Become a member

The American Medaka Association (AMA) is a nonprofit community dedicated to ethical breeding, education, and the preservation of true medaka lineage.

Membership Is Free

AMA is not a sales group. We are a value-driven community. Membership is 100% free and open to anyone who shares our mission.

While there are no fees or background checks, we do have a simple vetting process based on trust and accountability. We believe in the honor system—each member is expected to uphold our core values and ethical sourcing practices.

Membership Application

All applications are subject to review. If accepted, your name may be included in our public List of Members.

Thank you for your interest in joining the AMA. This application is designed to better understand your approach to medaka keeping, your values, and how you contribute to the advancement of the hobby. Please answer thoughtfully and honestly.

New to medaka, or don't keep them yet? That's okay — every question is required, but if one doesn't apply to you yet, it's completely fine to answer “N/A” or “TBD.”

About You

Please enter your real legal name — it's kept private for membership records and isn't shown publicly unless you leave the nickname blank.

Optional. If you set a nickname, it's shown publicly on the website instead of your legal name. Leave it blank to show your legal name. Use an actual name, not your Instagram handle — your Instagram is asked separately.

We'll email a 6-digit code to confirm this address is correct (this prevents typos).

Enter your ZIP to auto-fill city & state.

🔒 Your mailing address is collected so the AMA can reach you by post when needed. It is kept strictly private, is never sold, and is never used for commercial purposes. Only your state appears in the public directory — your street, city, and postal code are never shown publicly. See our Privacy Policy.

If you don't have an account, please type ‘N/A’.

If you don't have an account, please type ‘N/A’.

Background & Experience

List up to three — one strain per box.

Husbandry & Practices

Culling & Line Management

Integrity & Standards

Mindset & Growth

Contribution & Community

Alignment & Intent

Are you willing to follow AMA guidelines regarding strain integrity, naming, and ethical practices? *

Agreements & Preferences

Would you like your profile to be published on the AMA website if your membership is approved? *
Would you like to appear on the AMA member map? *

The map shows roughly where members are, so people can find keepers near them. Only your display name and an approximate area are shown — never your address. This is used only for the member map and for nothing else.

If you provided your Instagram ID, would you like to be added to our group chat? *

To say Yes, make sure your Instagram or Discord username above is filled in (not ‘N/A’).

The AMA prioritizes long-term integrity over short-term gain. By submitting this application, you acknowledge that maintaining and improving medaka responsibly is a shared commitment.

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Code of Conduct.