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 12 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

Dragon Medaka

Intermediate

A medaka with powerful scale shine reminiscent of a dragon. Iron mask type head gloss is particularly beautiful.

DragonIron maskExternal light

Ginga Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Intermediate

Improved medaka with beautiful blue external body light. Named because the blue-white external light emanating from the back evokes a galaxy. Popular variety with fantastical beauty like a nighttime water surface.

Modified medakaBlueExternal light

Kuro Lame Miyuki Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Intermediate

Black body with Miyuki external light and blue lame. Jet-black body with glittering blue lame creates a mystical night-sky appearance.

Modified medakaBlackLame

Lapis Lazuli Medaka

Intermediate

Deep lapis lazuli blue body evokes the gemstone. Combined with external light, emits a mystical glow. Most beautiful in dark containers viewed from above.

Modified medakaLapis blueExternal light

Otohime Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Intermediate

Beautiful modified medaka with red-orange body and external light. Named for the elegant glow like Princess Otohime of Ryugu Palace. Best appreciated from above.

Modified medakaRed-orangeExternal light

Ouka Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Intermediate

Luxurious improved medaka with orange-red body color and external body light. Beautiful combination of orange-red body and external body light on the back, appealing in both top-view and side-view.

Modified medakaOrange-redExternal light

Ryokukou Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Intermediate

Rare medaka with greenish external light. Unlike the usual silver-white, the green external light creates a unique atmosphere. Rare and popular with collectors.

Modified medakaGreen external lightRare

Seiga Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Intermediate

Medaka where external light spreads across the body like stars. A band of light reminiscent of the Milky Way flows across the body. Premium variety, best viewed from above.

Modified medakaExternal lightStarry

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

Tsukiyumi Medaka

Oryzias latipes var.

Advanced

Characteristic improved medaka with arc-shaped (bow-shaped) external body light on the back. Beautiful arc of light reminiscent of a crescent moon runs along the back. High ornamental value, advanced-level variety.

Modified medakaExternal lightArc-shaped

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

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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.