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Matano ricefish

Oryzias matanensis

Also known as Matanensis medaka

FreshwaterFish

Matano ricefish (Oryzias matanensis)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
2.2 in
5.5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg layer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Adrianichthyidae
Origin
Lake Matano, Sulawesi

Overview

The Matano ricefish is a peaceful midwater schooler, a natural fish layer for a hard-water tank built around Sulawesi shrimp and snails. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

The Matano ricefish schools over some of the most ancient fresh water anywhere. Lake Matano is one of the oldest and deepest lakes on Earth, a tectonic basin plunging over 500 meters. Its age is counted in millions of years.

Caring for the Matano ricefish

Give a shoal of Matano ricefish a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L), with a rocky, sandy layout and open swimming space. They like open water to cruise, plus some cover at the edges.

They need stable, hard, alkaline chemistry, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Feed small foods, such as fine flakes and micro pellets with frozen daphnia, cyclops and brine shrimp.

Keep them in a group of at least six so they show their best behavior and color. They are community safe with other calm species that need the same hard water.

Like other medakas, the female carries fertilized eggs at her vent before placing them on plants or rootwork. Breeding them in hard, alkaline water is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

Oryzias matanensis is a ricefish of the family Adrianichthyidae. It is endemic to a single lake, which is part of why it is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

In the wild

Oryzias matanensis is found only in Lake Matano, an ancient tectonic lake in the Malili system of central Sulawesi. It lives along shorelines of hard, clear, mineral-rich water.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Matano 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 Matano ricefish need?

A Matano ricefish needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Matano ricefish need?

A Matano ricefish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.

What does a Matano ricefish eat?

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

How big does a Matano ricefish get?

An adult Matano ricefish reaches about 2.2 in (5.5 cm).

Does a Matano ricefish need a group?

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

How does a Matano ricefish breed?

A Matano ricefish female carries her fertilized eggs at her vent, then places them on plants or rootwork. Breeding works in hard, alkaline water and is a moderate challenge.

Related species