Youhiki Longfin Medaka Ricefish

Youhiki Longfin Medaka Ricefish (Oryzias latipes – Youhiki Longfin Variety)

Graceful, ethereal, and utterly mesmerizing — the Youhiki Longfin Medaka is a prized Japanese ricefish variety that combines the delicate flowing fins of a longfin strain with the soft, pearlescent "Youhiki" body colouration. As they drift through the water, their elongated fins billow like silk in a gentle breeze, catching the light with every turn. This is a medaka for those who appreciate the finer details of the aquarium hobby.

Fish Details

• Adult Size: 3–4 cm (1–1.5 inches)
• Temperament: Peaceful, gentle schooling fish
• Diet: Omnivore — accepts high-quality flake food, micro pellets, and small live/frozen foods (baby brine shrimp, daphnia, micro worms)
• Lifespan: 2–4 years
• Breeding: Egg layer — females carry egg clusters and deposit them on plants or spawning mops; eggs hatch in 10–14 days

Tank Requirements

• Minimum Tank Size: 40 L (10 gallons)
• Water Temperature: 18–26°C (64–79°F) — adaptable; tolerates cooler temperatures well
• pH: 7.0–8.0
• Water Hardness: Moderately hard to hard
• Filtration: Gentle flow — strong currents can damage their delicate longfins
• Lighting: Moderate — soft lighting beautifully highlights their pearlescent sheen

Compatibility

• Best kept in groups of 6 or more to encourage natural schooling behaviour
• Ideal tankmates: other medaka varieties, small peaceful rasboras, corydoras, snails, and freshwater shrimp
• Avoid fin-nipping species — their flowing fins are vulnerable
• Avoid strong current from filters or powerheads
• Can be kept in outdoor tubs or ponds during warmer Canadian months

Care Tips

• Floating plants like water lettuce or frogbit provide shade and a natural feel
• A dark substrate enhances their soft pearlescent colouration
• Easy to breed — add a spawning mop or fine-leaved plants and they will readily spawn
• Perform regular water changes of 20–30% weekly to maintain optimal health
• Keep the tank covered — medaka are known to jump

Rare, refined, and remarkably easy to keep — the Youhiki Longfin Medaka is a true collector’s fish that brings an air of elegance to any aquarium.