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Celebes ricefish

Oryzias celebensis

Also known as Celebes medaka, Celebes rice fish

FreshwaterFish

Celebes ricefish (Oryzias celebensis)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
7.0–8.2
Adult size
1.8 in
4.5 cm
Minimum tank
14 gal
54 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg layer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Adrianichthyidae
Origin
Southern Sulawesi streams

Overview

The Celebes ricefish is a peaceful, active schooler that lives in the open midwater. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

A spawning female Celebes ricefish does not lay her eggs and leave. She carries the whole fertilized cluster hanging from her vent like a bunch of tiny grapes, sometimes for a day or more.

Caring for the Celebes ricefish

A planted tank of at least 14 gal (54 L) suits a starter group of Celebes ricefish. Give them open swimming lanes, with fine-leaved plants to break up the space. Leave an open surface and keep the flow gentle.

They prefer harder, alkaline water, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.2. That sets them apart from many small community fish. Steady conditions and regular maintenance keep a shoal in color. Feed small foods, such as fine flakes and micro pellets, along with frozen daphnia, cyclops and baby brine shrimp.

Keep them in a group of at least six, and more is better. A shoal looks better and spreads out the mild squabbling that can flare between individuals. They are peaceful and community safe with other small, gentle fish that like the same water.

They breed readily, and the female wipes her fertilized eggs off onto fine plants. The main hurdle is that adults eat their own eggs and fry, so a separate rearing space helps.

Good to know

Oryzias celebensis is a ricefish, or medaka, in the family Adrianichthyidae.

In the wild

Oryzias celebensis lives in streams, ditches and standing waters of southern Sulawesi. It is often found in well planted, sun-warmed shallows with a fair amount of dissolved minerals.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Celebes ricefish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Celebes ricefish need?

A Celebes ricefish needs at least 14 gal (54 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Celebes ricefish need?

A Celebes ricefish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.2.

What does a Celebes ricefish eat?

A Celebes ricefish eats small foods, such as fine flakes and micro pellets. Add frozen daphnia, cyclops and baby brine shrimp as well.

How big does a Celebes ricefish get?

An adult Celebes ricefish reaches about 1.8 in (4.5 cm).

Does a Celebes ricefish need a group?

Yes. A Celebes ricefish is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a Celebes ricefish breed?

A Celebes ricefish breeds readily, and the female wipes her fertilized eggs onto fine plants. The adults eat their own eggs and fry, so a separate rearing space helps.

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