If you've spent any time searching for medaka rice fish online, you've probably noticed that most strains fall into familiar categories — the classic orange Himedaka, shimmering Platinum White, or deep Orochi Black. But every so often, a strain comes along that stops collectors in their tracks. The Pink Sapphire Medaka is one of those fish.
What Makes Pink Sapphire Medaka Special
Pink Sapphire is a variation within the broader Sapphire lineage, a strain that made its way over from Japan in recent years and has quickly become known for its striking metallic blue coloration. Where standard Sapphire Medaka lean into deep, glowing blue tones, the Pink Sapphire adds a soft pink-orange blush that plays beautifully against the metallic sheen — especially when viewed from above in natural sunlight, which is the traditional way medaka are meant to be appreciated.
The combination creates a fish that genuinely looks like a living gemstone drifting across the water's surface. Depending on the lighting and the color of your tank or tub, the pink and blue tones can shift subtly, giving each fish its own individual character.
Why This Strain Is Hard to Find
Unlike common medaka varieties that are widely available through most breeders, Pink Sapphire remains genuinely scarce in the U.S. market. Even established sellers with large inventories frequently run out of stock on this strain, and only a handful of breeders nationwide currently maintain a stable line. If you've been searching and coming up empty, that's not a fluke — it's a true reflection of limited supply meeting growing demand.
This scarcity is part of what makes Pink Sapphire such a rewarding fish to keep and breed. You're not just adding another color morph to your collection; you're working with genetics that few hobbyists have access to.
Care Requirements
The good news is that Pink Sapphire Medaka are just as hardy and easy to keep as any other medaka strain. They inherit all the toughness that has made Oryzias latipes a beloved aquarium and pond fish for centuries.
Temperature: Comfortable from the mid-60s up to the low 80s°F, and can tolerate much wider swings outdoors, including brief exposure to near-freezing temperatures in a properly set up pond.
Tank size: A 10-gallon tank or small tub is enough for a group of six or more. Medaka are a schooling species and do best in groups rather than alone.
Water parameters: Not particularly fussy — a pH between 6.5 and 8.0 and a stable, cycled tank is all they need. Avoid strong current, as they prefer calm, slow-moving water similar to a rice paddy or garden pond.
Diet: Omnivorous and easy to feed. They'll happily eat crushed flakes, small pellets, and live foods like baby brine shrimp or microworms, which also help bring out their color.
Lighting: Since Pink Sapphire is best appreciated from above, keeping them in a shallow tub, tank, or pond with good natural or indirect light will let their colors really shine. Avoid overly harsh direct lighting, which they don't particularly enjoy.
Breeding Notes
Like all medaka, Pink Sapphire are prolific breeders under the right conditions. Females carry fertilized eggs in a small cluster near their anal fin before depositing them on plants, spawning mops, or filter media. Moving eggs to a separate rearing container is the easiest way to protect them from being eaten, and with stable temperatures, fry typically hatch within 1–2 weeks.
Because this strain is still relatively rare, careful selective breeding matters. Keeping detailed records of your pairings and holding back your best-colored, healthiest individuals as future breeders will help preserve and even improve the strain's most desirable traits over time.
A Fish Worth the Wait
If you've been hunting for something different to add to your collection, Pink Sapphire Medaka offers a rare combination of accessibility and exclusivity — a fish that's every bit as easy to keep as the common varieties, but far less common to find.
Interested in adding Pink Sapphire Medaka to your collection? [Check current availability here]