Japanese rice fish (Oryzias latipes)

Scientific name: Oryzias latipes Temminck & Schlegel, 1846

The Japanese rice fish (Oryzias latipes) is a freshwater fish of the family Adrianichthyidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 18–24°C (64–75°F). Native range: Asia, Japan, Korea, China and Viet Nam. Reported from the middle Nam Theun, Mekong, Irrawaddy, Salween, Red River and Nanpangjiang in basins.

Japanese rice fish care at a glance

Temperature: 18–24°C (64–75°F)

Biology

Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-7; Anal soft rays: 15 - 21; Vertebrae: 30 - 31. Meristic characters mainly from Nam Theun, Laos sample only. Scale count refers to the scales in longitudinal row.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Oryzias latipes
Family: Adrianichthyidae (Ricefishes)
Order: Beloniformes (Needle fishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 3.2
Environment: Freshwater; brackish;; pH range: 7.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19 benthopelagic; amphidromous
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Asia: Japan, Korea, China and Viet Nam. Reported from the middle Nam Theun, Mekong, Irrawaddy, Salween, Red River and Nanpangjiang in basins.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm