15 Best Yoyo Loach Tank Mates – FishLab

Looking for a way to spice up your aquarium without freaking your yoyo loach out? Look no further than this guide, where we’ll go over the 15 best yoyo loach tank mates!

The best yoyo loach tank mates are ones which are comparable in size, or peaceful in temperament. For example, catfish species such as the glass or cory catfish will not disturb the peace of a yoyo loach.

In this article, we will go over the best 15 tank mates for yoyo loaches, as well as an overview of what a yoyo loach needs in terms of tank setup and food or space competition to be well cared for. We’ll also provide a brief overview of each species! Let’s get started.

Yoyo Loach Tank Mates – What You Need to Know

There are plenty of factors to consider when hunting for the tank mates that will make your yoyo loach happy, especially if variation in species is what you’re looking for. Below, we’ve provided an overview of some of the things you should prioritize understanding about your yoyo loach!

Temperament

One of the most vital things to make sure you understand when hunting for ideal tank mates is how big a deal temperament matchups are. If a fish is too aggressive in defending what it thinks of as it’s territory, or, on the other hand, too shy to feed itself when other fish are nearby, you could have a dangerous tank relationship on your hands.

Yoyo loaches are energetic and fun-loving, and they are most confident and happy when in a school of a few of their own kind. Sometimes they’ll fight with one another, but rarely with others. However, you’ll want to make sure any tank mates are not overly aggressive with your yoyo loach.

Size

The importance of size when it comes to taking care of more than one fish is essential. Too big, and you may have one fish eating the other! Too small, and the vice-versa scenario could occur. Generally, it is best to have a fish that is similar in size to the one you’re trying to find tank mates for.

A Yoyo loach is usually 2.5 inches long, at maximum. In the wild, it is possible for yoyo loaches to reach around 6 inches in total length, which would require a larger tank size.

Competition

Food competition is important to understand, also, when looking for the best fits to spend time near your yoyo loach. If one fish eats a similar diet to another, or even feeds at the same time, the weaker of the species could wind up getting bullied out of their food and starving to death.

Yoyo loaches eat all throughout the day and choose to eat at the bottom of the tank. They will enjoy both frozen, live, and dry foods, as well as small snails.

Parameters ; Tank Setup

Yoyo loaches need tank sizes of 40 gallons, at least, to remain healthy. Since schools of yoyo loaches are the best for their happiness, it is a good idea to add 15 gallons more of tank space for every additional loach you pair up.

Yoyo loaches also need a water temperature between 75 F and 86 F, with a pH level of 6.0 to 8.0. They love to have ample space, sand of loose gravel at the bottom of the dank, and obstacles to chase one another around or hide in.

The Best Yoyo Loach Tank Mates

Take a look below for a list of the 15 best yoyo loach tank mates!

1. Bronze Cory
2. Glass Catfish
3. Clown Loach
4. Angelfish
5. Telescope Goldfish
6. Bristlenose Pleco
7. Rosy Barb
8. Hoplo Catfish
9. Congo Tetra
10. Dalmatian Mollies
11. Gold Dust Mollies
12. Bubble Eye Goldfish
13. Black Moor Goldfish
14. Ghost Shrimp
15. Clown Pleco

Let’s look more closely at each of these tank mates to see what makes them great for your yoyo loaches.

Check out these other similar posts:

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1. Bronze Cory

• Scientific Name: Corydoras Aeneus
• Adult Size: 2.5 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 72 to 79 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: South America

This cory, also called a “Green Corydoras,” is small but appealing to look at in its shades of green and salmon. It is commonly found at the bottom of the tank, and unlikely to bother or be bothered by a school of yoyo loaches!

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• Not aggressive.
• No food competition.

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• None!

2. Glass Catfish

• Scientific Name: Siluridae
• Adult Size: 5 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 75 to 80 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Thailand

If you have ever felt the urge to see a skeleton of a fish come to life and decorate your tank, the glass catfish is for you! It is also very peaceful and would rather hide than fight if startled by yoyo loaches’ games of tag.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression
• No competition for food.

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• None!

3. Clown Loach

• Scientific Name: Botia Macracantha
• Adult Size: 12 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 75 to 85 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons
• Care Level: Medium difficulty
• Origin: Indonesia

The only thing more fun than a school of yoyo loaches is adding in a school of clown loaches! These adorable fish like to play games as much as yoyo brothers, but they’ll need more of their own kind to feel non threatened.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression
• Competition for food is unlikely.

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• Needs more of its own kind to feel safe.

4. Angelfish

• Scientific Name: Pterophyllum
• Adult Size: 3 to 4 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 75 to 82 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: South America

There are few fish that move as gracefully in a tank as the Angelfish. As long as you have plenty of space and plants for an angelfish to feel sheltered in, it will be peaceful enough to make a good tank mate. However, if it feels crowded or as if there is nowhere to go, it can become aggressive. Additionally, it should not be kept with others of its kind.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• Non aggressive with enough space
• No food competition

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• Can’t be kept with it’s own kind

5. Telescope Goldfish

• Scientific Name: Carassius auratus
• Adult Size: 4 to 10 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 65 to 72 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: China

The Telescope Goldfish’s big, bulging eyes and bright array of color is not only fun to see in your aquarium, but that much more pleasing when you realize what a good tank mate it can be. This fish is peaceful and unlikely to worry your yoyo loach school.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression
• Unlikely to compete for food

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• None!

6. Bristlenose Pleco

• Scientific Name: Ancistrus cirrhosus
• Adult Size: 5 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 73 to 81 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallons
• Care Level: Easy to moderate difficulty
• Origin: Amazon

This fish, also known as a bristlenose catfish or bushy nose fish, is not only fun to look at, but fine to keep with your yoyo loach despite it’s larger size. This is because the bristlenose is peaceful and nonthreatening, as long as it is given enough space at the bottom of the tank.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No food competition
• No aggression

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• Needs a large tank to be healthy and happy.

7. Rosy Barb

• Scientific Name: Puntius conchonius
• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 64 to 72 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Easy to Medium difficulty
• Origin: India

This fish is cute enough to keep as a friend for Yoyo loaches, but if you don’t want there to be any infighting or concerns, make sure to get more than one Rosy Barb. As long as it does not feel threatened, it makes a great tank mate for loaches!

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression
• No competition

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• Must have others of its own kind or may feel threatened.

8. Hoplo Catfish

• Scientific Name: Megalechis thoracata
• Adult Size: 7 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 72 to 86 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Amazon

This fish will look like a whiskered, gentle giant near your yoyo loach. However, luckily, it is incredibly peaceful and will keep to itself without disturbing your playful loach’s games.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression
• No competition

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• None

9. Congo Tetra

• Scientific Name: Alestidae
• Adult Size: 2.5 to 3.5 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 73 to 82 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Medium Difficulty
• Origin: Amazon

The congo tetra makes a great tank mate for the yoyo loaches as long as it has a school of it’s own. Without more of its own kind to have its back, the congo tetra can become stressed. It should also never be kept with fin-nipping species.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression
• No food competition

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• Needs its own kind to feel comfortable
• Prone to fin nipping

10. Dalmatian Mollies

• Scientific Name: Poecilia latipinna
• Adult Size: 3 to 5 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loaches
• Water Temperature: 70 to 82 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: South America, Central America

This delightfully color-varied fish is not only a great way to bring more color to your aquarium, but will keep you excited to watch its playful capers around the tank! That being said, dalmatian mollies are players, not fighters, and won’t pose any threat to your yoyo loaches.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression
• No Competition

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• None!

11. Gold Dust Mollies

• Scientific Name: Poecilia Sphenops
• Adult Size: 4 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 70 to 82 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Mexico

This type of loach is a very close relative to your yoyo loach, but you’ll benefit from a difference in coloration because gold dust mollies are black and yellow. They are also gentle in temperament and unlikely to bother even schools of yoyo loaches, but be careful to make sure each species is getting enough to eat with similar diets.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• Possible food competition, but unlikely.

12. Bubble Eye Goldfish

• Scientific Name: Carassius auratus
• Adult Size: 6 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 55 to 80 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Asia

This is an incredibly odd-looking fish, but that will only add to the interesting visuals of a loach-filled aquarium! Even better, this warm-colored fish is very peaceful and will not only not mind loach behavior, but will avoid conflict during feeding time, too.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No food competition
• No aggression

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• None!

13. Black Moor Goldfish

• Scientific Name: Carassius auratus
• Adult Size: 6 to 8 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 50 to 75 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Hybrid

This fish is bubble-eyed and peaceful. Both it’s muted color and slow movement will add some visual variety to a tank of yoyo loaches.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression
• No food competition

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• None!

14. Ghost Shrimp

• Scientific Name: Palaemonetes paludosus
• Adult Size: 1 to 1.5 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 65 F to 82 F
• Minimum Tank Size:
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: North America

Another cool-looking critter to spice up your tank is the ghost shrimp! It can be fun to play hide-and seek with this easily camouflaged critter, which is too small and peaceful to cause trouble for your equally entertaining yoyo loaches.

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression
• No food competition
• Will clean up leftovers

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• None!

15. Clown Pleco

• Scientific Name: Panaque maccus
• Adult Size: 3.5 inches
• Compatible With: Yoyo Loach
• Water Temperature: 73 to 82 F
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
• Care Level: Easy
• Origin: Columbia

Clown Plecos have wide, loveable faces that correspond to their peaceful attitudes. They’ll spend most of their time on the bottom of the tank, harmless to your loaches/

Pros of keeping with Yoyo Loach:

• No aggression
• No food competition

Cons of keeping with Yoyo Loach :

• None!

In Conclusion

To sum everything we’ve learned up, the 15 Best Yoyo Loach Tank mates include plecos and loaches of similar size and tank parameter needs. Some of these are the clown pleco, the black moor and bubble-eyed goldfish, and even the visually interesting ghost shrimp!

The important thing is to find fish that will be able to handle the energy of yoyo loaches without feeling threatened or aggressive. With this done, you’ll have a cheerful busy tank community!