Transparent-Scale Medaka

Transparent-Scale 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

Red cheeks read most clearly from the side, while the translucency and dropped-out colour can also be judged from above. The Medaka Web Encyclopedia recommends outdoor keeping and suggests shading half the container in summer.

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

Since classification rests on red cheeks, selection starts by checking them. Fish red on only one cheek, or with no red at all, are recorded as sub-categories of the trait. Semi-transparent scale, known as aurora, is a separate trait and gives a less clean separation of white and black.

About Transparent-Scale Medaka

Transparent-Scale Medaka are an improved variety whose thin gill-cover pigment lets blood color show through as rosy cheeks, with translucent bodies and fin coloring that vary by individual.

7 things to know before welcoming a Transparent-Scale Medaka

1. 1Red Cheeks Are the Signature Trait

   Transparent-Scale Medaka lack much of the iridescent pigment on their gill covers, so the natural red of their blood shows through and gives them rosy cheeks. How strongly this red shows up varies between individuals, and the color often becomes more pronounced as the fish matures.

2. 2Red Gills Define the Breed

   The breed standard is based on "aka-era," fish whose entire gill area appears red. Fish with color on just one side ("kata-hoho") or with little visible red ("hoho-nashi") are still considered part of the same line, so patterning varies from fish to fish.

3. 3Coloring Varies Fish to Fish

   Bodies can take on a translucent quality, fins may pick up color, and some fish develop patches of faded pigment, so no two individuals look exactly alike. Even siblings from the same parents often show noticeably different patterns as they grow.

4. 4Beginner-Friendly to Keep

   This variety is generally considered easy to keep, making it a solid choice for first-time medaka owners. That said, their translucent coloring can make skin condition more visible, so consistent water quality care is still worthwhile.

5. 5Tops Out Around 4 cm

   Adults reach a standard body length of roughly 4 cm at most, keeping them compact and manageable even in limited space. Because they stay close in size to other medaka varieties, mixed housing tends not to create much size-related stress.

6. 6Water Quality Shapes Their Look

   Because their translucent coloring makes water quality and condition changes easy to spot, regular water changes and filter maintenance help keep their coloring at its best. Sudden shifts in temperature or water chemistry can be stressful, so daily observation is worth building into a routine.

7. 7Acclimate Before Release

   Always acclimate new arrivals gradually to match the temperature and water chemistry of their new tank before releasing them. Providing plants or hiding spots helps them settle in, since they tend to stay in cover until they adjust to their surroundings.

Frequently asked questions about Transparent-Scale Medaka

Q.How is this different from other medaka varieties?

A.The defining difference is that they lack much of the iridescent pigment on their gill covers, so the red of their blood shows through and gives them rosy cheeks. Their translucent body tone and fin coloring also set them apart from other improved medaka varieties.

Q.Does the coloring change as they grow?

A.Yes, how red the cheeks appear, how translucent the body looks, and how much color shows on the fins can all shift as the fish matures. Even a single fish's appearance can change noticeably over time.

Q.Can a beginner keep this variety?

A.Yes, this variety is generally considered beginner-friendly, so first-time medaka keepers can take it on without much trouble. Keeping up with basic water changes and stable water temperature is the key to raising them well long-term.

Q.Can they be kept with other medaka varieties?

A.Mixed housing is generally fine with other medaka varieties of similar size, since adults top out at around 4 cm. That said, keeping them alone or in a small group makes it easier to appreciate their individual coloring.

Q.Are there any legal restrictions on this variety?

A.Transparent-Scale Medaka are not subject to CITES. There is no CITES-related paperwork or procedure to worry about when keeping or acquiring this variety.

Useful tools for Transparent-Scale Medaka care

Learn more about Transparent-Scale Medaka in the encyclopedia

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