Can oscars live with yoyo loaches?
Verdict
No
No. Oscars and yoyo loaches should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches yoyo loaches do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches yoyo loaches do.
What works
- Both are fine at 75–81°F.
- pH 6–7.5 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: oscars the mid, yoyo loaches the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Oscar | Yoyo loach | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 74–81 °F | 75–86 °F |
| pH | 6–8 | 6–7.5 |
| Adult size | 12.0 in | 5.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 75 gal | 40 gal |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims at | Middle | Bottom |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | Groups of 5+ |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for oscars
Common plecoYes
Clown loachYes
Black ghost knifeYes
BichirYes
Elephant nose fishYes
Chinese algae eaterYes
Better tank mates for yoyo loaches
Questions
Can oscars live with yoyo loaches?
No. Oscars and yoyo loaches should not share a tank. An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches yoyo loaches do.
What temperature suits both oscars and yoyo loaches?
75–81 °F. Oscars need 74–81 °F, yoyo loaches need 75–86 °F.
What size tank do oscars and yoyo loaches need together?
At least 75 gal, set by the oscar. Add space for each extra fish.