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Frequently asked questions
What are Japanese Ricefish aka medaka?
Japanese ricefish, aka Medaka (Oryzias
latipes) are native to Japan and are typically found in rice paddies,
marshes, ponds, slow-moving streams, and tide pools. Although they may appear delicate, they are extremely hardy and can thrive in a variety of water parameters, enduring temperature extremes for short periods of time. Medaka have been selectively bred in Japan since the 17th century, a practice originally enjoyed by aristocrats. Like the selective breeding of Koi, this tradition focused on developing new colors, patterns, and finnage in the medaka. More recently, medaka have been selectively bred for scientific purposes and genetic research projects.
How long do medaka live?
Medaka life spans range are typically 1-2 years, but many factors influence their lifespan including water temperature. If kept in cooler waters during part of the year life spans can be extended to 4 years or more.
What age are the medaka I will recieve?
We offer young medaka. The exact age of the fish will depend on when the order is placed and what we have in stock at that time. We are smaller scale breeder so our stock is fluid, We breed all of our medaka on site. In general fish will be between 2-6 months of age and we avoid selling adult fish.
Are the medaka and medaka eggs you sell imported?
No, all medaka and medaka eggs offered for sale by BARCK Aquatics are homebred in the United States. We focus on maintaining and improving several lineages of medaka. We have established our breeding stock over the past six years. We offer only the highest quality lines and maintain strict line management procedures for breeding.
What is your dead on arrival (DOA) policy?
While DOAs are rare, there is always some risk when shipping live animals. Our DOA policy is for the buyer to send photos of the shrimp or fish in an unopened bag with the shipping label showing in the picture within 1 hour of delivery. We will then either reship or refund the order. Refunds will cover the cost of the animals minus shipping. We have not experienced a single DOA in the past two years with over 300 shipments. The odds are less than 1% that you will receive a DOA. In addition, we sell 5+1 or 10+1 with the +1 added as an extra in the case of a DOA. On a 5+1 order, we guarantee you will receive 5 live individuals minimum.
Can medaka live outdoors year-round?
Please visit our blog post covering this topic. Overwintering
your beloved medaka
Can medaka be kept in an aquarium?
Yes, medaka do well in aquariums. Most medaka are selectively bred to be viewed from above, but many varieties are also beautiful from side views allowed by aquariums. Whether you keep medaka in planters or aquariums is a personal preferences and the fish will thrive in either situation.
What size container should medaka be kept in?
Medaka do not require much water volume to thrive. In general, you will see recommendations of 2 gallons (~7.5 L) per adult medaka, but 1 (~3.75 L) gallon per adult is more than enough in most cases. If using smaller containers be sure to safeguard against dramatic water temperature changes. Please visit our blog post The Ultimate Guide to Making Your Own Mini Medaka Pond
Do adult medaka eat fry?
Yes they will eat young fry. Once the fry are raised to a size larger than the adults mouth they can be safely kept together. It is recommended to collect eggs and use separate containers to rear fry.
What substrate do you use for your caridina shrimp?
Most of our caridina tanks have Brightwell soil, but we have experimented with several other soils. We recommend Brightwell soil at this time to maintain stable pH levels close to 6 pH and always below 6.5 pH.
What are the water parameters in your shrimp tanks?
For neocaridina species we maintain the following water parameters: GH of 9-11, KH 4-6, PH 7.0-7.6 TDS180-220. Neocaridina shrimp can adapt to a wide range of parameters and we also keep some neocaridina outdoors and do not manage water parameters and they do very well. For caridina species we maintain the following water parameters:GH 4-6, KH 0, PH 5.5-6.5, TDS 90-130.
Can I keep fish with my shrimp?
Depends on your goal for the tank. If its simply a show tank it is possible to maintain a shrimp colony with fish. We have kept medaka and also pygmy sunfish with neocaridina for years and the shrimp population remains stable, but doesn’t boom. Note-The tanks are heavily planted. We do not keep fish in any of our caridina tanks as the focus is on breeding.
When will I receive my order?
We will work quickly to ship your order as soon as possible. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with further information. Delivery times vary depending on your location. Typically we ship same day or following day.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping is calculated based on your location and the items in your order. You will always know the shipping price before you purchase.
