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Hi!

I've got these guys for about 2 years and today I decided to take some photos because I bought them as yoyo loaches, but the pattern has become so intricate that they no longer seem like yoyos, could you guys help me identify them?

Thanks!

Falstaf attached this image:

and another

Falstaf attached this image:

i wishi could do 3 photos at once!

Falstaf attached this image:

im a noob, but those really dont look like yoyo loaches....but i could be way off...if those are yo yos they arent like the ones we have at fish stores here

Yes, those are definitely Yoyo Loaches. As they mature, their characteristic "yoyo" markings usually develop into a more complicated reticulated pattern.

Loaches.com has some pictures of Yoyo Loaches that look very similar to yours.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

They look like Yoyos to me. I have 4 now of different ages and sizes. Their patterns change a lot as they get older. The small ones have very defined black lines like a zebra. The bigger they get the more stretched out and irregular they look. The black areas aren't as dark anymore either.

The first pic doesn't look like one but the other pics do, but since yoyos are wild caught I would say it is. It has the body shape and definitions like a yoyo. Its definately a interesting specimen.

I agree with green Monkey. Pics 2 and 3 are definately yo yo loaches, Picture one looks like a different kind of loach looking at the dorsal fin, the number of whiskers, the pattern, the coloring etc. I've never owned one that looked quite like that. Now he just could be an oddball, or too far inbred where he was caught if he was wild caught, could even be a hybrid which would make him look close to being a yoyo but not quite "right". Either way I would just treat him and feed him like the yoyo loaches. Loaches are pretty similar in diet and habit. Enjoy your very healthy looking fish

Koi

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

All 3 are yoyos. Yoyos are known to have a distinct Y-O-Y-O pattern that is most sought after, but some specimens have what is called a veiled black and white pattern. I had some with the YOYO pattern, and some like the 3 in the picture. You can read up more about them at http://www.loaches.com

Yes, they are Yoyo Loaches, that are also known as Pakistani Loaches.


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Hey Falstaf, nice yo-yos

After having them 2 years, how big do you think yours are? I know eye-balling it can be tough, but general estimate?

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Back in the saddle!

without a doubt they are mature yoyos from those pics.

Hi all, and thanks for the replays, I love these guys they are so fun to watch, I have 4 of them and the biggest is about 5 inches long the others are about 4inches I got them very small like about 1 1/5 inches. I guess they are wild caught.

They have tiger loaches, and zebra loaches as tank mates and they all get along quite good, they are healthy and active and eat like crazy, always chasing each other. But the Yoyos are by far the biggest.

Last edited by Falstaf at 19-Dec-2005 14:05

They look like my 3 plump little guys. Mine started out small and skinny, but quickly fattened up. I have had my yoyos for a few months now and the black is much lighter than when I got them. Also the pattern is stretched out.
Do yours hide alot? Mine do. They are so funny. They try to hide but stick out like a sore thumb. Very silly guys. I also had one of mine play dead once. I almost cried, but he got up and started swimming.
I have thought about getting more, but I don't know if that would make them come out more often. :%)

*Kristin*

The pattern has started changing on some of mine but they are nearing 3years since I got them. Young yoyos usually have the yoyo pattern and somewhere on loaches.com it's mentioned there could be a difference between males and females. All of those loaches are 100% yoyo loach and completely normal. The top one has just lived a longer life, grown faster, or maybe a different gender from the others.

I've used to worry a lot about them at the beginning because they will always be hiding, now I just come to realize they hide most of the day, at about 5:30m it's loach party time, all of then come out and start playing and chasing, and I also noticed it's not in an aggressive way, it's like watching a game of tag.

Mine also play dead, and have sacred me more than once or twice in the past, now I guess it's like peter and the wolf, whenever I see the laying flat on their sides I just assume they are playing dead and move on