but misguided souls such as myself. I believe one person called keeping shoaling fish solitary (I’m really trying to fix this issue and I fret about it nonstop) meant they were living in “a lonely ****.” I just want my little guys to have the best possible lives and I don’t think I’ve provided that so far, so I’m striving to perfect the remaining fishes’ environment. I don’t want to feel like I’m engaging in animal cruelty.

 

Hello! I'll jump right into it: I own a YoYo loach in a 29 gallon high tank. I'm aware that many consider this too small for YoYos and I'm worried they might be right: he acts fine, but I'm sure he'd be more active in a larger tank. I'd like to get him a small shoal (4-5 others), but I don't want to bring anyone new in if the tank is too small. I just don't think I'm able to purchase a larger tank, so I'm afraid the 29 is what I have to work with right now.

The YoYo in question is mature and 4 inches long. He's lived in the tank for at least six or seven years, and currently his only tankmate is a solitary black kuhlI (I'm hoping to restock with 5 or 6 more black kuhlI as soon as my QT cycles). He's pretty dormant in the daytime, but swims through all the levels of the tank searching for food in the mornings and evenings

I posted about my plight on Reddit, where I was told my only option was to size up or rehome him. I can't bear doing the latter, although I will try if it's the only way, but a new tank is probably beyond my budget at least for the next year or so. Do you really I think I have to rehome him? Is there anything else I could do to improve his quality of life.

Hello! I'll jump right into it: I own a YoYo loach in a 29 gallon high tank. I'm aware that many consider this too small for YoYos and I'm worried they might be right: he acts fine, but I'm sure he'd be more active in a larger tank. I'd like to get him a small shoal (4-5 others), but I don't want to bring anyone new in if the tank is too small. I just don't think I'm able to purchase a larger tank, so I'm afraid the 29 is what I have to work with right now.

The YoYo in question is mature and 4 inches long. He's lived in the tank for at least six or seven years, and currently his only tankmate is a solitary black kuhlI (I'm hoping to restock with 5 or 6 more black kuhlI as soon as my QT cycles). He's pretty dormant in the daytime, but swims through all the levels of the tank searching for food in the mornings and evenings

I posted about my plight on Reddit, where I was told my only option was to size up or rehome him. I can't bear doing the latter, although I will try if it's the only way, but a new tank is probably beyond my budget at least for the next year or so. Do you really I think I have to rehome him? Is there anything else I could do to improve his quality of life.

If ur loach is only 4 inch and lived in ut tank for 6-7 years ther3 really isn't a problem as I would say he has reached full size being this old and in a 29 gal he will b fine with other fish in there. Years ago I bought 2 loach can't rem exactly which ones (gold colour with black stripes) they were 2 inch long little skinny things A year later they were both 9 inch and big chunky fellas. Looked like they were ready to burst. Unfortunately I had to give them away as they were too big for my 33 gal and looked as tho they were still growing lol. I would defo say ur ok to keep him as he sounds maxed out already ☺

 

Thank you! He really seems okay, but I'd like to try to get him some friends. If new fish introductions go well, maybe with penny pinching I can upgrade the whole tank to a 40 gallon or so within a few months or a year.

 

Also, I'd just like to say that you guys on FishLore have been nothing but welcoming and understanding. Reddit is nice, but I've never felt judged, excluded, or imposed upon here, and I can't entirely say the same over there. Thank you all so much for hearing me out.

 

Thank you! He really seems okay, but I'd like to try to get him some friends. If new fish introductions go well, maybe with penny pinching I can upgrade the whole tank to a 40 gallon or so within a few months or a year.

No worries n if u could get a 40 gal that would b better but hes fine anyway ☺

 

The Internet can be a bit ruthless to say the least, I can say for the short time i've been at fishlore you don't get many like that here.

Let's take a look at a couple of things. One, You've come here out of concern for your fish, it takes courage to do so. Two, you've kept him alive for 6/7 years, I can almost guarantee you it's longer than 90% of people who come here looking for advice. Fish typically don't live long unles they are happy and well looked after, so you're definitely doing something right.

I'm sure you won't regret upgrading.

 

Thanks again! The part that makes me think he's happy is that between his black and white stripes, he has a silvery blue color: I read they only get that when they're feeling content. He's such a great fish with a huge personality, and I've learned to read his emotions (i.e. hungry is swimming up and down quickly, stressed is wedging himself vertically in a corner) and I'd never want to give him up. I'll try to upgrade to a 40 in the future, but regardless you just soothed me so much with this. Thank you.

 

If you're planning on upgrading to a 40 gallon I don't see the harm in adding 1 more smaller yoyo for company, better than just being by himself. Minimum is 45 gallon or more for a school. I keep 3 in a custom 50 gallon and they swim and dance with a larger school of Giant Danio's (8) They are awesome fish!

 

Awesome, thanks - I've heard that a group of two might fight, though? I'm thinking of getting him a compatible midsize fish while I save for the 40, he used to have a molly playmate and while it's not the same as his own kind it's still a friend that doesn't squeeze into tiny cracks like the Kuhlis.

 

Awesome, thanks - I've heard that a group of two might fight, though? I'm thinking of getting him a compatible midsize fish while I save for the 40, he used to have a molly playmate and while it's not the same as his own kind it's still a friend that doesn't squeeze into tiny cracks like the Kuhlis.

I think if bought 2 that were smaller you would be ok, my LYS sells them at 1.5- 2 inches.

 

Sounds good, I got my guy at about an inch but I've seen my LFS selling bigger ones lately. They have a 'semi-aggressive' reputation but mine has never been purposefully mean, tbh, so I doubt he'd bully others.

I really wanted to post a video of him sifting gravel (the loaches have plenty of sand, IDK why they sift the heavy stuff around the plant instead) to thank you all, but the app isn't letting me. I promise he says thanks anyway <3

 

Sounds good, I got my guy at about an inch but I've seen my LFS selling bigger ones lately. They have a 'semi-aggressive' reputation but mine has never been purposefully mean, tbh, so I doubt he'd bully others.

I really wanted to post a video of him sifting gravel (the loaches have plenty of sand, IDK why they sift the heavy stuff around the plant instead) to thank you all, but the app isn't letting me. I promise he says thanks anyway <3

Mine have never been aggressive to each other and they are good with the other fish and the bristlenose. They will play with my hand if I'm busy in the tank. Look forward to your video it's worth the wait! ... and they are so magical when they dance!

 

Well I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to say I got a 50gal long (so like a shallow 55) for Christmas and I can't wait to upgrade the YoYo into it! I'm planning the scaping right now and I need to figure out whether my TV stand is sturdy or not, so it'll be a bit before it's fully operational, but soon he'll have adequate room