Our Medaka
The medaka varieties I keep and offer have been carefully selected to reflect both quality and diversity within the hobby. My focus is on strains that display strong colour, stable genetics, and distinctive characteristics that make them rewarding to keep and breed.
Alongside well-known varieties, I also work with more specialist lines that are rarely seen outside Japan. These strains are often developed by dedicated Japanese breeders and can be difficult to source internationally. By selecting fish that represent both classic and unique bloodlines, the aim is to introduce keepers in the UK to a broader range of medaka while maintaining the standards and appreciation for these fish that are central to the hobby in Japan.
Kohaku Lamé (琥珀メダカ) Medaka
Kohaku Lamé medaka is a graceful and highly decorative variety, inspired by the iconic Kōhaku koi. It combines the classic red-and-white elegance of traditional koi with contemporary lamé shimmer, producing iridescent glittering scales that add sparkle, depth, and a jewel-like brilliance to the fish.
Features:
Body Colour: Bright white base with deep red-orange markings arranged in a clean, symmetrical pattern
Lamé (Glittering Scales): Iridescent shimmer scattered across the body, enhancing visual depth and elegance
Scale Type: Non-transparent, emphasizing bold, opaque color blocks
Visual Appeal: Particularly striking from the top view; lamé sparkles like stardust across the Kohaku-inspired canvas
Origin and Lineage:
Year of Development: 2016
Original Breeder: Seiraku-an (静楽庵)
Developed from the Sanshoku Lamé Mikiyuki line, Kohaku Lamé was refined by removing black elements, leaving only the red and white to emphasize classical koi aesthetics. To enhance luminosity, genes from the Aurora lineage were introduced, producing a medaka with both vivid color and internal glow.
Lamé tends to become more pronounced as the fish matures, particularly in high-quality individuals
Yozakura (夜桜) Medaka
Yozakura medaka is a poetic and highly decorative strain, inspired by the beauty of cherry blossoms at night. Its design combines soft pink, deep blue-black, and shimmering lamé tones, creating a luminous effect reminiscent of moonlit cherry blossoms under a starry sky—giving this variety its evocative “night cherry blossom” name.
Key Features:
Head Color: Soft pink, characteristic of the Aurora system
Body Color: Deep blue-black with sparkling lamé, evoking a starry sky
Pattern: Lamé highlights and body markings arranged in patterns reminiscent of falling petals and night illumination
Visual Appeal: Especially striking from top and side views, with lamé shimmering like starlight
Variation: Many variations exist in lamé intensity, pattern placement, and colour balance, making each individual uniquely expressive
Origin and Lineage:
Producer: Mr. Tarumi Seisa, Ehime Prefecture
Release Year: 2016
Breeding Lineage: Developed by crossing and selecting from Bouchirame and blue lamé lines, then refined using individuals with lamé from yellow cherry blossom and Aurora Mikiyuki lines. Through careful selection over successive generations, the pink head, lamé body, and night cherry blossom pattern were stabilised.
Line-bred medaka – coloration, lamé brilliance, and pattern may continue to develop as the fish mature.
Miyazukara x Agrias (アグリアスめ) Medaka
Crossbreeding the two lineages produces a wide range of unique coulor variations, with individuals displaying diverse combinations of head colouration, body base tones, and lamé intensity, making each fish a distinct and collectible ornamental medaka.
Miyazakura (宮桜) Medaka
Miyazakura medaka is a refined and collectible ornamental strain, created by Hirokatsu Miyamoto in Aichi Prefecture, 2021. This aurora (translucent-scale) medaka features a black and yellow base body color with shimmering lamé, giving it a striking, luminous appearance. Developed from the Night Cherry Blossom Gold-type medaka, Miyazakura shares many of its elegant characteristics while introducing its own unique style.
Key Features:
Body Color: Black and yellow with a subtle persimmon hue, depending on selection
Lamé: Blue lamé highlights scattered across the body, adding sparkle and depth
Pattern & Quality: Depending on selection, some individuals may exhibit the top-of-the-line “dancho” quality, with perfect balance and brilliance
Visual Appeal: Particularly striking from the top view; the combination of aurora translucence, persimmon tones, and blue lamé creates a sophisticated and harmonious display
Origin and Lineage:
Breeder: Hirokatsu Miyamoto, Aichi Prefecture
Year of Development: 2021
Lineage: Derived from Yozakura Night Cherry Blossom Gold-type medaka, carefully selected for aurora-scale quality, lamé brilliance, and balanced colouration
Variation: Crossbreeding and careful selection produce unique variations in body colour, lamé intensity, and pattern, making each individual a distinctive ornamental medaka
Each fish displays subtle differences in hue and lamé distribution, giving collectors one-of-a-kind individuals
Line-bred medaka – coloration, lamé brilliance, and pattern may continue to develop as the fish mature
Agrias (アグリアスめ) Medaka
Agrias medaka is a striking and highly decorative Japanese rice fish, admired for its bold contrast and dense metallic sparkle. This variety features a black and yellow (or orange) base body colour overlaid with brilliant, dense blue lamé, producing a dazzling, jewel-like appearance. The most prized individuals display a vibrant yellow or red head, which contrasts sharply with the sparkling blue body, creating a dramatic and eye-catching effect.
Origin and Lineage:
Derived From: The popular Ulysses (ユリシス) variety
Breeding Focus: Selective breeding emphasized enhancing the density and brilliance of the blue lamé against the dark and yellow background, resulting in a highly refined and visually impactful ornamental strain.
Lineage Notes: Careful crosses and successive selection have stabilized the lamé distribution, colour intensity, and head-to-body contrast, while preserving strong vitality and body balance.
Breeding Notes:
Lamé intensity and head colouration may vary; selection for balance and density is key
The contrast between dark body, yellow/red head, and blue lamé becomes more striking as the fish mature
Each individual exhibits slight variation in sparkle and colour placement, making every Agrias medaka a unique collectible
Line-bred medaka – coloration, lamé density, and pattern may continue to develop as the fish mature.
Nishiki Tiger (錦メダカ) Medaka
Nishiki Medaka, commonly referred to as Tiger Medaka, is a striking Japanese rice fish known for its bold black and yellow/orange colouration. The dynamic contrast between dark and warm tones creates a vivid, tiger-like pattern, making this strain a visually captivating and highly collectible ornamental medaka.
Key Features:
Body Color: Deep black base with vibrant dark yellow/orange markings, forming a natural tiger-stripe effect
Pattern: Flowing, irregular stripes that vary among individuals, giving each fish a unique expression
Origin and Lineage:
Lineage: Developed by selective breeding of black and yellow/red/orange medaka line, producing vivid coloration
Variation: Crossbreeding and selection produce unique variations in pattern, placement, and intensity, ensuring that each Tiger Medaka is distinct
Line-bred medaka – colouration, pattern, and contrast may continue to refine as the fish mature
Gekka / Tsukika (月華) Medaka
Gekka medaka is a three-colour lame medaka developed by Mr. Okada of the specialty store Joshu Medaka in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture. Created under the concept of “collecting lame,” this strain was produced through advanced mating and successive line breeding to enhance both colouration and pattern expression.
This variety is admired for its dazzling, moonlight-like brilliance, with a luminous combination of soft blue, white, and shimmering metallic “lame” highlights that captivate collectors. Despite being a high-quality variety, Gekka has earned exceptional popularity and is often sold out due to its striking appearance and elegant presentation.
The strain was developed using descendants from crosses of “three-color lame” and “three-color lame with extracorporeal light” medaka. This careful selection enhances the lame expression known as “corn”, and produces beautifully aligned scala rows along the back, giving the fish a refined and highly decorative look. Combined with balanced body shape and smooth fin expression, Gekka medaka is both visually stunning and highly collectible.
Line-bred medaka – coloration, lame brilliance, and pattern alignment may continue to develop as the fish mature.
Oiran (花魁) Medaka
Oiran medaka is a stunning and highly decorative strain, named after the traditional Japanese oiran courtesans for its bold elegance. The nickname “Oiran” refers to the yellow and white extracorporeal light spots introduced by breeder Hiroki Kawado in 2019, giving this variety a luminous, eye-catching glow.
This line is characterized by a three-color yellow pattern combined with the distinctive extracorporeal light, creating a dynamic and elegant visual effect. As with other three-color medaka, the fixed rate is relatively low, making careful selection and raising of a large number of fish essential. Producing individuals with balanced three-color patterns and prominent extracorporeal light is the key to creating truly beautiful Oiran medaka.
Developed through careful line breeding, the Oiran strain emphasizes body balance, color intensity, and fin expression while maintaining strong vitality. The combination of vivid yellow, white highlights, and the delicate luminescent spots results in a refined and collectible medaka highly valued by enthusiasts and breeders alike.
Line-bred medaka – coloration, pattern, and extracorporeal light may continue to develop as the fish mature.
Wazumi (和墨) Medaka
As the name “Wazumi” (Japanese inkstone) suggests, this medaka was developed from the traditional two-coloured Wazumi variety (white and black) into a three-colour medaka with a sophisticated, layered appearance.
The black markings, appearing as if ink has been carefully applied, are referred to as “spots” (buchi). Strictly speaking, these are not part of the body color itself but represent a pattern type unique to medaka. These patterns contribute to the distinctive sumi-like aesthetic that gives Wazumi its refined character.
Unlike typical tricolor medaka, Wazumi retains its deep black coloration without fading, thanks to the inheritance of the Japanese ink traits. Specifically, the strain does not exhibit the background reaction seen in Orochi lines used in its creation, ensuring stable, long-lasting black expression.
Another hallmark of Wazumi is the extension of the mottled black pattern into the fins, producing streaky, sumi-like fin markings that echo the elegance of traditional Japanese ink art. Combined with a well-balanced body and clean line breeding, Wazumi medaka are highly prized by collectors seeking classic, refined Japanese-style medaka with enduring colour and unique pattern expression.
Wazumi "Earth Eye" Variation (アースアイ)
As Wazumi bloodlines continue to be selectively bred, some individuals may develop the desirable Earth Eye (アースアイ) characteristic.
This trait is identified by an iris that appears earthy brown, bronze, amber, or copper rather than the typical silver or dark eye, creating a warm, natural contrast against the Wazumi's deep black body. Under natural sunlight, the eye can display subtle metallic reflections, giving the fish a distinctive and expressive appearance.
The Earth Eye trait is not consistently expressed throughout every spawn and should be regarded as a selective variation rather than a fixed feature of the strain. Breeders wishing to strengthen this characteristic should selectively pair only the best Earth Eye specimens over successive generations, as expression may vary depending on genetics and line stability.
As interest in unique eye traits continues to grow among Japanese hobbyists, well-developed Wazumi Earth Eye individuals are becoming an increasingly sought-after variation within this already premium bloodline.
Line-bred medaka – body and fin patterns may continue to refine as the fish mature.
Koutei RLF (紅帝RLF) Medaka
Koutei RLF is a beautiful long-fin variation of the classic Koutei (紅帝) medaka, prized for its deep, rich orange red colouration and elegant flowing fins. The “RLF” (Real Long Fin) trait gives this strain extended, graceful fins that move beautifully in the water, enhancing the already striking appearance of the Koutei bloodline.
The intense orange red body colour combined with the long-fin form creates a very eye-catching variety that stands out in ponds, bowls, and aquariums. Under natural sunlight the colour deepens, displaying the strong beni (red) tone that has made the Koutei lineage so popular among medaka enthusiasts
Lineage: Koutei (紅帝) Long Fin / RLF
Features: Deep red body colour, elegant long flowing fins
Party Dress (パーティードレス) Medaka
Party Dress is a striking ornamental medaka variety known for its vibrant mix of colours and sparkling scale pattern, resembling a glittering dress under light. This variety commonly displays red, orange and white tones, often combined with bright silver or rainbow-like reflective scales, creating a lively and elegant appearance.
Each fish can show slightly different colour balance and scale expression, making every individual unique. Under natural sunlight the metallic scales reflect beautifully, enhancing the bright colours and giving the fish the festive look that inspired the name “Party Dress.”
Features: Mix of red, orange and white body colours
Grandblue KWF (クランブルーKWF) – Kissing Wide Fin Line Medaka
Grandblue KWF is a premium blue medaka strain prized for its deep “grand blue” body colour and elegant metallic shine. The body displays a rich, luminous blue tone that shifts beautifully under natural light, creating a striking presence in both ponds and aquariums.
This line is part of the KWF (Kissing Wide Fin) lineage. The defining characteristic of this strain is the Kissing Wide Fin trait, where the extended pectoral fins spread outward and move in a synchronized motion that appears as though the fins are “kissing” or meeting toward the front when the fish swims. Combined with the wide, flowing fin structure, this gives the fish a graceful and distinctive swimming style highly valued by medaka enthusiasts.
Developed from the Miyuki line
Through careful line breeding and strict selection, the KWF lineage has been refined to maintain strong body shape, consistent blue coloration, and well-developed wide fins. The combination of vivid blue colour and expressive fin movement makes Grandblue KWF a standout among modern medaka varieties.
Fin expression and colour depth may continue to develop as the fish mature.
Lumina (ルミナ) Medaka
Lumina is a refined medaka variety developed by the Japanese breeder Muchū Medaka (夢中めだか) from the cross Himitsu Heiki × Hibiscus. This strain is known for its clear body and strong, luminous metallic shine that reflects beautifully under natural light.
Their name, derived from the word luminous, reflects the beautiful metallic glow that shimmers across the body as the fish move through water. Under sunlight or aquarium lighting, Lumina Medaka display a delicate pearlescent brilliance that creates a calm yet captivating presence in ponds and aquariums.
Breeder: Muchū Medaka (夢中めだか)
Lineage: Himitsu Heiki × Hibiscus
Features: Strong luster, clear body, elegant luminous shine
Bobu (墨武) Medaka
Among the many modern Japanese medaka varieties, few possess the quiet elegance and mystery of Bobu (墨武). Translating roughly as "Ink Warrior", the name perfectly reflects this remarkable fish. With its deep jet-black body, contrasting fins and subtle iridescent shimmer, Bobu embodies the Japanese appreciation for understated beauty, where the finest details reveal themselves only through careful observation.
Unlike brightly coloured varieties that immediately demand attention, Bobu rewards patience. As sunlight catches the scales, flashes of blue, green and gold emerge from what first appears to be a solid black fish, creating an ever-changing display of colour and light.
Origins of Bobu
Bobu was developed by Chacha Medaka in Saga Prefecture, Japan, one of Japan's respected modern medaka breeders known for producing distinctive and refined bloodlines.
The variety was created by crossing carefully selected black-bodied medaka with Sumitake-type and Platinum Miyuki lineage, combining the intense pigmentation of black varieties with the refined metallic qualities found in Miyuki bloodlines. Through years of selective breeding, Chacha Medaka sought to create a fish with exceptional depth of colour while retaining subtle elegance rather than obvious metallic brilliance.
Lineage
Sumitake (墨武系統) – providing the rich black pigmentation and strong body conformation.
Platinum Miyuki (幹之メダカ) – contributing metallic lustre and the genes responsible for reflective iridescence.
Additional carefully selected black-bodied individuals chosen for pigment depth, body quality and finnage.
This combination results in a fish that displays characteristics of all its ancestors while developing its own unique identity. The subtle flashes of metallic colour are a reminder of its Miyuki heritage, while the intense black body reflects its Sumitake ancestry.
Appearance
The first thing you'll notice is Bobu's incredibly rich black body. High-quality specimens display deep, even pigmentation across the head, body and fins, creating a velvety appearance reminiscent of traditional Japanese sumi ink.
One of Bobu's defining characteristics is its deep, dark-pigmented body contrasted by metallic or translucent fins. This striking balance between darkness and light gives the variety an elegant, refined appearance unlike almost any other medaka.
Many Bobu bloodlines also exhibit subtle blue, gold and green iridescent shimmers across their scales. These delicate flashes appear only as the fish moves through changing light, giving the impression that colour is emerging from within the black body rather than sitting on the surface.
Genetics and Bloodline Stability
One of the most fascinating aspects of Bobu is that it remains a relatively unstable variety with low fixation rates. Unlike long-established strains that reliably breed true, Bobu still displays considerable genetic variation due to its relatively recent development and complex lineage. Only a proportion of the offspring will develop the full combination of characteristics that define Bobu.
Reiwa Black Lamé Miyuki Sapphire (令和黒ラメ幹之サファイアメダカ) Medaka
The 令和黒ラメ幹之サファイア Reiwa Black Lamé Miyuki Sapphire Medaka is a striking modern Japanese variety that beautifully combines several of the most sought-after traits in contemporary medaka breeding. Developed during Japan's Reiwa era, this exceptional strain unites the deep elegance of a dark body colour with the brilliance of sapphire blue iridescence, the lustre of Miyuki body light, and the dazzling sparkle of lamé scaling.
Set against a rich black base, countless metallic scales shimmer across the body like stars scattered across a midnight sky. As sunlight strikes the fish, vivid sapphire-blue reflections emerge from beneath the scales, creating an ever-changing display of colour and light. The combination of dark pigmentation and brilliant iridescence gives this variety a depth and sophistication that has made it highly prized among collectors and breeders alike.
The Miyuki lineage contributes strong body light running along the dorsal region, while the sapphire genetics enhance the fish's characteristic blue glow. The addition of black-bodied traits provides dramatic contrast, allowing the lamé and sapphire reflections to stand out with exceptional clarity. Individual fish may vary in the intensity of their body light, sapphire expression, and metallic scaling, making each specimen uniquely beautiful.
Named after the Reiwa era, this variety represents the innovation and artistry of modern Japanese medaka breeding. It reflects the continuing pursuit of new colour combinations and visual effects, achieved through generations of careful selection and refinement.
Our Reiwa Black Lamé Miyuki Sapphire Medaka are carefully raised and selected for health, vibrant colouration, strong lamé coverage, and overall quality. The result is a truly captivating variety that combines elegance, rarity, and the refined beauty for which Japanese medaka are celebrated worldwide.
Carbuncle (カーバンクル) Medaka
カーバンクル (Carbuncle) is an exceptional modern medaka variety created by Shizuraku-an (静楽庵) in 2022. It was developed by introducing the Reiwa (令和) translucent-scale gene with fin beauty (ヒレ美) into the renowned Black Lamé Miyuki Sapphire lineage, creating a variety that combines rich black pigmentation with brilliant sapphire lamé and elegant yellow-toned fin expression.
The translucent-scale (Reiwa) gene presents a unique challenge, as it naturally reduces pigment expression within the fins. Through careful selective breeding, Shizuraku-an succeeded in restoring vibrant fin colour while preserving the deep black body and sapphire brilliance of the original Black Lamé Miyuki Sapphire line. The result is a medaka with remarkable contrast and exceptional visual balance.
Carbuncle is characterised by its velvety black body overlaid with dense sapphire-blue lamé that sparkles under natural sunlight. Depending on the individual, subtle green, gold, or silver iridescence may also appear, giving the fish a jewel-like quality from which it takes its name. The distinctive Fin Beauty trait introduces warm yellow highlights to the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins, creating a striking contrast against the dark body.
As with many advanced Japanese medaka varieties, individual expression varies. Differences in lamé density, sapphire intensity, fin colour, and translucence are natural, making every fish unique. The highest-quality specimens display a harmonious balance of deep black pigmentation, continuous metallic brilliance, clean body conformation, and refined fin expression.
Carbuncle represents the continuing evolution of modern Japanese medaka breeding, where multiple elite genetic traits are combined through generations of careful selection. It is a variety that rewards patience, with colour depth, lamé coverage, and fin beauty continuing to improve as the fish mature.
Our Carbuncle Medaka are bred with respect for the craftsmanship and philosophy of Japanese breeders, selecting each generation for body quality, health, colour stability, lamé coverage, and the refined elegance that has made this variety one of the most admired creations of the Reiwa era.
More photos and videos of our medaka to be uploaded soon.
