Kohaku (Amber) Lame Medaka
Kohaku (Amber) Lame Medaka is an improved medaka variety with a warm amber-brown body dusted with multicolored lame (glitter) scales. It was developed in 2015 by Seirakuan, who bred the lame trait from Kuro Lame Mikuni into an amber-toned lineage, placing it within the broader Lame Mikuni series. The sparkle of the lame scales against the muted amber base gives each fish a distinctive shimmer depending on the angle of light. Rated beginner-friendly for care, it's an approachable choice for those new to keeping medaka. Adults reach roughly 4cm in standard body length, and their warm, classic coloring suits both indoor tanks and outdoor water-lily basins or biotopes.
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- Body Type
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- Size
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Kohaku (Amber) Lame Medaka key facts
- Care level
- Beginner-friendly
- Lifespan
- 2-3 years
- Size
- Up to about 4cm SL
- Temperature
- 18〜28℃
- Diet
- Prepared medaka food, green water
- Lighting
- The contrast between the amber body and the multicoloured glitter shows best from above, so a dark container viewed from the top suits this variety. Outdoors, guard against summer overheating.
- Diet & Nutrition
- Commercial prepared medaka food is the staple, given in an amount finished within a few minutes. Leftovers decay and foul the water, so adjust the quantity. Green water rich in phytoplankton suits fry rearing.
- Water Temperature & Quality
- Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline water is considered ideal, and the water drifts toward acidic as keeping continues. Around one water change per week is the guideline, and because sudden shifts in temperature or pH cause stress, acclimatise new fish by floating the bag. FishBase records the wild water chemistry of this species as pH 7.0-8.0 and hardness 9-19 dH.
- Tank Mates & Compatibility
- A peaceful schooling fish, normally kept as a group of the same variety. One litre of water per fish is the guideline against overcrowding; overstocking causes poor growth, reduced breeding, oxygen shortage and water fouling.
- Breeding
- Outdoors the spawning season runs from about April to October, once water reaches 18C or above with 12-13 hours of daylight. For year-round indoor breeding, 25-28C water and over 13 hours of lighting are the guideline. Eggs hatch at a cumulative 250 degree-days, about 10 days at 25C.
- Health & Notes
- Amber-bodied fish naturally have orange fins, so orange fins alone do not qualify as the hire-bi trait. Outdoors the fish become inactive and overwinter near the bottom as water cools, resuming activity in spring once daytime water exceeds 10C. A 0.3-0.5% salt bath is used for ailing fish, with water raised to no more than about 28C.
About Kohaku (Amber) Lame Medaka
Kohaku (Amber) Lame Medaka features a warm amber body with shimmering lame scales. Bred in 2015 within the Lame Mikuni lineage, it's a beginner-friendly, popular variety.
7 things to know before welcoming a Kohaku (Amber) Lame Medaka
1Body Color and Lame Sparkle
Kohaku Lame Medaka combines a calm amber-brown body with scattered, multicolored lame scales. The sparkle shifts with the angle of light, so the fish looks different from above (top view) versus from the side (side view) — both worth enjoying.
2Ease of Care
This variety is rated beginner-friendly, making it approachable even for first-time medaka keepers. With a basic routine of water changes and feeding, it's manageable without much difficulty.
3Adult Size
Adults grow to roughly 4cm in standard body length at maximum. Keep this mature size in mind when planning tank or biotope space.
4Water Quality and Temperature
As with medaka in general, sudden changes in water quality or temperature can stress the fish. When introducing them to a new environment, acclimate them gradually and make regular water quality checks part of your routine.
5Schooling and Tank Mates
Medaka naturally school together, so keeping several individuals lets you observe more natural behavior. Many keepers house Kohaku Lame together with other improved medaka varieties as well as with each other.
6Setup to Prepare Before Bringing Them Home
Before bringing them home, it helps to have the basics ready — a tank or water-lily basin, dechlorinated water, and food. This variety adapts well to both outdoor and indoor keeping, so plan your setup according to where you intend to place it.
7Place Within the Breeding Lineage
Kohaku Lame was created by breeding the lame trait from Kuro Lame Mikuni into an amber-colored body, making it part of the Lame Mikuni series. Knowing this background makes it easier to understand its relationship to other lame varieties.
Frequently asked questions about Kohaku (Amber) Lame Medaka
- Q.Can beginners keep Kohaku Lame Medaka?
- A.Yes, this variety is rated beginner-friendly. As long as you keep up with basic water changes and feeding, it's manageable even for first-time medaka keepers.
- Q.How big does Kohaku Lame Medaka grow?
- A.Adults reach roughly 4cm in standard body length at maximum. Use this as a guide when choosing tank size.
- Q.How was Kohaku Lame Medaka developed?
- A.It was developed in 2015 by Seirakuan, who bred the lame (glitter) trait from Kuro Lame Mikuni into an amber-toned body. It belongs to the Lame Mikuni series lineage.
- Q.Are there any legal restrictions on keeping Kohaku Lame Medaka?
- A.Kohaku Lame Medaka is not subject to CITES. There are no special restrictions in this regard.
- Q.Can Kohaku Lame Medaka be kept together with other improved medaka varieties?
- A.Medaka naturally school together, and keeping Kohaku Lame alongside other improved medaka varieties is common practice. Consider your specific setup when planning tank mates.
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