Description
Yoyo Loach – Playful, Colorful, and Efficient Algae-Eater
Introduce a lively and colorful personality to your aquarium with the Yoyo Loach (Botia almorhae), a dynamic and engaging species known for its playful nature and striking "Y"-shaped markings. Native to the rivers and streams of South Asia, this hardy loach adds a fun and vibrant touch to your tank while also playing a vital role in keeping your aquarium clean.
The Yoyo Loach is instantly recognizable by its unique black and gold pattern, with a distinctive "Y" or "W"-shaped mark on its body, giving it its common name. Its slender, elongated body and active behavior make it a delightful addition to any community aquarium. Known for its energetic and curious nature, the Yoyo Loach is always on the move, darting around the tank, exploring every nook and cranny, and interacting with other tankmates.
A peaceful but active species, the Yoyo Loach thrives in groups and enjoys the company of its own kind. It’s an excellent algae eater, constantly searching for algae, detritus, and leftover food on the substrate and tank surfaces. Its social behavior and charming antics make it a perfect fit for community tanks, where it adds both beauty and entertainment.
Key Features:
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Striking Appearance: Beautiful black and gold pattern with a distinctive "Y"-shaped marking that makes this loach easy to identify
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Playful & Energetic: Known for its active and curious nature, the Yoyo Loach is always exploring the tank and interacting with its environment
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Peaceful & Social: A calm species that enjoys the company of its own kind and gets along well with other non-aggressive fish
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Efficient Algae Eater: A great helper in maintaining a clean tank, constantly foraging for algae, detritus, and leftover food
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Hardy & Adaptable: Suitable for a variety of freshwater setups with proper care, including tanks with plants and moderate to strong water flow
Care Guidelines:
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Tank Size: Minimum 30 gallons for a group (3 or more)
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Water Temperature: 75–85°F (24–29°C)
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pH Range: 6.0–7.5
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Diet: Omnivorous – enjoys a varied diet, including sinking pellets, live or frozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp), and plant matter like algae wafers
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Lifespan: 5–7 years with proper care
Tip: Yoyo Loaches love a well-planted aquarium with hiding spots, such as caves or driftwood, where they can retreat when they feel the need for privacy. These loaches are very social and will thrive best in small groups, so it’s important to keep at least three to ensure they’re happy and comfortable. A fine substrate is ideal to protect their sensitive barbels, which they use to explore the tank bottom in search of food.
With its striking appearance, playful behavior, and helpful algae-eating abilities, the Yoyo Loach is a fantastic addition to any community tank. Its lively nature and natural cleaning habits make it both an entertaining and functional species, providing constant action while keeping your tank clean and healthy.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DX Express: 1 working day, same-day dispatch before noon 0-75kg
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days 75-500kg
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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