Species › Loaches

Yoyo loach tank mates and minimum tank size

Botia almorhae

Yoyo loaches grow to 16 cm (6.3 in). They live in groups: keep at least 6. They nip the fins of slow or long-finned fish. They are active and can unsettle shy tank mates. They eat snails. They need 19–27.5 °C (66–82 °F) and pH 6.0–7.5.

Minimum tank

243 L (64 US gal), at least 120 cm (47 in) long

Adult size

16 cm (6.3 in)

Temperature

19–27.5 °C (66–82 °F)

pH

pH 6.0–7.5

Group

6 or more

Yoyo loach minimum tank size

Yoyo loaches need at least 243 L (64 US gal), in a tank at least 120 cm (47 in) long.

That is the largest minimum among the sources below. The planner also checks the tank length against the adult size of 16 cm (6.3 in): a tank shorter than 4 times that is cramped (64 cm (25 in)).

Yoyo loach tank mates

Each of the other 52 species in this reference, judged against yoyo loaches by the same rules as the compatibility checker. A guide, not a guarantee.

Compatible (27)

• Black neon tetra
• Black skirt tetra
• Bristlenose pleco
• Bronze corydoras
• Cherry barb
• Clown loach
• Common pleco
• Discus
• Dwarf gourami
• Glowlight tetra
• Goldfish
• Harlequin rasbora
• Kuhli loach
• Lemon tetra
• Neon tetra
• Panda corydoras
• Paradise fish
• Peppered corydoras
• Platy
• Red tail shark
• Rosy barb
• Serpae tetra
• Siamese algae eater
• Swordtail
• Tiger barb
• White cloud mountain minnow
• Zebra danio

With care (16)

• Boeseman's rainbowfishThe only temperature that suits both is 27–27.5 °C (81–82 °F), set by Boeseman's rainbowfish and yoyo loaches. That leaves no margin.
• Cardinal tetraThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by yoyo loaches and cardinal tetras. That leaves no margin.
• Celestial pearl danioYoyo loaches nip and chase; shy celestial pearl danios are likely targets. Celestial pearl danios are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• Chili rasboraYoyo loaches nip and chase; shy chili rasboras are likely targets. Chili rasboras are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• Cockatoo dwarf cichlidThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by yoyo loaches and cockatoo dwarf cichlids. That leaves no margin.
• Ember tetraYoyo loaches nip and chase; shy ember tetras are likely targets. Ember tetras are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• Endler's livebearerYoyo loaches nip and chase; shy Endler's livebearers are likely targets. Endler's livebearers are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• German blue ramThe only temperature that suits both is 27–27.5 °C (81–82 °F), set by German blue rams and yoyo loaches. That leaves no margin. The only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by yoyo loaches and German blue rams. That leaves no margin. Yoyo loaches nip and chase; shy German blue rams are likely targets. German blue rams are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• Glass catfishYoyo loaches nip and chase; shy glass catfish are likely targets. Glass catfish are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• Honey gouramiYoyo loaches nip and chase; shy honey gouramis are likely targets. Honey gouramis are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• KribensisYoyo loaches nip and chase; shy kribensis are likely targets. Kribensis are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• MollyThe only pH that suits both is pH 7.5, set by mollies and yoyo loaches. That leaves no margin.
• OtocinclusYoyo loaches nip and chase; shy otocinclus are likely targets. Otocinclus are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• Pearl gouramiYoyo loaches nip and chase; shy pearl gouramis are likely targets. Pearl gouramis are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• Pygmy corydorasYoyo loaches nip and chase; shy pygmy corydoras are likely targets. Pygmy corydoras are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• Rummy-nose tetraThe only pH that suits both is pH 6.0, set by yoyo loaches and rummy-nose tetras. That leaves no margin. Yoyo loaches nip and chase; shy rummy-nose tetras are likely targets. Rummy-nose tetras are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.

Not compatible (9)

• AngelfishYoyo loaches nip fins, and angelfish have long, trailing fins.
• BettaYoyo loaches nip fins, and bettas have long, trailing fins. Bettas are usually best kept alone. Some accept calm tank mates such as yoyo loaches, many do not.
• Cherry shrimpYoyo loaches grow to 16 cm, big enough to eat adult cherry shrimp (4 cm).
• Congo tetraYoyo loaches nip fins, and Congo tetras have long, trailing fins. Congo tetras are shy and lose out at feeding time to boisterous yoyo loaches.
• Convict cichlidConvict cichlids are aggressive and best kept in a tank of their own; they attack fish several times their size, so yoyo loaches would be harassed.
• GuppyYoyo loaches nip fins, and guppies have long, trailing fins.
• Mystery snailYoyo loaches eat snails, mystery snails included. The only pH that suits both is pH 7.2–7.5, set by mystery snails and yoyo loaches. That leaves no margin.
• Nerite snailYoyo loaches eat snails, nerite snails included.
• OscarOscars grow to 46 cm and eat animals they can swallow; yoyo loaches grow to 16 cm.

Sources

Where sources differ, the value shown is computed as the most cautious one.

Behaviour notes are from Seriously Fish, read 2026-10-26; Aquarium Co-op care guides, read 2026-10-26.

Check against another species Plan a tank