RLF Platinum Ricefish

Common Name

Platinum RLF Ricefish. RLF stands for Real Long Fin, a selectively bred trait that produces extra long, flowing fins.

Origin and Habitat

Oryzias latipes is native to East Asia, with wild populations across Japan and parts of the Korean Peninsula and China. It occupies calm, shallow waters such as rice paddies, irrigation channels, ponds, oxbow pools, and the quiet margins of streams. These sites are sunlit with gentle or no current, fine silt or sand, and dense emergent or floating vegetation. Water clarity ranges from clear to lightly tannin stained, and conditions are stable where paddies and ditches are continuously refreshed. The Platinum RLF form is a domesticated aquarium strain and does not occur in the wild, but its care follows that of the species.

Temperature and Water Conditions

Preferred temperature for year round indoor keeping and dependable breeding is 22 to 26°C, which is 72 to 79°F. Wild and outdoor strains tolerate a wider seasonal window when acclimated. Typical pH in natural and cultured settings runs near neutral to slightly alkaline, often about 6.8 to 8.0. In the aquarium, stability matters more than the exact number. Avoid chasing pH or hardness unless a specific breeding project requires it. Keep oxygen good, current gentle, and nitrogen waste very low.

Appearance and Size

Platinum RLF ricefish show a bright silver white metallic body that reflects light from every angle. The head and flanks have a mirror like sheen, and the eye ring is often iridescent under good lighting. The RLF trait expresses as noticeably elongated dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with soft trailing edges that develop most strongly in well fed adults. Males display slightly deeper color, slimmer bodies, and longer, more pointed fins. Females are rounder through the belly, especially when carrying eggs. Adults reach about 3 to 4 cm, which is 1.2 to 1.6 inches.

Diet in the Wild

Wild ricefish graze on small drifting and surface prey. Natural foods include insect larvae, tiny crustaceans such as copepods and cladocerans, and other zooplankton, along with a small amount of filament and biofilm picked from plants.

Feeding in Captivity

Offer a fine varied menu to support growth and fin development. A quality micro pellet or small flake works as a staple. Rotate live or frozen baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops, and finely chopped bloodworms for conditioning. Feed small portions two to three times daily so food reaches all fish without fouling the water. Occasional green foods such as spirulina based flakes help balance the diet and keep water quality stable.

Behavior and Tank Setup

Platinum RLF ricefish are peaceful, active shoalers that spend most time near the upper half of the aquarium. Keep a group to see natural schooling and courtship. A rectangular tank with open swimming space, floating plants for shade, and fine leaved stems or mops for spawning suits them well. Use a gentle sponge filtered flow rather than strong current to protect long fins. A tight fitting lid is essential, as ricefish are quick and curious at the surface. Suitable tank mates include other small calm fish with similar temperatures, such as tiny rasboras and danionins, and most Neocaridina shrimp. Avoid fin nippers and bulky competitors.

Breeding

Ricefish are daily spawners when well conditioned. The female collects a small cluster of adhesive eggs beneath the vent each morning, carries them for a short time, then deposits them on fine plants or synthetic mops.

Conditioning and cues Provide a steady temperature in the preferred range, twelve to fourteen hours of light, and frequent small feedings of live or frozen micro foods. Clean water, gentle flow, and floating cover encourage regular morning spawns.

Spawning method Place two or more spawning mops, one floating and one suspended midwater, or use dense clumps of fine leaf plants. Males court by circling and quick displays, then escort the female to the fibers where eggs are released and adhere.

Egg care and hatching Collect eggs daily from the mops with wet fingers and move them to a small container with clean aquarium water, gentle aeration, and an air stone positioned to move water across the eggs. Incubation typically takes about ten to fourteen days depending on temperature. Good circulation, clean water, and modest light reduce fungus.

Raising fry Newly hatched fry are very small. Start them on paramecium, rotifers, or a quality commercial liquid or powdered fry food. As bellies fill and growth begins, introduce vinegar eels and microworms, then newly hatched baby brine shrimp. Keep the rearing container clean with small daily top ups and provide a clump of moss for microfauna and cover.

Selective breeding and culling for RLF Real Long Fin lines require active selection to maintain long, even fin growth and healthy body shape. Plan ahead with multiple grow out tubs or tanks so you can separate strong individuals early. Cull kindly but consistently, removing fry that show bent spines, cloudy eyes, poor scale coverage, short fin throwbacks, torn or crooked fin rays that do not improve with age, or chronic slow growth that lags far behind the cohort. Keep the best ten to twenty percent as breeders, focusing on symmetrical fin length, smooth trailing edges without fray, good body mass to support long fins, and a stable platinum sheen without patchiness. Record pairings and rotate breeders to avoid inbreeding depression. Good culling and careful selection are the key to producing show quality RLF ricefish with strong swimming ability and clean finnage.

Quick Facts

• Scientific name: Oryzias latipes
• Trade name: Platinum RLF Ricefish, RLF means Real Long Fin
• Origin: East Asia, rice paddies and calm freshwaters in Japan and nearby regions
• Size: About 3 to 4 cm, which is 1.2 to 1.6 inches
• Temperature: 22 to 26°C preferred indoors, which is 72 to 79°F
• pH: Commonly around 6.8 to 8.0 in culture, stability is more important than exact value
• Temperament: Peaceful shoaler near the surface
• Diet: Micropredator of zooplankton and small insects
• Breeding: Daily adhesive egg deposition on mops or fine plants, eggs hatch in about 10 to 14 days, very small fry need micro foods before baby brine shrimp

Tropical Fish Co. Notes

Platinum RLF ricefish bring elegant movement and bright, reflective color to planted aquariums and outdoor tubs. They reward consistency. Keep the water steady, the flow gentle, and the food small and frequent. For breeders, set up a simple rhythm. Collect eggs daily, hatch in small containers, and move fry through a micro food ladder to baby brine shrimp as soon as they are ready. The RLF trait needs thoughtful selection, so plan space for grow out and be ready to cull. With stable care and careful line work, you will produce graceful, long fin fish that gleam like liquid silver under soft light.