Reference: Medaka Zukan / Japan Medaka Association (JMA)
If you’ve been around medaka for a bit, you’ve probably noticed this already.
The same fish can show up under different names depending on who you ask.
That doesn’t mean one is wrong. It just means there are two different ways names are used.
Variety Name (品種名)
A name built from the fish’s traits.
Original Name
A name people use, often a mix of nicknames or breeder naming.
As more names are created, it becomes harder to understand what a fish actually is just by hearing the name.
That’s why looking at the traits matters more than the name itself.
Examples
Yokihi (楊貴妃)
Most people know this fish as Yokihi.
When described by traits, it is simply:
Vermilion Medaka (朱赤メダカ)
It’s the same fish. The name just comes from a different perspective.
Orochi Lamé / Black Diamond
This fish is commonly called Orochi Lamé, and in some cases also labeled as Black Diamond.
When you look at the traits, it breaks down as:
Black Lamé Medaka (ブラックラメメダカ)
No dorsal light / 背地反応なし
Again, the naming changes depending on how it is being described, but the fish itself does not.
What actually matters
Names change. Trends change.
The traits do not.
Once you start looking at the fish itself, color, hikari, lamé, body shape, things become much clearer.
A name can vary. The traits do not.
