Japanese Medaka for Sale

Japanese medaka rice fish, by variety

Medaka (Oryzias latipes), also called Japanese rice fish, have been bred in Japan for centuries into hundreds of ornamental lines. The varieties above are the ones I raise myself, hand-selected each season for color and vigor, from the midnight-black Orochi and the iridescent blue shimmer of Blue Miyuki to the warm orange of Red King and Youkihi. All are the same hardy species under the color; any of them will thrive in the same setup.

Which medaka should a beginner buy?

Every variety I sell is beginner-friendly and equally hardy, so choose on looks alone. If this is your first tub or tank, a group of 6 or more of a single variety makes a striking display and lets the colony breed true. Want a mix of colors in one order instead? Browse my ready-made medaka collections, or create your own, any 6 fish for $89.99, or 12 for $169.99 with free shipping. New to the hobby entirely? Start with my complete medaka care guide.

Raised in real habitats, not bare containers

This is the part I care most about. A lot of medaka are grown out in plain tubs, because bare containers are faster to clean and easier to manage at volume. I do it the harder way. Every one of my setups is built to look and behave like water these fish would actually live in: a rocky bottom, a gentle sponge filter they genuinely seem to enjoy, since they gather around the bubble column and play in the stream, floating plants overhead for shade and cover, and live plants down in the water column. Snails work the bottom and keep it clean, the same way they would in a real pond.

It costs me more time, but in my experience it produces a better fish. Growing up with cover, natural light, and things to explore, I see stronger color and more confident behavior, and it means a planted tank or tub at your place is familiar rather than a shock. If you have ever bought fish that hid for a week after arriving, this is the difference. And if this is your first time keeping medaka, say so: I'm happy to look over your planned setup before you order, free, no strings. Everything I use in those setups is what I sell, so the snails and plants that keep my water healthy are the same ones I can send you.

Healthy, hardy, and ready for your setup

Every fish is hand-picked and health-checked before it ships, so it arrives ready to settle in fast at your place. Medaka are naturally hardy, and I keep it that way. Orders with live fish or snails ship Mondays with free floating plants and my live arrival guarantee. Across most of the US they can also live outdoors year-round, in a container with enough water volume and depth to ride out your winter. In an open tub they also clear out mosquito larvae as they feed, natural pest control that happens to shimmer.