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Hikari Daruma Medaka
AdvancedOryzias latipes
A body type combining the hikari and daruma forms: a diamond tail and matching dorsal fin on a body about half the standard length. Well-formed fish are rated highly regardless of colour.
Difficulty
Advanced
Temperature
18〜28℃
Lifespan
2-3 years
Size
About half the standard body type (standard form up to about 4cm SL)
Diet
Prepared medaka food, green water
About
Hikari daruma is the body-type class combining the features of both the hikari and daruma forms, defined as a body type in its own right in the Japan Medaka Association classification manual. In the hikari form the tail becomes diamond-shaped and the dorsal fin takes the same shape as the anal fin, giving a body symmetrical above and below the spine. The name came from iridophores of the belly transferring to the back so the fish appeared to shine when seen from above, but since hikari fish without that sheen now exist, identification rests on the shape of the tail and dorsal fin. Hikari daruma keeps those fins while, like the daruma form, reaching only about half the standard body length. It is rated most highly of all the body types, and a well-formed hikari daruma is recognised as a quality fish regardless of colour. Fixed varieties exist for individual colours, such as Shuten-nou, the vermilion hikari daruma.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Hikari Daruma Medaka
The Hikari Daruma Medaka lives 2-3 years.
Size of the Hikari Daruma Medaka
The Hikari Daruma Medaka grows to About half the standard body type (standard form up to about 4cm SL).
Temperature & humidity for the Hikari Daruma Medaka
The ideal temperature for the Hikari Daruma Medaka is 18〜28℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Japan (a body-type class rather than a variety; the parent species ranges across Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam)
Care Specifications
- pH
- 7–8
- Hardness (GH)
- 9–19 dGH
- Water Temp.
- 18–28℃
PeacefulGroupBreeding: Hard
Sources: Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Complete Medaka Care Guide / FishBase Oryzias latipes / Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Selecting Good Medaka, Hikari Daruma Body Type / Japan Medaka Association: Variety Classification Manual, 5th ed. (Sep 2025)
Morphs (Varieties)
The Japan Medaka Association's classification manual sorts varieties by traits that can be seen rather than by genotype, and does not set out how individual traits are inherited. Traits the manual explicitly says can be passed on and produced by selective, multi-generation breeding are listed as line-bred; the rest are grouped under Other.
Line-bredEstablished by selective line breeding.
Strong luminescence (kyoukou)Silver band (ginobi)
Other
Hikari body typeDaruma body typeHikari daruma body type
Sources: Japan Medaka Association: Variety Classification Manual, 5th ed. (Sep 2025) / Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Medaka Traits
A curated selection of notable morphs. Inheritance modes are a breeding-planning guide; actual appearance varies with combos.
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Primary sources
- Wikipedia
- CITES Appendices (species not listed)
- FishBase (IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed 2018)
- Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Complete Medaka Care Guide
- Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Selecting Good Medaka, Hikari Daruma Body Type
- Japan Medaka Association: Variety Classification Manual, 5th ed. (Sep 2025)
- Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Medaka Traits
- FishBase
- GBIF
- Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Fixed Variety Number List
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Oryzias latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Authority databases: FishBase · GBIF · Japan Medaka Association: Variety Classification Manual, 5th ed. (Sep 2025) · Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Selecting Good Medaka, Hikari Daruma Body Type · Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Fixed Variety Number List
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listedIUCN LC · Least Concern
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / FishBase (IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed 2018)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Hikari Daruma Medaka Listings
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