TankBud

Yellow-fin ricefish

Oryzias profundicola

Also known as Profundicola medaka

FreshwaterFish

Yellow-fin ricefish (Oryzias profundicola)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
7.5–8.5
Adult size
2.4 in
6 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 Towuti, Sulawesi

Overview

The yellow-fin ricefish is the largest of the Sulawesi lake medakas, a calm midwater schooler with lemon-edged fins. It suits a hard-water biotope tank and is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Most ricefish live in puddles, paddies and shallow ditches, but the yellow-fin ricefish broke that mold. Its scientific name means depth-dweller, and in its home lake it lives and feeds deeper down than any of its shallow-water cousins.

Caring for the yellow-fin ricefish

Keep yellow-fin ricefish in a group of at least six, in a tank of 20 gal (75 L) or larger. A shoal needs room to cruise, so leave open swimming space over a rocky, sandy floor with some boulder cover. They spend most of their time in the middle of the tank.

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

The yellow-fin ricefish is peaceful and community safe with other gentle species that want the same hard, alkaline water. A group of six or more brings out its most natural behavior and its best finnage. Like other ricefish, the female holds her eggs at the vent for a while before planting them. Breeding them takes a moderate amount of effort.

Good to know

The yellow-fin ricefish, Oryzias profundicola, belongs to the ricefish family Adrianichthyidae and was described in 1990. It is also sold as the Profundicola medaka.

In the wild

The yellow-fin ricefish is endemic to Lake Towuti, the largest of the ancient Malili lakes on Sulawesi. It keeps to deeper water along gently sloping shores, where boulders lie over sand and pebble.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The yellow-fin 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 yellow-fin ricefish need?

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

What temperature and pH does a yellow-fin ricefish need?

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

What does a yellow-fin ricefish eat?

A yellow-fin ricefish eats small foods such as fine flakes and micro pellets. Frozen daphnia, cyclops and brine shrimp round out its diet.

How big does a yellow-fin ricefish get?

An adult yellow-fin ricefish reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

Does a yellow-fin ricefish need a group?

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

How does a yellow-fin ricefish breed?

A female yellow-fin ricefish holds her eggs at her vent for a while, then plants them, as other ricefish do. Breeding them takes a moderate amount of effort.

Related species