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fishintermediate
Yoyo Loach
Botia almorhae
A patterned, puppy-dog loach with yoyo-like markings — a comical snail-hunter that lives for decades.
2.5–6 in10–20 years
Habitat
Enclosure
30 gal minimum · groups of 4+
Temperature
75–86°F
Humidity / Water
Freshwater · pH 6.5–7.5
Heating & lighting
Reliable heater and soft sand — they bury to their eyeballs. Tight lid: even armored loaches find gaps.
Diet
Feed these
- Sinking pellets
- Frozen bloodworms
- Snails
- Algae wafers
Never feed
- Snails — their favorite food, so plan accordingly
- Betta — nipped fins
- Shrimp — eaten
- Fancy long-finned fish
Feed sinking foods after lights out. They eat snails with a crunch — the go-to natural fix for a snail outbreak.
Cohabitation
Can live with
Other yoyo loaches — groups of 4+ Blue gouramis Tiger barbs — big tanks Silver dollars
Never house with
Betta — nipped fins Shrimp and small snails — eaten Fancy long-finned fish
Groups of four or more bury, play, and pile together. One loach alone hides and pines — buy the group, not the fish.
