Vietnamese Medaka

Oryzias haugiangensis is a ricefish from the Hau Giang (Mekong delta) region of Vietnam. It shares the typical medaka body plan: a small, torpedo-shaped fish with upturned mouth adapted for surface feeding. Males display a faint but attractive blue body iridescence and are active, social fish when kept in schools.

Compared to Sulawesian Oryzias species, O. haugiangensis is more forgiving of soft, slightly acidic water, making it more accessible to aquarists without access to hard water. It is a robust species that tolerates a range of conditions from near-neutral to mildly alkaline water. This makes it an excellent choice for beginners exploring the medaka group.

Breeding is simple and prolific. Females carry eggs briefly before depositing them on aquatic plants. A spawning mop placed near the surface makes egg collection easy. Fry accept micro nauplii and commercial fry foods from hatching.

Water: 20-28°C, pH 6.5-7.5, soft to moderately hard — broad tolerance makes this an easy species. Tank: 30 L with floating plants or spawning mops; gentle filtration. Feeding: micro pellets, baby brine shrimp, daphnia, and crushed flake. Breeding: very easy; egg-scatterer on plants; prolific spawner in good conditions. Compatibility: peaceful community fish; excellent with small rasboras, nano tetras, and peaceful bottom fish.