FreshwaterBrackish
Japanese rice fish
Oryzias latipes
Adrianichthyidae, Oryziinae
Facts
Characteristics
- Length
- Up to 4 cm
- Body shape
- Elongated
Care
- Group
- Missing
- Smallest aquarium
- 4 liters
- Diet
- Missing
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Behavior
Water values
Smallest tank
Range
NativeIntroduced
Lives wild in China, Hong Kong SAR China, Japan, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), South Korea, and Vietnam.
Introduced to Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and United States.
Videos
Medaka - Oryzias latipes - Japanese Rice Fis
Oliver KnottOct 11, 2026
The NEXT POPULAR FISH - Japanese Ricefish - Medaka - Oryzias latipes - Rice Fish
Aquarium Co-OpJul 11, 2025
More about the species
Description
Adults occur in ponds, marshes, paddy fields and small flows of plains. They prefer slow-moving streams. Inhabit mainly waters of lowlands and brackish water, and also known to inhabit tide pools of coasts of certain regions in Japan and Korea. They can withstand a wide range of salinity. Omnivorous. For indoor culture, a diluted sea water is rather better than the freshwater, and the use of a balanced salt solution is recommended, if the tap water proves to be unsuitable. Used in experimental research. Non-annual breeders. Are easy to maintain in the aquarium. A fluorescent ornamental variety (genetically modified fish), a product of fluorescent protein extracted from jellyfish and attaching to DNA in embryonic fish of this is now being sold in the aquarium trade.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Aplocheilus latipes
- Oryzias latipes latipes
- Poecilia latipes
In other languages
- Medaka
- Medaka, Japansk risfisk
- Japansk risfisk
- Medaka
- Japanese killifish, Japanese medaka, Medaka, Rice Fish, Ricefish, Tooth- carp
Articles
All articles
How to set up an Asian aquarium5 min read
Two aquariums from Southeast Asia: calm forest streams and peat swamps with soft, brown water, and fast mountain streams with cool, oxygen-rich water.
How to add new fish4 min read
From the store to the tank: how to get the fish used to your water, why you should add only a few at a time, and what to watch for in the first few days.
Quarantine for new fish3 min read
Why new fish should live in a tank of their own for a few weeks before they move in, what you need, and what to look for.
Ich (white spot)4 min read
The most common disease in aquarium fish. How to recognize it, why it shows up, and how to get rid of it.