Oryzias Sp Pink Medaka Rice Fish
Species Profile
Pink Medaka Rice Fish (Oryzias latipes) are a popular color variant featuring a warm, peachy-pink to yellow-pink body accented by a shimmering, silvery belly that catches direct overhead light. In a planted aquarium, they stay primarily in the upper water column, providing bright contrast against dense green stems and dark driftwood without disturbing delicate foreground carpets or harassing bottom dwellers. While they look great from the front glass, Medakas have a long history of being appreciated from above, making them just as suitable for shallow indoor ponds and patio tubs as standard glass aquariums. They are undemanding, peaceful nano schoolers that bring steady movement to the surface, though their active top-feeding habits mean a secure lid is essential to stop accidental jumping.
**Note: All livestock orders will come carefully packaged with solid wall Styrofoam insulation and shipped via 1-day shipping only. No extra insulation needs to be added to your cart for your livestock.
Key Features & Notes
- Pastel pink and warm yellow tones paired with a silver belly stand out in front and top-down views.
- Active, surface-oriented swimmer that remains plant-safe and leaves foreground carpets undisturbed.
- Durable and cold-tolerant nature allows them to thrive in unheated indoor tanks, heated community setups, or outdoor tubs.
Acclimation & Care Instructions
- Float the sealed transport bag for 15 to 20 minutes to equalize water temperatures before opening.
- Drip acclimate over 30 to 45 minutes using airline tubing to ease them into your tank's GH, KH, and pH levels.
- Equip your tank with a snug lid or generous floating plant cover; Medakas can leap when startled.
- Provide gentle surface flow; strong currents from oversized filters can easily exhaust these top-level swimmers.
- Offer crushed flakes, micro pellets, or baby brine shrimp once or twice daily to match their small, upturned mouths.
- Keep in groups of 6 or more to encourage confident schooling behavior and reduce stress.
- Pastel pink saturation and silver sheen vary naturally between individual fish and intensify under full-spectrum light.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy livestock!
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oryzias latipes |
| Common Name(s) | Pink Medaka Rice Fish, Japanese Rice Fish |
| Family | Adrianichthyidae |
| Care Difficulty | Easy |
| Diet | Omnivore (Crushed flakes, micro pellets, baby brine shrimp, daphnia) |
| Plant Safe | Yes (Safe with aquatic plants, carpets, and floaters) |
| Temperament | Peaceful upper-column schooler |
| Adult Size | 1.0"–1.5" (2.5–3.8 cm) |
| Minimum Tank Size | 10+ Gallons (Best in groups of 6+) |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.5–8.0 | GH 5–15 | KH 3–10 | 64°F–78°F (18°C–26°C; tolerates down to 40°F in tubs) |
| Freshwater Breeding | Yes (Prolific egg hangers on plants and spawning mops) |
| Origin | Japan (Tank-bred domestic strain) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do Pink Medaka Rice Fish need an aquarium heater?
Not in a standard climate-controlled home. Medakas are eurythermal, meaning they tolerate wide seasonal temperature changes comfortably. They do very well at regular room temperatures between 64°F and 74°F without supplemental heat, but they are also completely fine in tropical community setups up to 78°F or seasonal outdoor tubs.
2. Are Pink Medakas safe to keep with dwarf shrimp?
Yes, adult Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp are safe alongside them. Because Medakas have small mouths and spend almost all their time near the waterline, they rarely bother shrimp on the substrate. A curious rice fish might pick off an exposed, free-swimming newborn shrimplet at the surface, but dense moss and foreground carpet provide plenty of refuge for colonies to grow.
3. How do Medaka Rice Fish lay eggs, and how do I raise the fry?
Females produce small bunches of eggs that hang from their vent like tiny grape clusters before they brush them off into floating plant roots or artificial yarn mops. For a complete breakdown of setting up breeding tubs, collecting egg mops, and raising fry, read our Japanese Rice Fish Care Guide.
4. What tank mates work best with Pink Medaka Rice Fish?
They pair naturally with calm, peaceful tank mates that occupy the lower areas of the aquarium. Good companions include Corydoras, Otocinclus, small rasboras, and clean-up crews like Nerite snails or Amano shrimp. Avoid aggressive surface feeders or fin-nippers that could harass them or outcompete them during feeding time.