Woworae Medaka

Oryzias woworae, the daisy's ricefish, is widely considered the most visually spectacular medaka species in the aquarium hobby. Males from Muna Island, Southeast Sulawesi, display brilliant electric blue body iridescence with sharply contrasting vivid orange-red caudal, dorsal, and anal fins. In a school under good lighting, they are absolutely dazzling.

Like other Sulawesian Oryzias, O. woworae requires warm, hard, alkaline water. However, it appears slightly more tolerant than some lake-endemic species and can be successfully kept at somewhat lower hardness values. This relative flexibility, combined with its extraordinary colour, has made it by far the most popular of the Sulawesian medaka in the hobby.

Breeding is achieved in species tanks or dedicated breeding setups. Females carry eggs for a brief period before depositing them on fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Fry accept micro foods from hatching and grow quickly. O. woworae is an outstanding nano aquarium fish.

Water: 25-29°C, pH 7.5-8.5, moderately hard (GH 8-18) — slightly more forgiving than other Sulawesi Oryzias. Tank: 30 L school tank; fine-leaved plants and spawning mops; open swimming space. Feeding: micro pellets, baby brine shrimp, daphnia, and vinegar eels for conditioning. Breeding: prolific egg scatterer; eggs collected from spawning mops; fry easy to raise. Compatibility: peaceful; can be kept with other Sulawesi species or in a dedicated school.