Thai Ricefish

About

Found in shallow ditches and flooded paddy fields across Northeastern Thailand, this small ricefish, Oryzias songkhramensis, belongs to the family Adrianichthyidae. A group commonly called ricefishes that are actually more closely related to needlefishes than to the toothcarps they superficially resemble. Males are the more colorful sex, sporting distinctive black and yellow-orange bands on the caudal fin lobes and a black spot at the base of each pectoral fin, while females are paler overall. In the wild it shares quiet, plant-rich water with gourami species, snakeheads, and small rasboras, which gives you a good sense of the gentle, well-planted setup it appreciates in captivity. Its small adult size makes it a poor fit for most community tanks, but it pairs nicely with similarly tiny, peaceful fish like Boraras or diminutive Betta species, as well as dwarf shrimp. Groups of eight or more bring out noticeably more confident, natural behavior. Breeding is one of the highlights of keeping this species. Females carry adhesive egg clusters attached to their bodies before depositing them among fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop. Adults generally leave the eggs alone but will pick off free-swimming fry, so dense planting or a separate rearing container helps raise a good number of young.