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So I am in Tokyo right now guys (doing study abroad here for the next four months), and I came accross this little gem of a fish here in Japan, apparently it's a hobby in and of itself. The Medaka is a small kilifish that maxes out at about 4cm (1.6in), can live in ridiculously small spaces, convert between brakish and freshwater, breeds profusely, and is hardy in shipment. Apparently, according to wikipedia, they are a well established lab-animal. The normal Medaka also weighs in price-wise at a meager 100yen (about a dollar). In the Japanese pet scene though, they can be found not only in the normal grey, but in full body tan, yellow, white and even orange.
My question then: Why the hell haven't I heard about these little fish in the hobby before?
I mean, yes I've heard about them before now, but why aren't they a regular distributable in the hobby? I mean 100 yen for a fish that tiny seems like a great nature aquarium candidate to me (yes, ADA has used these guys).
The only drawback I see is that their natural lifespan is about a year.
But then, the same is for red bee shrimp so.
Anyway, anyone got any information on where/how/if one can obtain these little guys in the states? I'd love to keep them even after coming back home from Japan.
My question then: Why the hell haven't I heard about these little fish in the hobby before?
I mean, yes I've heard about them before now, but why aren't they a regular distributable in the hobby? I mean 100 yen for a fish that tiny seems like a great nature aquarium candidate to me (yes, ADA has used these guys).
The only drawback I see is that their natural lifespan is about a year.
But then, the same is for red bee shrimp so.
Anyway, anyone got any information on where/how/if one can obtain these little guys in the states? I'd love to keep them even after coming back home from Japan.