Gold Fish Care |
Ranchu Goldfish
Other Common Name:Buffalo Head Goldfish Origin:China Size:Total length of fish is 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35cm). Lifespan:.It can live up to 20 years. Physical DescriptionThe Ranchu Goldfish is very suitable for ponds and is most striking when seen from above. The Ranchu Goldfish resembles the Lionhead Goldfish, but the posterior dorsal contour is much more curved on the Ranchu Goldfish. One other distinguishing feature that separates the Ranchu Goldfish from the Lionhead Goldfish is the tail, which is splayed sideways with its lower lobes sometimes being located nearly horizontal. The Lionhead Goldfish on the other hand, has a tail similar to the Fantail Goldfish. The Ranchu Goldfish was created during the Meiji Period (1870- 1885). The history of the Ranchu Goldfish began in China, but it was in Japan that the breed was really developed and perfected. The Ranchu goldfish is also known as Buffalo-head Goldfish. There is no official standard for Ranchu Goldfish in Japan, but there are established norms that most breeders follow. There must be good balance between the head, body and tail and a Ranchu Goldfish should always be able to swim around in a graceful and potent manner. It should never look as if the Ranchu Goldfish is weak, troubled by its body shape or having problems in swimming. The size of the Ranchu Goldfish is not important in shows. It is the proportions that are central when judging this fish.
The back of the Ranchu Goldfish should be wide and the fish should be without a dorsal fin. The head should ideally be rectangular with a deep skull, and the distance between the eyes should be as long as possible. A Ranchu Goldfish has small eyes and they must be in the right position; not too high or too forward. The tail must be symmetrical and should be elegantly attached to the body of the fish. A good Ranchu Goldfish will display a tail that is slightly shut inside while the fish is moving, and opens up as a flower when the fish stops. A lot of importance is placed on this when judging a Ranchu Goldfish during shows.The Ranchu Goldfish can have a three-tail, four-tail or cherry blossom-tail, and the four-tail is the most appreciated variant. Color Varieties of RanchuThe whole body and tail of the Ranchu Goldfish can be deeply red or have a reddish yellow-orange shade. There are also Ranchu Goldfishes that sports a red and white color combination, or a combination of white and reddish yellow-orange. Some Ranchu Goldfish have red scales with a white edge, while other individuals arecompletely white. There is also the calico coloration, which seems to be favored over self-colored fish. In Japan, a Calico Ranchu Goldfish is called Edonishiki.
HousingYou can house your Ranchu Goldfish in a pond or in an aquarium, as long as you provide it with enough space. You can provide a 30 gallon water tank for the fish to live happily. Just like the other goldfish variants, the Ranchu Goldfish produces quite a lot of waste products and a small aquarium will soon suffer from poor water quality even with strong filtering. Too little space will also hamper the development of your Ranchu Goldfish and you will never see it reach its full potential. You can decorate your aquarium with gravel or rock in the basement. You can use aquarium plants or root plant in the tank. Temperature:Remember that all Goldfish types are cold-blooded, so themetabolism of your Ranchu Goldfish will depend on the water temperature. It can survive well in 65 to 75 degrees F (18 - 23 degrees C). We have to provide high lighting effect for this fish. Water Condition:You have to maintain water condition in the tank as pH 6.5 - 7.5 and dH 4 to 20. You have to fill fresh cold water in the tank. Moving Level in Water:It can swim in all levels of water. FeedingYou must therefore adjust the amount of food according to seasonal temperature variations. It will eat almost anything you feed it, and you should provide your Ranchu Goldfish with a varied diet to ensure that it gets all necessary nutrients. Flake food and pellets can be combined with fresh or frozen food. Also include vegetables in the diet, such as cucumber, lettuce and zucchini. Selecting a good Ranchu1. Its body should look bright and alert. |