Medaka Guides & Tips

How to distinguish between male and female medaka?

How to Distinguish Between Male and Female Medaka | SNR Medaka USA Table of Contents Q1. How to distinguish between male and female medaka? Learn More Links Normal Body Type Q2. Breeds that are difficult to distinguish Hikari Body Type Daruma Body Type Fin Long Breeds Swallow Longfin Real Longfin Wide-fin Conclusion Understanding medaka gender identification is essential for successful breeding and tank harmony. This section introduces basic visual traits. Male: Notched dorsal fin, parallelogram-shaped fins.Photo: Takayasu Oba Female: Smooth dorsal fin, trapezoidal fins.Photo: Takayasu Oba Some strains are more difficult when it comes to medaka gender identification, especially those with modified fins and shapes. Yes. Among improved medaka breeds, altered body shapes and fin extensions make it more challenging. Still, the spine and dorsal fins remain key indicators. Hikari Body Type Male: Fins are parallelogram-shaped.Photo: Takayasu Oba Female: Fins resemble trapezoids.Photo: Takayasu Oba Daruma Body Type Male: Short body, notched dorsal fin, wide fins.Photo: Takayasu Oba Female: Smaller fins, smooth dorsal.Photo: Takayasu Oba Fin Long Breeds Fin-Length Male: Jagged fin tips.Photo: Takayasu Oba Fin-Length Female: Rounded tips.Photo: Takayasu Oba Swallow Swallow Male: Judge using non-extended portions.Photo: Takayasu Oba Swallow Female: Easily distinguishable.Photo: Takayasu Oba Longfin Longfin Male: Elongated dorsal and spur fins.Photo: Takayasu Oba Longfin Female: Similar to normal body females.Photo: Takayasu Oba Real Longfin Real Longfin Male: Slit in dorsal fin, jagged tips.Photo: Takayasu Oba Real Longfin Female: Identify when young.Photo: Takayasu Oba Wide-fin Wide-fin Male: Broad fins, altered dorsal.Photo: Takayasu Oba Wide-fin Female: Rounded, wider fins.Photo: Takayasu Oba To wrap up, here’s a quick review of medaka gender identification across types covered. Once you learn to identify normal body type medaka, the rest becomes pattern recognition. If you're unsure whether you have a male or female, return to these fin and dorsal indicators. 🔗 Further Reference: Aqua Life Japan Blog 🌐 External Reference: Japanese Rice Fish on Wikipedia 📘 Learn More: Medaka Egg Hatching Time | Lifespan of Medaka | Browse Live Medaka | Back to Top