Oryzias Sp Woworae Medaka Rice Fish
Species Profile
Daisy's Blue Ricefish (Oryzias woworae) originate from karst freshwater streams and forest pools on the island of Muna, southeast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Unlike Japanese domestic medakas bred primarily for top-down viewing, these sport an electric, metallic royal blue sheen across the body paired with vivid crimson accents. Staying slightly more compact than typical ricefish, they cruise the middle and upper levels of the tank, flashing brilliant color without disturbing delicate stem plants or uprooting foreground carpeting. They are active, peaceful shoalers that bring lively movement to planted nano aquariums, though their enthusiastic feeding sprints and surface-oriented swimming mean a snug lid or generous floating plant cover is essential to prevent 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
- Iridescent royal blue body contrasted by fiery red fin margins adds striking color across mid and upper levels.
- Petite nano footprint remains plant-safe and leaves delicate carpeting plants undisturbed.
- Docile schooling nature makes them an ideal companion for peaceful planted tanks and gentle community setups.
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 gently into your tank parameters.
- Tropical Sulawesi natives require a reliable heater; keep water steadily between 73°F and 82°F rather than cold unheated water.
- Equip your aquarium with a secure lid or dense floating plants; active ricefish can leap when startled.
- Maintain gentle to moderate current; overpowering filter outflows will tire out these small nano swimmers.
- Feed crushed flakes, micro pellets, or live baby brine shrimp once or twice daily to accommodate their small, upturned mouths.
- Blue iridescence and red fin saturation deepen naturally under full-spectrum plant lighting as fish mature.
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 woworae |
| Common Name(s) | Daisy's Blue Ricefish, Woworae Ricefish |
| 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 mid-to-top column schooler |
| Adult Size | 1.0"–1.2" (2.5–3.0 cm) |
| Minimum Tank Size | 10+ Gallons (Best in groups of 6+) |
| Water Parameters | pH 6.5–7.8 | GH 5–15 | KH 3–8 | 73°F–82°F (23°C–28°C) |
| Freshwater Breeding | Yes (Egg hangers on fine mosses, floating roots, and yarn mops) |
| Origin | Sulawesi, Indonesia (Tank-raised) |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do Daisy's Blue Ricefish need an aquarium heater like other medakas?
Yes. While domestic Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes) tolerate cold temperatures, Oryzias woworae hail from tropical forest streams in Sulawesi, Indonesia. They require stable tropical temperatures between 73°F and 82°F to stay active, maintain proper immune health, and show off their richest metallic blue coloration.
2. Are Daisy's Blue Ricefish safe to keep with dwarf shrimp?
Adult Neocaridina and Caridina shrimp are safe to cohabit with them. Because these ricefish dwell primarily in the upper and middle levels and have small upturned mouths, they rarely interact with shrimp foraging on the substrate. A tiny newborn shrimplet venturing out in open water could be eaten, so maintaining thick carpets or moss clumps is recommended to maximize shrimplet survival.
3. How do Daisy's Blue Ricefish spawn, and how do I collect the eggs?
Breeding is straightforward under consistent lighting and protein-rich feeding. Females carry small clusters of fertilized eggs near their anal vent in the morning before brushing them off into fine plant leaves, moss, or synthetic spawning mops. For a detailed breakdown on pulling mops, hatching fry, and rearing young, explore our comprehensive Japanese Rice Fish Care Guide.
4. What tank mates work best with Daisy's Blue Ricefish?
They thrive alongside small, peaceful community tank mates that will not bully them or outcompete them for food. Great pairings include pygmy Corydoras, Otocinclus, small rasboras (like Chilis or Exclamation Points), and clean-up crews such as Nerite snails or Amano shrimp. Avoid large, boisterous, or aggressive fish that might nip their delicate fins or treat them as prey.