Walkaround - Nature Technicolour Clear Rivers in Japan No. 06 - Oikawa/Pale Chub (Zacco platypus)

Number six in the set features the Oikawa, or Pale Chub in English. How do they get to name such a fish "pale" is beyond me as there is absolutely nothing at all pale about this colourful, beautiful cyprinid, especially a male in breeding colours like this model.

On average, the Oikawa grows to 15 cm making this 6.5 cm long model almost 1:2 in scale, which means it's like having a real-to-size juvenile fish sitting on your table (or display cabinet). The sculpture depicts the fish fully flaring its fins, which usually means a display behaviour to a rival male to win the rights to mate with a female. The vibrant colours of the amorous male is painted very accurately right down to the breeding tubercles on the facial area. Again, the choice of the finish (metallic matte kind of finish, don' know the actual term) is perfect. Here is a very interesting video of some Oikawa males trying to impress a female.



All in all, a truly fascinating model and one of my favourites of the set. I would looove to have them in my pond but I don't think anyone is stocking them in fish shops in Indonesia, besides the tropical climate will never suit them. Walkaround pictures below.

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Another lovely, beautyful model of this lovely fish
Your topics certainly widen my knowledge of fishes

I love the video also

Oikawa are common models among Japanese brands but this one is really stunning

The video is great too

A beauty too :)