How difficult is it to keep Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka?

Beginner. This is a beginner-friendly species. No special equipment or experience is required, and it can be kept successfully with basic care setup.

What is the ideal temperature for Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka?

The ideal temperature for Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka is 18〜28℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.

What is the lifespan of Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka?

The average lifespan of Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka is 2-3 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.

How large does Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka get?

Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka typically reaches Up to about 4cm SL as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What should I feed Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka?

Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka feeds on: Prepared medaka food, green water. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

What is the typical price for Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka?

The price of Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

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Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka

Beginner

Oryzias latipes

An improved medaka combining vermilion body colour with the transparent-scale trait. The added trait deepens the vermilion, and produces fish whose colour drops out in patches to leave red and white, or whose tail fins take on colour. It was bred in 2008 by Masaki Komiya from youkihi crossed with a transparent-scale medaka.

Difficulty

Beginner

Temperature

18〜28℃

Lifespan

2-3 years

Size

Up to about 4cm SL

Diet

Prepared medaka food, green water

About

Youkihi transparent-scale is the nickname for an improved medaka with vermilion body colour and the transparent-scale trait; its classification name is the vermilion transparent-scale medaka. The Medaka Web Encyclopedia registers it as type No.0081, variety No.0071 and fixed variety No.0013, created in 2008 by Masaki Komiya from youkihi crossed with a transparent-scale medaka. Adding transparent scales to the vermilion deepened the colour, produced fish whose colour dropped out in patches to leave red and white, and gave others coloured tail fins. Transparent scale is the trait in which the gill covers turn red: iridophores are missing there, so blood shows through. It does more than redden the cheeks, also making the body slightly translucent, adding colour to the fins and dropping colour out in patches; fish without the trait are called normal-scaled by contrast. Youkihi transparent-scale has spawned many derivatives, and the encyclopedia registers forms including youkihi transparent-scale daruma (type No.0084) and youkihi transparent-scale swallow (No.0339)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Lifespan of the Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka

The Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka lives 2-3 years.

Size of the Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka

The Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka grows to Up to about 4cm SL.

Temperature & humidity for the Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka

The ideal temperature for the Youkihi Transparent-Scale Medaka is 18〜28℃.

Basic Info

Origin

Japan (a domestic variety created in 2008 by Masaki Komiya)

Care Specifications

pH: 7–8
Hardness (GH): 9–19 dGH
Water Temp.: 18–28℃

PeacefulGroupBreeding: Easy

Sources: Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Complete Medaka Care Guide / FishBase Oryzias latipes / Medaka Web Encyclopedia No.0081 (Youkihi transparent-scale)

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

Vermilion body colourTransparent scaleRed and white (colour drop-out)

Sources: Japan Medaka Association: Variety Classification Manual, 5th ed. (Sep 2025) / Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Medaka Traits / Medaka Web Encyclopedia No.0081 (Youkihi transparent-scale) / Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Transparent scale

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

Taxonomy & Authority

Accepted name: Oryzias latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)

Breeder: 小宮正城 (2008)

Authority databases: FishBase · GBIF · Medaka Web Encyclopedia No.0081 (Youkihi transparent-scale) · Medaka Web Encyclopedia: Transparent scale

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.