The Mirage Medaka (ミラージュメダカ) is an enchanting ornamental fish celebrated for its unique, all-encompassing iridescence that sets it apart from traditional medaka varieties. Developed through dedicated selective breeding, this strain introduces a novel form of luminosity to the medaka community.​

Development and Lineage:

The Mirage Medaka was meticulously crafted by breeder Toshihiro Wada. The breeding process began with crossing a black-bodied blue-eyed medaka with a tricolor lamé narrow-fin long-fin medaka. From the resulting offspring, individuals exhibiting pronounced side iridescence were selectively bred over successive generations. By the F2 generation, some specimens displayed a robust, full-body glow reminiscent of a platinum sheen. Notably, despite the absence of the Miyuki (幹之) lineage, these fish exhibited dorsal iridescence similar to the Miyuki’s characteristic shine. This suggests that the luminous quality of the Mirage Medaka originates from iridophores associated with the blue-eye trait rather than traditional external light or lamé expressions. ​100年メダカ 第四章 〜めだかの館のブログ〜

Key Features:

• Full-Body Iridescence: The Mirage Medaka’s hallmark is its comprehensive glow that envelops the entire body, offering a mesmerizing visual display.​
• Blue-Eye Trait: A significant majority of Mirage Medaka possess the captivating blue-eye characteristic, adding to their allure.​
• Genetic Potential: When crossed with other varieties, the Mirage Medaka has demonstrated the ability to pass on both the blue-eye trait and its distinctive side iridescence to the F1 generation, indicating promising avenues for further breeding innovations.​

Breeding Insights:

The iridescence observed in the Mirage Medaka is believed to stem from iridophores linked to the blue-eye gene, distinguishing it from the guanine-based external light or lamé typically seen in other strains. This unique origin opens up new possibilities for enhancing and diversifying medaka aesthetics through selective breeding. ​100年メダカ 第四章 〜めだかの館のブログ〜

Conclusion:

The Mirage Medaka stands as a testament to the endless possibilities within medaka breeding, introducing a fresh and captivating form of luminosity to the ornamental fish world. Its full-body glow, combined with the enchanting blue-eye trait, makes it a prized addition for enthusiasts seeking to diversify and elevate their collections.

Image and translation courtesy of: https://medakanoyakata.muragon.com/entry/1568.html