Best Tank Setup For Ricefish

This article may contain some affiliate links to products. The links provide me a small percentage of commission but do not cost you anything extra to use. (See full disclosure statement here).

Creating a new home for your Ricefish is easy to do. And as long as you have a little understanding about their preferred environment you can keep things simple.

In their native habitat Ricefish (Oryzias Latipes) live in rice paddies, slow moving streams and also in tidal pools. Which means that the best tank setup for Ricefish is one with a slow flow, plants, pebbles and leaf debris. This will help you to replicate their natural home as closely as is possible in an aquarium setting.

I did quite a bit of research before buying my Ricefish because I wanted to make sure that I could take care of them properly.

The rest of this article is based on what I found out about the best way to ‘house’ them. And also my personal experience of keeping Ricefish. So if you are planning to keep, or are already keeping Ricefish, I’m sure that you’ll find this article will help.

Tip: Decide how many Ricefish you want to keep before buying the tank. If you buy the tank first the size of the tank will then dictate how many Ricefish you can have. So deciding how many Ricefish you want first of all is the best idea.

Choosing A Tank For Your Ricefish

Ricefish are a schooling fish that are happiest living in groups. So it’s best to keep a minimum of 6 Ricefish together in an aquarium. Once you’ve decided how many Ricefish you want to keep you can set about looking for the right tank.

Because Ricefish are a small schooling fish that prefer to live in close proximity to one another you don’t have to have a large tank. In fact these little fish are often kept in Nano tanks on office desks and in bedrooms.

Nonetheless, they are a fairly active fish, so they do need enough room to swim freely. It’s important to remember that small shouldn’t mean cramped.

I currently have 6 Ricefish (Medaka Pearl Galaxy) living quite happily in a 12 Litre Nano tank. There’s plently of swim room for them and the tank fits nicely on the corner of my kitchen counter top.

Just because Ricefish are suitable for smaller aquariums it doesn’t mean that you’re restricted to a small tank. If you want to keep a fair number of these fish you can have the biggest tank that your available space, and your budget, will comfortably accommodate.

Tip: There are different varieties of Ricefish and some are bigger than others. So you need to take this into account when choosing a tank. Remember to judge your tank size on full grown Ricefish, even if your fish are infants when you buy them. You also need to allow room for any new arrivals because Ricefish breed well in aquariums.

Because my Ricefish are in a Nano tank I will move any fry that I’m fortunate enough to have into a ‘nursery’ tank while they are growing and waiting to be rehomed. But if you start off with a bigger tank you probably won’t need to set up a second one. Even if you end up with more Ricefish than you’d bargained for you can always rehome them straight from your original Ricefish aquarium.

So What Size Tank Do Ricefish Need?

The size of tank you’ll need for your Ricefish will depend on a few factors. When choosing a tank you need to take into account the points below.

The number of Ricefish you plan to keep

The size of the Ricefish when they are fully grown
Spare litres/gallons for Ricefish fry when they arrive
Whether your Ricefish will share their tank with other fish, shrimp and/or snails

All of this means that I have no way of giving a definitive answer to what size tank you’re going to need. My adivice though, is to make a plan taking all of the points on the list into account. Then speak to your local Pet Store or Aquatic Dealer for some guidance on a suitable tank to accomodate all of your planned inhabitants.

Note: Whether your Ricefish are in a species only tank, or in a community tank with other types of fish/shrimp/snails, it’s always better to understock, rather than overstock the tank. This is particularly important in a newly cycled tank to avoid overloading the setup and risking an ammonia spike in the aquarium.

Tip: A Ricefish tank needs to have a close fitting lid because Ricefish can jump a great height when startled. And as they are easily spooked a lid is a simple way to reduce the risk of losing any of your Ricefish because they have jumped out of the tank.

What’s The Best Tank Layout For Ricefish?

Although Ricefish are easy to keep, and can adapt to different environments without too much trouble, it’s worth thinking about the best way to layout their tank. The closer you can keep things to a more natural environment the better it will be for your fish.

I know that keeping any type of fish in a tank will never be the same as their native environment. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do your best to make them feel more at home. The more natual things are the less likely your Ricefish are to become stressed. Plus, they’ll look great in a tank that looks like it’s meant to be their home.

A Good Tank Layout For Ricefish Generally Includes:

Plants (preferably live ones but you can use artificial plants if you prefer)

Rocks/Pebbles (link will take you to Amazon)
Leaf Debris such as Catappa Leaves (Amazon link) or Oak leaves
Substrate (eg fine gravel)

Tip: When you’re choosing a substrate and or/backdrop for your Ricefish tank it’s worth noting that dark colours work best. Against a dark tank floor and dark back panel the Ricefish’s colours really pop.

It’s entirely up to you how you position the stuff in the tank to create the best effect. But if you include a combination of the things in the list above you’ll end up with something akin to the bed of a stream or rice paddy.

You can also add Alder Cones and pieces of wood/twigs (Amazon link) to the tank too. Just make sure that they are pesticide free and safe to put in the tank first though. Floating plants are another option for a Ricefish aquarium and they add to a more natural look.

Bacopa Plants And Java Moss Work Well In A Ricefish Tank

Do Ricefish Need Plants?

While we’re on the subject of plants it’s worth taking a look at the reasons why adding plants to your Ricefish tank is a great idea.

Ricefish benefit from having a planted aquarium. Not only do live plants help to create a more natural environment they help to keep the tank water clean by using up excess nutrients in the water. Plants also provide places for Ricefish to deposit their eggs and places for fry to hide in. And plenty of greenery in the tank will help to show off the colours of your Ricefish.

I appreciate that not every fish keeper wants live plants in their fish tank. The good news is that you can use artificial/fake plants in your Ricefish aquarium.

Be careful to choose softer, smooth edged ones if you’re going for artificial/fake plants. This will help to avoid damage to your fish as they swim around the tank. Your Ricefish won’t mind that the plants are not real. And they will look just as attractive swimming amongst the artifical greenery.

Maybe you haven’t decided yet whether to go with live or artificial plants in your Ricefish tank. Or maybe you’re just not sure which live plants to go for.

I’ve got a few suggestions for live plants that should be helpful.

7 Easy-Care Aquarium Plants For You To Consider For A Ricefish Tank

Java Moss (can be attached to wood/rocks/tank decorations)
Java Fern (can be attached or planted)
Marimo Moss Ball (free-standing ball of slow growing moss-like algae)

Bacopa Family Plants (stem plants that need planting in the substrate)
Dwarf Rotala (stem plant that needs planting in the substrate)
Red Root Floaters (floating fern plants with red roots)

Water Lettuce (green, leafy floating plant)

Aquatic plants are available to buy at Pet Stores, Aquatic Dealers and Online (link takes you to Tropica.com)

Even if you start off with artificial plants there may come a time when you want to experiment a little with adding some live ones. I’ve got both live and fake plants in one of my aquariums and it works well. There’s nothing wrong with only have one type or the other. But equally there’s nothing wrong with having a combination of both either. I’ll leave it to you to decide what’s best for you.

Do Ricefish Need A Filter?

Despite being a fairly tough little fish Ricefish thrive in clean, good quality water, that’s free from a build up of toxins. The simplest way to achieve this is to filter their tank. It’s either that or do regular daily water changes. So adding a filter to your Ricefish tank is the easist and most effecient option.

It’s true that Ricefish are often kept in unfiltered tanks, bowls and even in ‘terracotta’ pots and ponds. But if you want your Ricefish to thrive, breed, and live a long and healthy life in an indoor aquarium, some sort of filtration system is going to be important.

Which Type Of Filter Is Best For A Ricefish Tank?

My personal preference for filtering a Ricefish tank is a sponge filter run by an air pump. Ricefish need a slow flowing current, filtration and oxygenation. The sponge filter checks all the boxes on this. Sponge filters are also inexpensive, efficient and easy to maintain.

To read my article about Sponge Filters and how they work click here

You can get adjustable air pumps (link will take you to Amazon) which allow you to speed up and/or slow down the flow to suit your fish. Which is really helpful in getting the flow right.

If you don’t want a Sponge Filter there are other types of filters that you can use in your Ricefish aquarium.

Here’s Some Other Filter Options For Your Ricefish Tank

Internal Box Filter – This type of filter is often included in an aquarium kit but they can be bought separately. Some use replaceable filter cartridges and others a simple sponge insert. They generally hang/sucker inside the tank.

HOB (hang-on-the-back filters) – This type of filter hangs on the back of a tank with the box part outside and the intake tube inside the water. The box part is filled with different types of filtering media which you can change to suit your fish. The filtered water is returned to the tank via a lip/spout that creates a waterfall effect.

External Filter – An external filtering system sits outside of the tank. It pumps the water out into a filtering unit, cleans it, then pumps it back into the tank on a regular cycle. But unless your tank is seriously large, or you have multiple tanks running off the same filtration system, you’re unlikely to go for this option.

Tip: When choosing a filter for your tank make sure that it can cope with the tank’s water capacity and also the amount of fish that you are keeping. Some types of fish are are messier than others so you need to take that into account too. Messy fish need more filtration to keep the water clean.

Do Ricefish Need A Light?

While you could keep Ricefish in an unlit tank there are valid reasons why you should light the tank. One reason is that an aquarium light will show off your Ricefish’s colours at their best. Another reason is to replicate the difference between night and day. Which is important as it’s thought that lack of lighting hours can inhibit breeding.

There are other reasons for lighting your Ricefish tank

For example, tanks without a light look dull and uninteresting. You can’t see the fish very well and their internal view of the tank will be limited. Which isn’t much help to them as they go about their daily business.

Also, if you have live plants in your Ricefish aquarium they will need light to grow. Even the hardiest of aquarium plants needs a certain amount of light to thrive.

So lighting your Ricefish tank is good all round.

What type of light you use, or how bright it is, is up to you. But it’s worth pointing out that some Ricefish keepers say that a subdued light is preferred. You will need to take into account the lighting needs of any tankmates and live plants that share the tank with your Ricefish. It’s a case of finding a happy medium.

Do Ricefish Need A Heater?

The ideal temperature range for Ricefish is between 15 – 24 Degrees Celsius (59 – 75 Degrees Fahrenheit). Although Ricefish can tolerate temperatures far lower than this, and also a little higher, they thrive better in the cooler temperature range. Which means that Ricefish kept in an indoor aquarium don’t need a heater.

Because they don’t need a heater, and don’t have any special requirements, Ricefish are one of the easy-care aquarium fish. They’re a great beginner fish too, because they are forgiving if you make a few little mistakes while you’re getting yourself settled into the aquarium hobby.

What Kind Of Water Is Best For Ricefish?

Ricefish prefer brackish (slightly salty) harder water but do well in freshwater aquariums. The fact they thrive in harder freshwater makes them popular for freshwater tank setups. The water in a Ricefish tank needs to be clear and clean as they don’t tolerate toxins well.

So basically, whether you keep your Ricefish in a brackish or freshwater tank you need to keep the water quality healthy through regular water changes and regular tank maintenance.

Tip: Whether you choose to keep your Ricefish in brackish or freshwater you need to use a water treatment product on setup and for all water changes. Use an aquarium water treatment product that neutralizes chlorine, chloramines and other substances harmful to fish that are found in tap water.

Two tap water treatments that are popular with fish keepers are Prime by Seachem and API Tap Water Conditioner (links will take you to Amazon).

Tankmates For Ricefish

The best tankmates for Ricefish are other small, non-aggressive fish that can thrive in lower temperatures. Ricefish also live happily with shrimp and aquatic snails. Although, if you actively want to breed your Ricefish, you might want to avoid snails as they are likely to eat the Ricefish eggs.

It’s also true that other fish might eat the eggs too. So the decision to add some tankmates to your Ricefish tank will depend on whether you’re planning to breed them in a serious way.

If you are planning to breed your Ricefish, and save as many fry as possible, you will need to keep them in a species only tank. Which means choosing tankmates won’t be an issue for you.

But if you’re just happy to wait and see what happens and you would like to add other fish, shrimp and/or snails to the aquarium then I’ve got a few suggestions for Ricefish tankmates.

Here Are Some Of The Fish, Shrimp And Snails That Make Good Tankmates For Ricefish

Platy Fish (all varieties)

White Cloud Mountain Minnows (also Gold WCMM)
Danio (smaller varieties such as Celestial Pearl)
Tetra (smaller varieties such as Zebra)

Endlers (aka Endlers Livebearers/Endlers Guppy)
Panda Corydoras (dwarf catfish)
Otocinclus (tiny ‘sucker’ catfish)

Amano Shrimp (peaceful algae eating shrimp)
Cherry Shrimp (all colour varieties)
Nerite Snail (all varieties)

Ramshorn Snail (all colour varieties)

There are a lot more possible tankmates for your Ricefish but the list above should give you a good starting point.

Can I Add Ricefish To An Established Community Aquarium?

Although Ricefish are probably most often kept in a species only setup they can be included in a community tank as I pointed out above. So as long as the other tank inhabitants are peaceful, and not big enough to eat the Ricefish, things should work out well. And, no matter which variety of Ricefish you choose, they will add to the beauty of your aquarium.

As long as the tank you are adding them too is well established and also well maintained your Ricefish will thrive. And if there’s enough hiding places in the tank for Ricefish fry you are likely to find that their number increases over time.

The Takeaway

I realise that in this article I’ve given you a lot of information about the Best Tank Setup For Ricefish. So I thought it was a good idea to create a simple list of the main points that I’ve covered.

Here’s The Takeaway

Decide how many Ricefish you will keep before buying a lidded tank

Use plants, rocks, leaf debris etc to create a more natural environment
In a Ricefish only tank dark substrates/backgrounds work best
Filter the tank with a gentle flow and keep the water clean/oxygenated

Light the tank during the daytime but turn the light off at night
Don’t let your Ricefish get overheated
Choose tankmates carefully