two yoyo loaches

[Foxglove]

My two loaches used to play and get on ok.

Now one is very dominant and the other is hiding all the time.

He/she has gone pale and is only half the size - well the other one is looking very fat and I'm missing a rummynose tetra :evil:

The tank is a wide and deep 3', (164 l) with a krib pair, some bns, both cardinal and rummynose tetras and a moonlight gourami.

I'm a bit worried by both behaviours - the missing fish and the pale loach.

What do you think I should do?

[jude]

I have one yoyo loach and I've found that whenever he goes pale its time to do a water change. His/her colour always comes back afterwards so he's kinda become my canary

[Southerrrngirrl]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I've seen suggested on several sites, that loaches generally like to be kept in groups of three or more. How long have you had yours for? Is it possible to get another one?

However in saying that, my Zebra loaches seem quite happy in a pair. I was originally intending on having three but at the time I was buying, the LFS only had two available and were not sure when they were getting more. So I purchased just the two, and the LFS were to let me know when they had another. Looks like they forgot to do that cos its been several months and they still haven't contacted me.

Check here http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile79.html

[Foxglove]

thanks for that!

I think it is behavioural rather than water change, as only one of the laoches is affected, and the water changes are regular - weekly 20-25%.

Funny, in the books and sites I read up before getting the loach, I found that yoyos could be kept singularly. Now I find it prefers groups! So I should maybe introduce another loach?