Live Medaka Shipped to Iowa
Yes, I ship live Japanese rice fish to Iowa. Boxes leave Raleigh, North Carolina on Mondays by UPS 2nd Day Air, so a Monday box is normally due Wednesday. I have no shop or pickup in Iowa.
Iowa weather and your fish
Iowa's open ground means hard winter wind and deep cold, then humid summer heat. Container depth matters more here than in almost anything else you can buy.
An above-ground tub on a Des Moines patio takes cold from every side, which is why a partly sunken container does much better. Summer is the easy half here, with a long stretch of warm water for growth and breeding.
When to order
Late spring through early fall is usually easiest. I hold boxes when a hard freeze is forecast.
Keeping medaka here
Roughly USDA hardiness zones 4 to 6. Outdoors, go large and deep, stop feeding below about 50°F, and never smash ice. A 10-gallon or larger indoor tank needs no heater. More in my winter guide.
Plants for Iowa
Nothing in my plant shop is on my restricted list for Iowa today.
Rates, holds, and the live arrival guarantee are on my shipping page. Never release fish or plants into local water, and ask your state wildlife agency about local rules.
Common questions
Can you ship live medaka to Iowa?
Yes, from Raleigh, North Carolina, by UPS 2nd Day Air on Mondays, with a live arrival guarantee.
Can medaka live outside all year in Iowa?
Sometimes, in a large, deep container. Colder areas are safer with an indoor winter home.