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Youkihi Medaka
BeginnerBeautiful deep orange-red medaka, popular since the beginning of the medaka boom. Hardy and easy to breed.
Difficulty
Beginner
Temperature
5〜30℃（適温20〜28℃）
Lifespan
2-3 years
Size
3-4cm
Diet
Prepared food, daphnia, brine shrimp
About
Youkihi medaka was developed around 2004 by Minoru Tanaka and named after Yang Guifei, the famous consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang China. It was a pioneering variety in the medaka boom and remains a beloved classic. The vivid orange-red body color shifts from orange to deep vermilion depending on light angle, and can be enhanced with carotenoid-rich color-boosting food. Adapts to a wide temperature range of 5–30°C, prefers neutral to slightly alkaline water. Outdoor keeping under sunlight deepens color further. Strong breeding instinct makes reproduction easy with aquatic plant spawning mats. Gentle temperament suits community tanks.
Basic Info
Origin
Japan (selectively bred variety)
Lifespan
2-3 years
Size
3-4cm
Temperature
5〜30℃（適温20〜28℃）
Diet
Prepared food, daphnia, brine shrimp
Care Guide
Container
Outdoor tub or indoor tank. 10L+ recommended
Water
Neutral to slightly alkaline. Dechlorinated tap water
Breeding
Starts spawning at 25°C+ with 13h daylight
Care Specifications
- pH
- 7–8
- Hardness (GH)
- 9–19 dGH
- Water Temp.
- 18–24℃
PeacefulGroupBreeding: Easy
Sources: FishBase: Oryzias latipes / Seriously Fish: Oryzias latipes
Captive Breeding
Egg-laying
- Clutch size
- 8〜48
- Incubation temp.
- 28℃
- Incubation days
- 7〜14 days
- Sexual maturity
- 2 mo
Breeding season: Mid-April to late September (wild, Japan); year-round indoors with >13 h photoperiod and water temperature of 20–28 °C
Breeding notes
Females spawn once each morning, briefly carrying the adhesive egg cluster near the vent (8–48 eggs per female per day). Photoperiods below 13 h/day markedly suppress spawning; water temperatures below approximately 15 °C also inhibit reproduction. Incubation takes roughly 7–14 days depending on water temperature; approximately 7 days near the optimum (~28 °C). Youkihi Medaka is a deep-orange ornamental colour line of Oryzias latipes; its reproductive biology is identical to the wild type.
Breeding requires planning, proper husbandry, and responsibility. These figures are general guidelines.
Sources: Leaf et al. (2011) Life-History Characteristics of Japanese Medaka Oryzias latipes — Copeia 2011(4):559-565 / Wangsongsak et al. (2013) Effects of Rearing Density, Salt Concentration, and Incubation Temperature on Japanese Medaka Embryo Development — PMC3698680
Morphs (Varieties)
改良メダカは体型×体色×柄×光(体内/体外)×鱗(透明鱗)×ラメ×ヒレ等のトレイト合成。掲載は当該品種を構成する確証トレイトのみで遺伝形式は確証のみ付与(不確実は省略)。遺伝形式は交配の参考。
RecessiveVisual only with two copies; one copy = het (carrier).
Orange-red (hi) body
Sources: JMA日本メダカ協会 改良メダカ品種分類マニュアル / 改良メダカWEB図鑑(medakazukan)
A curated selection of notable morphs. Inheritance modes are a breeding-planning guide; actual appearance varies with combos.
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: br-choku editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Primary sources
- FishBase: Oryzias latipes
- Seriously Fish: Oryzias latipes
- JMA日本メダカ協会 改良メダカ品種分類マニュアル
- 改良メダカWEB図鑑(medakazukan)
- Leaf et al. (2011) Life-History Characteristics of Japanese Medaka Oryzias latipes — Copeia 2011(4):559-565
- Wangsongsak et al. (2013) Effects of Rearing Density, Salt Concentration, and Incubation Temperature on Japanese Medaka Embryo Development — PMC3698680
- Koger et al. (1999) Variations of light and temperature regimes and resulting effects on reproductive parameters in medaka (Oryzias latipes) — PubMed 10529276
- Saito et al. (2025) Medaka initiate courtship and spawning late at night: Insights from field observations — PMC11819472
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Synonyms: Aplocheilus latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846), Poecilia latipes Temminck & Schlegel, 1846, Oryzias latipes latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Authority databases: FishBase · GBIF · 日本メダカ協会 品種分類マニュアル
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
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