Yoyo Loach Making Its Own Cave

I bought 3 YoYo loaches and throughout the day they seemed to enjoy their new home. Next morning I could only find 2 of the 3, I had assumed the Raphael Catfish had him for dinner that evening so I rehomed the catfish. Went to the fish store purchased a replacement and upon return I was apparently down to 1 YoYo loach. Now I'm baffled what happened. I have 3 pieces of MopanI wood in the tank, I decided to physically lift them up and I discovered the Loaches somehow buried themselves under the wood through the sub-straight. I have caught the event on video:

YoYo-loach-hiding

 

Yep. Loaches dig. My 8" loach disappeared in a 30 gallon for an hour. She and her two buddies are in a 60 now and they often bury themselves. Another thing, how rough is that gravel? If you can, sand is a better option for loaches.

 

This is the substrait: Seachem - Onyx Sand

"Onyx Sand™ is a naturally dark gray sand that perfectly complements and enhances the appearance of any aquarium. It provides not only iron and other minerals but supports optimal KH levels for freshwater planted aquariums. Being carbonate rich, Onyx Sand™ provides an advantage to any plants able to utilize bicarbonates. Although ideally suited to planted aquaria, it may be used in any aquarium environment. Onyx Sand™ is most effective when used alone as an integral substrate bed, but it may be mixed with other gravels. Gravel modifiers such as laterite are not necessary. Onyx Sand™ is not chemically coated or treated but does have a slight buffering capacity that may raise pH by 0.1 - 0.5 pH units (depending on source water characteristics). Onyx Sand™ is good for the life of the aquarium and need not be replaced."

 

This is the substrait: Seachem - Onyx Sand

"Onyx Sand™ is a naturally dark gray sand that perfectly complements and enhances the appearance of any aquarium. It provides not only iron and other minerals but supports optimal KH levels for freshwater planted aquariums. Being carbonate rich, Onyx Sand™ provides an advantage to any plants able to utilize bicarbonates. Although ideally suited to planted aquaria, it may be used in any aquarium environment. Onyx Sand™ is most effective when used alone as an integral substrate bed, but it may be mixed with other gravels. Gravel modifiers such as laterite are not necessary. Onyx Sand™ is not chemically coated or treated but does have a slight buffering capacity that may raise pH by 0.1 - 0.5 pH units (depending on source water characteristics). Onyx Sand™ is good for the life of the aquarium and need not be replaced."

Interesting. It looks kinda rough from the pictures. Just keep an eye out that your loaches aren't getting scratched or loosing barbels.

 

I disrupted their home, I restacked the mopanI wood and it seemed the 4 loaches are having a hard time digging a new hole. And the Panda Garra are being territorial now in certain areas of the tank toward the loaches. Lets see how this plays out.

 

Yeah my kuhlI loaches have made their own caves under the driftwood, as well as under a skull decor I have. It almost looks creepy when you see a kuhlI loach come out under that skull lol.