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Black Medaka
Medaka also known as ricefish is quickly rising to be a popular aquarium fish. These adorable nano fish are incredibly hardy, cold-water tolerant, and come in an assortment of colours through the art of selective breeding. They would be ideal beginner fish because of these reasons and are even kept in outdoor ponds in the colder regions of Australia, all year round.
The Black or Youkihi medaka has a wonderful saffron Black colour with highlights of red near the fins and cheek plate. This vibrant Black can also be contrasted with a white belly and metallic silvery eyes, making this fish stand out. Its body shape is very easily comparable with the tropical guppy however the Medaka is far more underrated and in most cases much more beginner-friendly!
The Black medaka will max out at a size of 4cm. Much like their beautiful colours these fish also have a beautiful, peaceful personality and would be a really different addition to any community aquarium. Telling the difference between males and females is difficult in medaka as they do not have any immediate distinguishing factors. When breeding though the female will carry her eggs on the outside of her body for a short time until the male fertilizes them, she will then attach them to a soft or leafy surface which is a truly unique behavior to these fish. Wild medaka can be found in the cold rivers of Japan.
Tank Recommendations for your Black Medaka
The Black Medaka is a very active little fish and would be fine in a tank that is 40 liters. A larger aquarium would be ideal as these fish do best kept in groups and the larger volume will allow for other tank mates.
Youkihi medaka is not fussy when it comes to the substrate but will love a densely planted aquarium. This would also ensure that if the fish end up highly likely breeding, the fry has a good chance of surviving.
A great aquarium setting for these fish would be to have a black tank background, bright green plants, and an aquarium light with an increased red spectrum that will showcase the Black of this medaka strain.
Suitable Tank Buddies
The Black medaka is a very peaceful species that is best suited to be kept with small community fish.
Usually Compatible
Small community fish like neon tetras, ember tetras, or rasboras, and even livebearers like guppies.
Sometime Compatible
Anabantoid species such as bettas, gouramis, and species of a similar sort. These species offer a risk of predating on small medaka or out-competing them.
Rarely Compatible
Aggressive species such as convict cichlids or kribensis will certainly end up preying on the medaka
Feeding your Black Medaka
The Black medaka much like most small aquarium fish is very easy to feed. They are an opportunistic surface feeder and will take to a wide range of prepared aquarium foods.
Their diet should contain good quality micro floating pellets with frozen food that have a high protein such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, and daphnia. This feeding can simply occur once a day.
Q: How much is postage cost?
A: All dry goods are $8.95 flat shipping, $11.95 for Plants express postage and live stock are $20 express postage flat. Handling time applies.
Q: Where do we ship ?
A: We ship Australia wide but Live stock are not shipped to WA,NT & Tasmania because of the state law.
Q: Where do we ship from ?
A: We ship from Sydney,
Q: When do we ship ?
A: All dry goods are shipped Monday - Friday. Live Goods are shipped Mon - Wed depending where you are.
Q: Can I Pick Up ?
A: We are not offering any pickup at this stage
A: All dry stock can be returned back. Live goods are not refundable. Shipping cost will be deducted upon return of the item and also customer is responsible to send the item back.
We do ship dry goods.
Step 1: Prepare the necessary materials
Clean bucket or container large enough
Airline tubing
Air pump (optional but recommended)
Adjustable valve or knot (to regulate the flow of water) or get a abquatics drip kit
Clean, dechlorinated water (ideally matching the temperature and pH of your tank)
Step 2: Set up the drip acclimation system
Fill a clean bucket or container with the clean, dechlorinated water.
Attach one end of the airline tubing to an air pump (if using) and place the other end inside the bucket. Make sure it reaches the bottom of the container.
Step 3: Start the drip
Open the bag containing the aquatic animals and carefully pour the entire contents into the bucket, including the water from the transport bag.
Start a siphon by sucking on the free end of the airline tubing or use a siphon starter. This will initiate a slow drip of water into the bucket.
Step 4: Adjust the drip rate
Use an adjustable valve or tie a knot in the airline tubing to regulate the drip rate. Aim for approximately 2-4 drips per second.
The slow drip helps gradually mix the water in the bucket with the water from the transport bag, preventing any sudden changes in water parameters.
Step 5: Monitor the process
Keep an eye on the acclimation process and periodically test the water parameters in the bucket using a test kit. This helps ensure a smooth transition.
Depending on the sensitivity of the animals and the water parameters involved, the acclimation process may take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
Step 6: Adjust water volume if needed
If the water volume in the bucket becomes too high, you can remove some water and continue the drip acclimation process with fresh, dechlorinated water. Be cautious not to remove too much water, as it can lead to sudden changes in water parameters.
Step 7: Transfer the animals to the tank
Once the acclimation process is complete, gently net the aquatic animals from the bucket and transfer them to the tank. Avoid adding the water from the acclimation container to the tank to prevent any potential contamination.
Step 8: Dispose of the acclimation water
After transferring the animals, discard the acclimation water from the bucket. Do not pour it directly into any drains or natural bodies of water.
By following these steps, you can safely and gradually acclimate your shrimp, snails, and fish to their new tank environment after transport. Remember, it's important to monitor the process closely and make adjustments as necessary to ensure a smooth transition for your aquatic pets.