Care guide · Freshwater · fish
Daisy’s ricefish
Oryzias woworae
Daisy’s ricefish (Oryzias woworae) is a small, striking blue-and-red ricefish from Muna, an island near Sulawesi. Keep this peaceful shoaling fish in a mature, stable aquarium with plants and preferably a group of eight or more. The species is Endangered in the wild and sources report a very restricted known range. Prefer documented captive-bred stock and ask about its origin. This guide explains aquarium dimensions, water conditions, feeding and breeding using the available species-specific sources. Similar ricefish can be confused in trade, so check the scientific name and origin rather than relying on a shop label alone. This guide separates observations from the natural locality from practical aquarium recommendations. That distinction helps you plan suitable care without treating one field measurement as an absolute aquarium rule.
Plan your aquarium →At a glance
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- GH
- 5–15 °dGH
- Aquarium length
- At least 45 cm
- Minimum aquarium volume
- At least 41 L
- Adult size
- Up to 3 cm
- Group size
- At least 8 individuals
- Swimming zone
- Surface
- Temperament
- Peaceful
About this species
Oryzias woworae was described by Parenti and Hadiaty in 2010. It belongs to the ricefishes (Adrianichthyidae) in the order Beloniformes. Its body has a steel-blue sheen with red on the underside and parts of the fins; males are especially vivid. The original description examined specimens up to 28 mm standard length. FishBase reports 2.8 cm SL and Seriously Fish rounds this to 3 cm SL. This is not total length. The species name honours Daisy Wowor, who collected the type material.Natural habitat
The described locality is Mata air Fotuno near Wakumoro on Muna Island, Southeast Sulawesi. It is a karst freshwater stream beneath forest cover, with mud, sand and patches of leaf litter. Fish were observed in a still pool beside a spring. The original description and later profiles report only one known locality or collection, although a wider range is possible and unconfirmed. FishBase reports Endangered under the 2019 IUCN assessment. The restricted documented range makes responsible sourcing important.Aquarium and layout
Seriously Fish recommends a base of at least 45 × 30 cm for a group and gives an approximate volume of 41 litres. Treat this as a documented starting point, not a universal stocking guarantee. Use a mature filter and keep water quality stable. Sand, roots, leaf litter, plants and shaded retreats add structure while leaving open swimming space. A mature planted aquarium also gives young fish cover. Avoid abrupt water changes and strong flow throughout the tank. Fit a secure lid: small ricefish can startle and jump.Water conditions
The aquarium profiles overlap at 24–27°C, pH 6.5–7.5 and GH 5–15°dGH. Seriously Fish lists a wider 23–27°C and pH 6.0–7.5; Fishkeeper gives 24–27°C, pH 6.5–7.5 and hardness 5–20 dH. The displayed limits use the overlap of both aquarium recommendations. The pH 6–7 reported for the natural locality does not prove that the aquarium range must exactly match it. Keep temperature and water quality stable.Behaviour and group size
Daisy’s ricefish is peaceful and does best in a group. Seriously Fish says it appears more confident in groups of eight or more; Fishkeeper recommends at least six. Eight is therefore shown as a practical group recommendation, not a biological threshold. Males may spar briefly while courting; plants and visual barriers help. Because the fish is tiny, large or boisterous tankmates can stress it or outcompete it for food. Do not mix similar Oryzias forms sold in trade because hybridisation is a risk. We added no exact species pairings because the sources mainly advise at group level.Feeding
Offer small portions the fish can swallow. Seriously Fish recommends fine or crushed dried foods alongside microworms and Artemia nauplii. Fishkeeper describes small frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and mosquito larvae; some fish may accept dry food over time. Grazing from surfaces has also been observed. Rotate suitable small foods and check that every fish feeds. The existing catalogue has no product with a verified food size for this species, so we do not make a recommendation from a product title alone.Breeding
The adhesive eggs first remain in a cluster near the female’s genital opening, then are deposited singly or in small groups on fine plants or spawning mops. Seriously Fish reports batches of 10–20 eggs, sometimes at short intervals, and hatching in roughly one to three weeks depending partly on temperature. Adults tend to eat free-swimming fry. Move egg-bearing material to a rearing tank or provide dense fine-leaved cover. Once free swimming, fry can take infusoria, microworms and Artemia nauplii. These are reported observations, not a guarantee for every female.Sources & review
This care guide draws on several specialist sources and was last checked on .
View the sources
- FishBase — FishBase — Oryzias woworae
- Smithsonian Institution / Copeia — Parenti & Hadiaty (2010), original description
- Seriously Fish — Seriously Fish — Oryzias woworae
- Maidenhead Aquatics / Fishkeeper — Fishkeeper — Daisy’s Blue Ricefish
- Aquakeeper14; colour adjustment by Togabi — Daisy’s Ricefish photograph — Wikimedia Commons