Tag Archives: Oryzias

Oryzias woworae 

30. May 2022

The Blue Daisy (Oryzias woworae) is known by almost every aquarist child and we have this beautiful and easy to care fish regularly in our offer. Our current stock, offspring from Indonesia, consists of particularly large animals, which color themselves splendidly almost black in the courtship display. Apparently one has successfully crossed the attractive “Black” strain, which unfortunately mostly had no dorsal fin.

The females (recognizable by the smooth-edged anal fin) look quite normal and even frightened males or those that are not currently courtship active show only the classic blue sheen, orange belly and red caudal fin stripes.

For our customers: the fish have code 340134 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale. 

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Oryzias javanicus

13. March 2020

The rice fish (Oryzias) have been in the focus of aquarists for several years. First the fantastically colored O. woworae were discovered on Sulawesi, then the Japanese Medakas (O. latipes) experienced a renaissance, because many interesting new breeding forms developed. Most species of the genus, which comprises more than 30 species, occur quite locally. Two species, however, have a wide distribution because they are so salt-tolerant that they can even tolerate pure seawater: Oryzias dancena and O. javanicus. They are therefore found in nature not only in fresh water, but also in brackish water and along the coasts of South and Southeast Asia.

We were able to import a nice number of wild Oryzias from Sumatra, which must have been one of the two species. Oryzias dancena and O. javanicus are very similar, females can hardly be distinguished. In O. dancena the males have silver-white fin seams, but lack the yellow stripes in the caudal fin that distinguish the males of O. javanicus. In both species the males develop long, free fin rays in the anal fin, the edge of which is smooth in the females. Our current imports could be identified as O. javanicus based on the above mentioned characteristics.

Basically it doesn’t matter which of the two species you care for, both are very pretty, peaceful, small (3-4 cm) and easy to care for. They are also easy to breed, the females carry the eggs in the form of grape-like bundles for a while before they shed them in plants etc., as is common with Oryzias. But as both species can crossbreed, the hybrids often have many deformations and are not breedable in the long run, it is better not to mix the two species in the aquarium.

For our customers: Oryzias javanicus has code 339703 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Oryzias woworae XXL

10. May 2019

The neon rice fish was the absolute sensation during its aquaristic discovery in 2010. At that time two neon rice fish were known: the “real” O. woworae from the small island of Muna and an O. cf. woworae from the main island Sulawesi. The most important optical difference between the two was seen in the courtship display. With the “real” O. woworae the males in the courtship display become very dark, almost black, with O. cf. woworae rather somewhat brighter than normal. Additionally the “real” O. woworae has a strong orange-red belly edge in males, which is missing in O. cf. woworae. In 2013 two more neon rice fishes were described from Sulawesi; the O. cf. woworae was separated as an independent species, O. wolasi, from O. woworae. In addition, a much more slender species compared to O. woworae and O. wolasi was described as O. asinua (so far only known from the administrative district Kendari on Sulawesi). This neon rice fish is a bit paler coloured than the other two species and has found no further distribution in the hobby.

We have now received XXL bred ones of the “real” Oryzias woworae from Taiwan. With over 4 cm of length, they are clearly bigger than their wild living cousins, who remain at least 1 cm smaller. Some years ago (2013) the breeders complained that the dark coloration of mating O. woworae males decreased from generation to generation. This problem seems to be overcome, our Taiwan-bred fish get very, very dark at the courtship display… 

For our customers: the animals have code 340134 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Oryzias latipes – Medaka breeding forms

22. December 2018

The care and breeding of the Japanese Rice Fish or Medaka has a very long tradition in Japan. Already around 1900 gold-colored Medakas were mentioned in the aquaristic literature. The breeding of these small fish is currently experiencing a renaissance in Japan. Friedrich Bitter drew attention to this and also imported many of these forms which had not previously existed in Europe. From him we have received 10 variants of these animals, which we present to you:

Panda White

Genetic pure strain often used for crossings. Since some of his genes are recessively inherited, the other parent usually prevails in crosses. Is bred especially for top view.

Blue & Black Lame

Moderately variable strain, with which also animals with orange-yellow body-color appear from time to time in the offspring. The name Lame refers to the silver scales, which are mainly on the flanks and less on the back. Is bred equally for the view from the side and from above.

Miyuki Super Long Line

Genetic pure strain. The basic body colour is slightly bluish, which is why the animals are called Miyuki. A silver-blue band runs along the back from the head to the tail, which helped the variant to the designation Super Long Line. Is bred often also for the top view.

Panda Grey

Moderately variable strain in which individual adult fish develop a fine blue dorsal line. The term panda refers to the eyes that appear dark from above. The basic colour of the fish is grey. Is bred mainly for the top view.

Red & Black Lame

Slightly variable strain. In the offspring animals with yellow-orange, white and blue basic colour can appear. The term Lame refers to the metallic reflective scales of the body, which almost appear gold-coloured towards the back, especially in intensively orange-coloured animals. These are bred for side and top view.

Red & White

Very variable strain. Breeding goal are actually fish with red-orange head and orange areas on fins and light body. In the offspring, however, also strongly orange-colored and white-pink-colored specimens appear in all gradations. For aquarium (side view) and mini pond (top view).

Tricolor (Akane-Nishiki)

A variable strain that always brings surprises. One-, two- and three-coloured (Tricolor) animals appear. For the breeding goal Tricolor it is best to combine three-coloured with two-coloured specimens, because the colours appear stronger and clearer in the offspring. Red, white (or transparent) and black remind strongly of Koi in the Tricolor, which is why they are mostly bred for the top view.

Yokihi Orange

A strain that looks rather yellow-orange in an aquarium. If the animals are kept in the open under direct sunlight, they become strong orange-red after few weeks. This form is multiplied equally for aquarium and outdoor.

Akari Aurora

All strains with the designation Akari are very variable in respect of the color distribution. This is exactly what attracts breeders to use them for cross-breeding. The additional designation Aurora refers to darker scales, which increase strongly towards the back. Also interesting about this trunk are the irregularly distributed silver scales on the body sides. This strain is bred for aquarium and outdoor keeping.

Yellow Head, Clear Scales

A very rare strain in Germany with moderate variability. The head should be as yellow (orange) as possible, the body is at least partially transparent. The fins are sometimes orange, from the back sometimes irregular, dark spots reach up to the flanks. Fish for top and side view.

Text: Friedrich Bitter, photos: Friedrich Bitter & Frank Schäfer

Oryzias dancena “Thailand”

1. March 2017

Usually we obtain the rice fish (Oryzias dancena, in elder books often referred to as O. melastigma) from India. This is also the country from where it as been described scientifically. But now we obtained very healthy and vivid specimens from Thailand.

Oryzias dancena can be distinguished from other, similar species quite good by the white seamed fins. The anal fin of the male has an irregular border. In very old males the finrays may be even extended. The females of this species carry the eggs after spawning around for a while, before they deposit them in plant leaves. This behaviour is typical for all Oryzias species.

Oryzias dancena are absolutely peaceful fish that fit perfecty for any community tank. Here they live basically in the upper third of the tank. Feeding Oryzias is problem-free, for the fish take readily any types of usual fish food. However, food particles must not be too large. Hard, slightly alcalic water is preferred, but one can say that any water that can be used a drinking water for humans can be used to keep and breed Oryzias dancena. The fish attains a maximum length of about 3-4 cm.

For our customers: the animals have code 339602 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer