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Indian ricefish

Oryzias dancena

Also known as Blue-eye ricefish, Estuary medaka

FreshwaterFish
Indian ricefish (Oryzias dancena)
(c) Paulmathi Vinod, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH
7.0–8.5
Adult size
1.4 in (3.5 cm)
Minimum tank
14 gal (54 L)
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Origin
Coastal India to Myanmar
Family
Adrianichthyidae

Overview

A hardy little schooler that suits fresh or lightly brackish nano tanks and copes with conditions that would trouble more delicate fish. Keep eight or more in 54 liters with plants and open swimming space. It is peaceful, stays near the surface and middle, and takes flake, micro granules and small frozen foods without fuss. Hard, neutral to alkaline water suits it best; salt is optional rather than required.

In the wild

Oryzias dancena lives in coastal fresh and brackish shallows from India through to Myanmar, in still and slow water that varies in salinity with the tide and season. Keep it at 22 to 26 degrees Celsius and pH 7.0 to 8.5.

Good to know

Oryzias dancena reaches about 3.5 centimeters and carries bright blue eyes against a pale body. Ricefish are egg-scatterers whose females carry the fertilized cluster attached between the pelvic fins for a time before brushing it onto plants. Its unusually broad salinity tolerance has made it a laboratory model.

Did you know

It switches between fresh and seawater physiology fast enough that researchers use it to study the switch itself.

Tank mates

Indian ricefish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an Indian ricefish need?

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

What temperature and pH do Indian ricefish need?

Indian ricefish are comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.5.

How big do Indian ricefish get?

An adult Indian ricefish reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

Do Indian ricefish need a group?

Yes. Indian ricefish are a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

Freshwater fish · Schooling fish · Community fish

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