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Morpho Medaka
IntermediateOryzias latipes
An improved medaka whose caudal fin spreads into a fan with serrated tips. Created in 2019 by Takuya Tanaka, it combines a blue body with external luminescence; the sheen covers the whole caudal fin, and the pectoral and pelvic fins also tend to become serrated.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperature
18〜28℃
Lifespan
2-3 years
Size
Up to about 4cm SL
Diet
Prepared medaka food, green water
About
Morpho is an improved medaka combining a blue body with external luminescence and the morpho trait; its classification name is the blue external-luminescence morpho medaka. It was created in 2019 by Takuya Tanaka and is registered in the Medaka Web Encyclopedia as type No.0254 and variety No.0239, also known as blue morpho. The morpho trait itself was likewise created in 2019 by Takuya Tanaka and is listed as the 39th of the recognised traits. The caudal fin spreads into a fan with serrated tips; the other fins show the same expression, and the pectoral and pelvic fins in particular tend to become serrated. Fin sheen covers the whole caudal fin and is strong on the other fins too, and some fish show a changed dorsal fin or develop longfin. The encyclopedia registers White Morpho, Black Morpho and Ruan Morpho as colour derivatives, a morpho asyu line carrying the fin-line trait, and Morpho Real Longfin, each as a separate variety.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Morpho Medaka
The Morpho Medaka lives 2-3 years.
Size of the Morpho Medaka
The Morpho Medaka grows to Up to about 4cm SL.
Temperature & humidity for the Morpho Medaka
The ideal temperature for the Morpho Medaka is 18〜28℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Japan (domestic variety created in 2019 by Takuya Tanaka)
Lifespan
2-3 years
Care Specifications
- pH
- 7–8
- Hardness (GH)
- 9–19 dGH
- Water Temp.
- 18–28℃
PeacefulGroupBreeding: Moderate
Sources: Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Complete Medaka Care Guide / FishBase Oryzias latipes / Medaka Web Encyclopedia No.0254
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.
Other
Blue body colourExternal luminescence (taigaikou)Morpho (fanned, serrated caudal fin)
Sources: Japan Medaka Association: Variety Classification Manual, 5th ed. (Sep 2025) / Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Medaka Traits / Medaka Web Encyclopedia No.0254 / Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Morpho, fin-variation trait 39/44
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 No.0254
- Japan Medaka Association: Variety Classification Manual, 5th ed. (Sep 2025)
- Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Medaka Traits
- Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Morpho, fin-variation trait 39/44
- FishBase
- GBIF
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Oryzias latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Breeder: 田中拓也 (2019)
Authority databases: FishBase · GBIF · Medaka Web Encyclopedia No.0254 · Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Morpho, fin-variation trait 39/44
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.
Morpho Medaka Listings
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