Oryzias latipes:
the Japanese Ricefish By Bryson Zheng
M
edaka, or Japanese Ricefish, are interesting fish that have gained popularity in the United States. Aptly named for their natural habitat of rice fields and similar niches,
About the Author Bryson is from San Francisco, CA, and became interested in planted aquariums in 7th grade after his parents said no to pet reptiles. To see more of his work, look up "unso.fish.ticated" on Instagram and YouTube. 38 • Aquarium Hobbyist Magazine
Japanese Ricefish have been selectively bred, much like the guppy, into various strains. While there aren't as many strains of Medaka in the United States, there are reportedly upward of 500 varieties in Japan! Notable strains available in the United States include Red Cap, Tricolor, Red King, Miyuki, and Youkihi.
History Medaka were first selectively bred in Japan during the 17th century but have been kept as pets since the 15th century. Orange was the first color to be isolated from the rather drab colors of wild Oryzias
Fourth Quarter 2021