Edit Oryzias latipes
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Name
Scientific name
Oryzias latipes
Described by
Authority Temminck & Schlegel, Year 1846
Family
Adrianichthyidae
Summary
The medaka, Oryzias latipes, is a ricefish from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, eastern China, Laos and Vietnam. Long used as a model organism in gen…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
36mm, standard length
Tank size
Minimum length 45 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm
Water
Temperature and pH
Temperature 16–22°C, pH 6.5–8.5
Hardness
5–25dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries
China, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam
Supporting text
Etymology
Oryzias: from the Greek ὄρυζα (oryza), meaning 'rice', in reference to the tendency of some members of the genus to inhabit rice paddy fields. latipes: from th…
Distribution
Described from 'Japan' and current understanding considers it restricted to an area corresponding, more or less, to the boundaries of the East and South China …
Habitat
Tends to occur in coastal waters but is adaptable and has been collected in a range of habitat-types, from strongly brackish, tidally-influenced mangrove swamp…
Aquarium size
An aquarium with base dimensions of 45 ∗ 30 cm18 ∗ 12 in or more is recommended for a group.
Maintenance
Best maintained in a heavily planted set-up, ideally with a dark substrate, patches of dense vegetation, and some open areas. Other décor can consist of twiste…
Water conditions
Temperature: This temperate to subtropical species is subject to seasonal temperature fluctuations in nature and is most comfortable between 16 – 22 °C61 – 72 …
Diet
A micropredator feeding on small insects, worms, crustaceans and other zooplankton in nature. In the aquarium it will accept dried foods of a suitable size but…
Behaviour and compatibility
Generally peaceful but doesn't make an ideal addition to many communities due to its environmental requirements. Should you wish to maintain it alongside other…
Sexual dimorphism
Adult males possess elongated, filamentous rays in the convex-shaped dorsal and anal fins and bony contact organs on the medial pectoral-fin rays and posterior…
Reproduction
Quite easy to breed and fairly prolific, with females capable of producing batches of eggs every few days or even on a daily basis when in good condition. Spaw…
Notes
Commonly known as 'Japanese rice fish' or simply 'rice fish', O. latipes is well-known to science having been widely used as a model organism in genomic and ex…
References
References
11 on this profile