Raised under theCarolina sun.

Very. In season, females lay eggs almost daily and wipe them onto plants or a spawning mop, so you choose exactly which eggs to hatch. Fair warning: you will start counting them. My breeding guide walks through the whole process, from conditioning to raising fry.

Yes, Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) are among the hardiest fish in the hobby. They survive roughly 40–85°F when changes are gradual, do best in the low 60s to high 70s, need no heater, and thrive in aquariums, patio tubs, and ponds. They're an ideal first fish. My complete care guide covers setup in detail.

Yes, and there is no extra charge. If you are traveling, still cycling a tank, or buying a gift for later, use the hold box at checkout or reply to your order confirmation, and I will hold your order until you tell me you are ready. Your fish are reserved and keep growing out in my pots until they ship. Details on my shipping page.

Yes, and you only pay shipping once. Your order confirmation email has an Add to this order button. Anything you add rides in the same box and is priced as if it had all been one cart: you never pay live shipping more than once, and if your order reaches $150, the shipping you already paid comes off, with anything left over refunded to you. You can add until 11 AM Eastern on the Monday your order ships, when I start packing. This works for every order except merch-only, since everything but merch ships in the Monday box. Merch is the one exception to the shipping: it ships separately from my print vendor, so its $4.99 merch shipping applies once per order. A discount code from your first checkout covers only those original items, while a gift card's unused balance carries over. Card orders get the button right away, and Venmo and Cash App orders get it as soon as I match your payment. Can't find the email? Write me and I will send the link again.

In most of the continental US they can, but it depends heavily on the container. Medaka slow down near the bottom and can sit under a lid of ice, though that only works with enough water volume and depth to buffer the cold, a small tub can swing too fast and lose fish even in a mild winter. Use the largest, deepest container you can outdoors, or overwinter them inside. See keeping medaka outdoors year-round for how to set up and overwinter a tub or pond.

Live animals ship Mondays only, usually in the next available window and occasionally the one after, in packaging built for safe transit, insulated when the weather calls for it. I hold shipments when weather makes transit unsafe. Every order with live fish or snails also includes free floating plants, which help stabilize water in the bag. Full details on my shipping page.

Live animal orders ship for a flat $24.99, free at $150 or more, with an optional overnight upgrade at checkout. Orders without live animals ship for $4.99, with a $24.99 minimum when the order is plants alone, and merch is made to order and ships separately from my print vendor for $4.99. Live animals and plants ship to the contiguous United States only, since Alaska and Hawaii transit is not survivable for them, while merch and supplies ship to all 50 states.

It's rare, and that's a big reason I ship every live order UPS 2nd Day Air: short transit keeps fish healthy, and most orders arrive right on schedule, active and ready for their new home. If you'd like the shortest trip possible, overnight is available as an upgrade in your cart. Every order with live fish or snails is also covered by my live arrival guarantee. If something isn't right, contact me by the end of the delivery day with a clear photo, and I'll review it personally and work with you toward a fair resolution. My goal is to make it right, not to look for reasons not to.

Right here. Firefly Medaka is my shop: I breed Japanese medaka in Raleigh, North Carolina, and ship live fish across the contiguous US on Mondays, with my live arrival guarantee on every order with live fish or snails. Every variety is on my Medaka Lines page, with photos and prices.

Yes. I breed my medaka in Raleigh, North Carolina, and every fish I ship is raised in my outdoor pots there through real seasons.

Yes. Japanese medaka are among the hardiest fish in the hobby. They need no heater, and a planted tub or tank is enough to start. Email me before you buy, or leave a note at checkout, and I will look over your planned setup and help you choose fish that fit it, at no charge and with no obligation to order. My acclimation guide covers the first hour at home.

Every order with live fish or snails includes free floating plants, a random assortment based on what is thriving and what is legal to ship to your state. They shade the water and shelter fry. If you want to choose specific ones, you can add more from my Plants page.