How much do medaka cost?

Common varieties cost 100-500 yen each, popular Youkihi and lame types 500-3,000 yen, and rare new varieties can reach 5,000-30,000+ yen per pair.

Can beginners keep medaka?

Medaka are adapted to Japanese climate and can even be kept in outdoor biotopes. They're hardy, tolerant of temperature changes, and one of the easiest ornamental fish for beginners.

How long do medaka live?

In the wild they live 1-2 years, but in captivity they can live 2-4 years. Proper water management and feeding help them thrive longer.

What should I check when buying medaka?

Check that they're swimming actively, not too thin, and free of injuries or disease signs. Choose specimens that clearly display their variety's characteristics.

Is medaka breeding easy?

Medaka breed relatively easily, spawning from spring to autumn when water temperature is above 20°C with 12+ hours of daylight. Moving eggs to a separate container improves hatch rates.

Medaka Encyclopedia — 87 Species Directory

Encyclopedia of popular medaka varieties with traits, care guides, and pricing.

Featured Medaka

Matsui Hirenaga Medaka

All Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Modified medaka External light Hikari body Long fin Black Transparent scale Lame Gorgeous Classic Outdoor OK Albino Mystical Blue Lame scales Orange-red

Showing 9 of 87 species

Ao Hikari Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Beginner

Blue body color combined with hikari body type. Bluish body with silvery-blue external light creates cool and fantastical beauty. Especially beautiful in outdoor sunlight.

Modified medakaHikari bodyBlue

Himedaka

Beginner

The oldest improved medaka variety, kept since the Edo period. Friendly orange-yellow color and extreme hardiness. Perfect for biotope beginners.

Modified medakaClassicBeginner-friendly

Kogane (Gold) Medaka

Beginner

Improved medaka with beautiful golden body. Hikari body type with especially strong back shine. Gold gleam stands out viewed from above. Considered auspicious, popular as gifts.

Modified medakaGoldHikari body

Maou Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Beginner

Representative black-body improved medaka. Known for deep black body color with overwhelming presence from its jet-black Orochi lineage. Relatively easy to keep even for beginners.

Modified medakaBlackOrochi lineage

Ougon Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Beginner

Classic improved medaka with beautiful golden-shining body color. Body sparkles in sunlight, beautiful in tanks and outdoor containers. Easy to keep and suitable for beginners.

Modified medakaGoldenSparkle

Ramune Medaka

Beginner

Improved medaka with refreshing soda-blue body color. Translucent blue is cool and eye-catching in summer outdoor keeping. Derived from Miyuki lineage.

Modified medakaBlueRefreshing

Shiro Hikari Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Beginner

White body color combined with hikari body type. Pure white body glows with silvery external light. Hardy and easy to keep, suitable for beginners.

Modified medakaHikari bodyWhite

Youkihi Hikari Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Beginner

Hikari body type of Youkihi Medaka. Silvery-white glow on the back combined with vivid orange-red coloration. Stunning when viewed from above.

Modified medakaHikari bodyYoukihi lineage

Yuuyake Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Beginner

Improved medaka with orange-to-red gradient reminiscent of sunset sky. Beautiful warm-color gradient body color. Popular variety that evokes the scenery of twilight when viewed.

Modified medakaOrangeGradient

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Medaka FAQ

How much do medaka cost?: Common varieties cost 100-500 yen each, popular Youkihi and lame types 500-3,000 yen, and rare new varieties can reach 5,000-30,000+ yen per pair.
Can beginners keep medaka?: Medaka are adapted to Japanese climate and can even be kept in outdoor biotopes. They're hardy, tolerant of temperature changes, and one of the easiest ornamental fish for beginners.
How long do medaka live?: In the wild they live 1-2 years, but in captivity they can live 2-4 years. Proper water management and feeding help them thrive longer.
What should I check when buying medaka?: Check that they're swimming actively, not too thin, and free of injuries or disease signs. Choose specimens that clearly display their variety's characteristics.
Is medaka breeding easy?: Medaka breed relatively easily, spawning from spring to autumn when water temperature is above 20°C with 12+ hours of daylight. Moving eggs to a separate container improves hatch rates.