Celebes medaka

About

The Celebes ricefish (Oryzias celebensis) is a small, infrequently seen species from the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, sometimes sold under the name Celebes medaka. It belongs to the family Adrianichthyidae, a group commonly called ricefishes that are more closely related to needlefish and their allies than to the toothcarps they were once grouped with. Physically, this species is distinguished from several close relatives by its truncate tail fin rather than a forked or notched one, along with yellow to orange bands on the caudal-fin lobes and dark, vertically-oriented markings on the lower flanks. It's a small fish, rarely exceeding two inches, and while generally peaceful it tends to get labeled semi-aggressive because rival males court females actively and will bicker with each other during spawning attempts, with males visibly darkening in color during these displays. A group of eight or more brings out more confident behavior and better coloration overall. Community tank placement calls for some thought. Tiny, similarly-sized tankmates work best, and mixing with other Oryzias species is not recommended because hybridization is a real documented risk. Breeding is one of the highlights of keeping this species: females can produce adhesive egg clusters nearly every day under good conditions, and the spawning routine, with its morning courtship and eggs briefly dangling from the female before being deposited on fine-leaved plants, is genuinely fascinating to watch.