Today, we will discuss the characteristics, care, breeding, and price of the improved Medaka variety known as “Sapphire”.
Characteristics of Sapphire Medaka
Let’s discuss the characteristics of Sapphire Medaka, which was developed in 2021 by the medaka store Shizura-an. The official name of Sapphire Medaka is “Black Glitter Ganin Sapphire Series.”
As the name suggests, this variety of medaka has been developed from the glitter series medaka, known as “Black Glitter Ganin,” to exhibit blue glitter. Sapphire Medaka thus features a black body with blue glitter. Based on the Black Glitter Ganin, some individuals may have less glitter and appear darker, but higher grades can exhibit a strong bluish tinge, truly reminiscent of the gemstone sapphire.
Care for Sapphire Medaka
Caring for Sapphire Medaka is generally as easy as caring for any standard medaka. However, Sapphire Medaka tends to be skittish and less accustomed to human presence. As a result, they may hide and not come out even when fed. While this behavior in other medaka might suggest illness, for Sapphire Medaka, it’s simply a trait of their shy nature. Other than making health checks more challenging, this shyness does not present any real issues.
Breeding Sapphire Medaka
Sapphire Medaka breeds very easily and produces a large number of eggs. Although skittish around humans, they are not particularly neurotic among other medaka, making breeding as straightforward as with any other medaka variety.
Stability Rate of Sapphire Medaka
The stability rate of Sapphire Medaka is exceptionally high. Among improved medaka, Sapphire has one of the highest stability rates, with almost all offspring born true to the Sapphire form when bred amongst themselves. The beautiful blue glitter of Sapphire Medaka is very popular, yet it is one of the easiest to breed, making it particularly suitable for beginners. However, there is variation among individuals, especially in the amount of blue glitter present. Naturally, breeding from aesthetically pleasing parents tends to produce similarly attractive offspring.
Varieties of Sapphire Medaka
There are various types of Sapphire Medaka.
Dorsal Fin-less Sapphire
This is a version of Sapphire without a dorsal fin. Initially, this variant was more commonly referred to as Sapphire, but it has become rare nowadays. This type tends to fetch a higher price than the standard Sapphire Medaka.
Reiwa Sapphire (Reiwa Black Glitter Ganin Sapphire Series)
Reiwa Sapphire is a variety released by Shizura-an in 2022, which features the Reiwa gene that causes fins to turn red in addition to the blue glitter of Sapphire Medaka. Although this fish is incredibly luxurious with its combination of blue glitter and red fins, more often they appear not blue but clear brown or amber in color. The original Sapphire has a stronger blue hue, hence it is more favored.
Tri-color Glitter Ganin Sapphire Series
The Tri-color Glitter Ganin Sapphire Series, also released by Shizura-an, literally combines three-color glitter with the blue glitter of Sapphire Medaka. Like the Tri-color, its stability rate is low, but high-grade individuals are exceptionally beautiful.
Price of Sapphire Medaka
Due to its high stability rate, Sapphire Medaka is easy to mass-produce, making it readily available at medaka stores and aquarium shops nationwide. Initially, Sapphire Medaka, being one of the few medaka with pure blue glitter, was traded at high prices. However, as it became more widespread, prices have dropped, with some individuals now available for just a few hundred yen. Nonetheless, high-grade specimens can still fetch several thousand yen each, and they are still sold as “Black Glitter Ganin Sapphire Series” by Shizura-an, with pairs often exceeding ten thousand yen.
Summary
Sapphire Medaka is known for its stunning blue glitter, making it highly valued for its appearance. While it is easy to obtain due to its high stability rate, high-grade
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