Red Rice Fish Tetra Oryzias Latipes 3cm

Overview

The Red Ricefish is a selectively bred orange-red strain of the Japanese Medaka, a small surface-dwelling fish with a slim body, upturned mouth and bright, glowing colour that stands out among green plants. It descends from wild fish of East Asian rice paddies and streams. Hardy and peaceful, it suits beginners, nano community tanks and unheated tubs or garden ponds.

• Adult Size: Around 3.5–4 cm (1.5 in); females slightly plumper
• Lifespan: 3–5 years; shorter if kept permanently warm

Origin

• Native to: Japan, Korea, China (captive-bred colour form)
• Habitat: Rice paddies, ditches, ponds and slow streams

Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous micropredator
• Preferred Foods: Micro pellets, crushed flake, baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, bloodworm
• Feeding Habits: Small feeds once or twice daily; colour-enhancing and live foods deepen red

Tank Mates

• Best with: Small rasboras, small tetras, dwarf corydoras, shrimp, snails
• Avoid: Large, boisterous or predatory fish; strong fin-nippers

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Completely peaceful, active and social
• Territoriality: None; males chase briefly when spawning

Experience Level

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Challenges: Needs a group of 6+ and a lid; avoid constant high heat

Water Parameters

• Water Type: Freshwater, neutral to moderately hard
• Temperature: 16–26°C (61–79°F)
• pH: 6.5–8.5
• Hardness: 5–25 dGH
• Flow: Slow
• Tank Size: Minimum 40 litres for a group of six; planted tubs and ponds also suit

Final Notes

Despite the trade name this is a ricefish, not a tetra, and it thrives in cooler unheated water rather than a warm tropical tank. It breeds readily: females carry adhesive eggs beneath the body before hanging them on fine plants or spawning mops, and fry take microworm or baby brine shrimp. Keep it away from freezing outdoors, give it open swimming space and planted cover, and a group will glow like embers across the surface.