Oranda goldfish is a crossbreed that is available in a variety of colors. If you are looking for one, you can choose from black oranda goldfish, blue oranda goldfish, and many other types of oranda fancy goldfish.
It has a peculiar raspberry growth on the top of its head, distinguishing it from standard goldfish.
In this guide, you will learn about oranda goldfish care and feeding tips. You will also learn about their breeding tips and advice. The focus will help both beginner and professional aquarists in taking good care of this exotic fish.
Species Overview
| Level of Care | Intermediate |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Appearance | Variable color goldfish with a peculiar growth on its head |
| Life Expectancy | 15 years |
| Size | Up to 9 inches |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Aquarium (Tank) Size | 30 gallons |
| Water Conditions | 65 °F to 72 °F (18.3 °C to 22.2 °C); pH 6-9 |
| Aquarium (Tank) Environment | Freshwater |
| Aquarium (Tank) Mates | Any peaceful fish |
Oranda goldfish (Carassius Gibelio Forma Auratus) is a coldwater fish that belong to the Cyprinidae family. The fish is a product of crossbreeding between the lion head goldfish and the Veiltail goldfish.
Its peaceful behavior and unique appearance make it popular among aquarists.
They many variations, and many people get confused, thinking they are different species. You can identify the species through its unique and exotic-looking appearance.
Types
You can find oranda goldfish of different colors. Here are the common species that you can see on the market.
Red Cap Oranda Goldfish
Redcap orandas are highly popular among aquarists. The head of the fish isn’t fully covered or capped, similar to other orandas. The cap cover covers the upper and top parts of the head.
Blue Oranda Goldfish
Blue orandas are also known as Seibun or Seibungyo which is another variant. The body is not exactly a blue color and gets mixed up with other colors. Only the fish cap is of pristine blue color ranging from dark blue to light greyish-blue color.
Black Oranda Goldfish
Black oranda goldfish are dark-colored ones. The fish seems like a different species due to the dark coloration. The cap covering the head is generally of a lighter shade than the rest of the body.
Appearance
Features
Oranda goldfish looks like an ordinary goldfish when young. Around 2 or 3 years, the fish develops a brain like a cap on the head similar to the lionhead goldfish. Over time, the hat known as the ‘wen’ grows so large that the fish can’t see.
And the surprising part is that you can trim the cap similar to a hair. The growth does not have any nerves, so it won’t hurt the fish when you cut it.
Their body is round and bubble-like.
Dorsal fins are unpaired and significant, while the caudal fin is merged similarly to intertwined silk threads. The fins are large while the scales are packed, forming attractive and visible patterns.
Probably the most charming part of the fish is the tail fin. The fins are of different shapes, including fantail, ribbon tail, and broad tail.
Most aquarists prefer verandas with elegant ribbon tails. Many aquarists also covet fantails and broadtail orandas.
Color
The fancy goldfish species is available in different colors, including red, red with orange-yellowish spots, black, black with grey gradients, black with white dots, white, blue, and many other variations.
Size
Orandas are relatively big fish in the aquarium. It can grow up to 12 inches under the right aquarium conditions. The largest oranda was a fish named Bruce from Hong Kong that was reported to be a whopping 15 inches! The fish can grow to a large size quickly. So, it would help if you kept them in a large tank.
Behavior & Temperament
Their behavior is similar to a goldfish. They are peaceful creatures that go by the motto of ‘live and let live’. The fish gets along well with almost all other peaceful fish. It is not a schooling fish but feels comfortable in an aquarium with other orandas.
They are not fast swimmers, but they are active and lively fish. They spend most of the time in the aquarium digging and swimming. The fish swims all over the tank, including the top and the bottom. It does not hide in caves or other hiding place since it is not a shy fish.
These are hardy fish are scavengers that will spend a lot of time souring the bottom of the tank for food. They will also move light stuff around the tank.
Can teach the fish to follow your finger around the aquarium. You will know when they are satisfied and happy inside the aquarium as they will make a cute gulping sound inside the aquarium.
Lifespan
It can live for up to 15 years when kept in the right tank conditions.
Tank Mates
Oranda goldfish can be friendly with a lot of various fish. The size and behavior of the fish should be considered when selecting a tank mate. It would help if you didn’t put small fish, like neon tetra, with them. Small fish can get swallowed by the orandas.
You should select fish that could survive in cold water conditions.
They thrive in cold water. Good options include leopard pleco and peppered catfish.
Fish that you shouldn’t keep with your oranda goldfish include mollies, neon, bettas, cichlids, gouramis, and platies. These fish may nip their fins traumatizing the fish.
You can also keep them in a shoal. Make sure that there is enough space for the fish to move freely inside the aquarium. The fish can get up to 12 inches, so you will want to keep the shoals in a large when they grow up.
Oranda Goldfish Care
Keeping the right conditions can be challenging for a beginner. The fish is a coldwater fish. Moreover, the cap or wen of the fish needs to be properly trimmed. You can hurt or injure the fish if you are not careful when trimming the cap.
Floating food debris can be stuck in the creases of the tail resulting in disease. Intermediate-level care makes this fish suitable only for expert aquarists.
Tank Setup
Tank Conditions
Oranda goldfish are coldwater fish. Should keep the temperature between 65 °F and 72.0 °F (18.3 and 22.2° C). The fish is more adaptable when it comes to pH levels. It can survive slightly in highly alkaline waters with pH levels between 6 and 9.
Not keeping the suggested temperature can result in health issues. You should also ensure that the water is kept clean at all times. Consider changing about 25 percent of the water every week to ensure that the tank is kept clean at all times. Ignoring the conditions can result in parasitic or bacterial diseases.
Plants & Décor
You should not select décor items with sharp edges. It is essential since orandas tend to dig at the bottom of the tank. Their fins might get damaged if there are décor items with jagged shapes. Avoid placing too many décor items in the aquarium to ensure that it has enough space to swim.
Place silk plants in the aquarium. Also, it would help if you lined the aquarium’s bottom with medium-sized gravel. A moderate amount of plants are recommended.
But don’t overplant the aquarium as it will make it difficult for the fish to swim around. The fish will become stressed out and become sick if it’s not given enough space to swim around the aquarium.
You should select plants with small leaves. Suggested plants for the aquarium containing oranda goldfish include elodea and Vallisneria. Additionally, it would help if you considered keeping the lights on for 8 to 11 hours a day.
Filtration
An air pump is essential for an aquarium containing oranda goldfish. The fish love to eat a lot and produce waste.
It will dig up food from the substrate as well. It will make the aquarium dirty very quickly. If you don’t install the air pump, you may need to change the water every day.
A strong air pump will ensure that the water is properly oxygenated. Oxygen-rich water is critical. Lack of oxygen will cause the goldfish to suffocate and die.
Common Diseases
Low water conditions can lead to various diseases. A common ailment among freshwater fish, including oranda goldfish, is the ich. The protozoan disease can prove fatal if not identified and treated.
A bacterial infection such as Dropsy is another dangerous disease. Other diseases that commonly affect them include fish tuberculosis, swim bladder, fin rot, and cloudy eye.
Can prevent all the diseases if you carefully monitor the water parameters. Ensure that the fish is fed quality food, and there is enough space for the fish to swim around the aquarium.
Food & Diet
Oranda fish diet is similar to the diet of other goldfish. The fish is omnivores that mostly eat small crustaceans, insects, and plants. The fish eat anything that fits inside the mouth. It will feed on both dry and live food. Make sure that you provide a variety of food items to the fish.
Combined foods are best for them. You can easily find them in most pet stores. The quality of the diet affects the color of the fish. If you feed a high-quality fish diet, the color will be brighter as well.
Note that orandas, similar to any other fish, tend to eat a lot. You need to limit the feeding sessions so that they don’t get obese. Consider feeding young ones no more than two times a day. Should provide adult just once a day.
It would help if you fed them enough food that they can eat in about five minutes. Look for signs of overfeeding. If you see that the fish is swimming on the side, you need to feed less or skip the next session. It is essential as overfeeding can lead to health problems. It can even prove fatal for the fish.
You should also avoid underfeeding the fish. If you don’t feed the fish frequently, they will start digging for food scraps at the bottom of the aquarium. It also increases the chance that they will become ill.
Breeding & Reproduction
Breeding oranda goldfish is not that difficult. Can quickly breed the fish in the home in an aquarium. Many people breed fish in the aquarium and sell the fish online.
They can reach maturity when they are about two years old. It would help if you kept the pairs ready for breeding in a tank with 25 gallons of water. The tank should contain substrate and plants.
Keep a female and some males in a separate aquarium and feed them live food. Males will chase the females around the tank in a playful manner. The behavior will continue for several days, and the color of the fish will intensify.
Female orandas will move from side to side, and the male will push the Female against the plant. It will stimulate the Female to drop eggs that the male will fertilize.
The Female will lay the eggs early in the morning. The spawning typically lasts for two to three hours. Once the eggs are laid and fertilized by the males, you should move the parents to a separate container. It is essential since the parents will eat the eggs.
The average incubation period is about three days. It would help if you fed them infusoria or minute aquatic creatures like algae and other small invertebrates. Once the fry grows up, you should give them specialized food for goldfish that you can find in most online and local stores.
Expert breeders suggest that you keep the males and females in a separate tank a week or two before breeding.
It will help encourage interest in breeding among the fish. Introduce the males and females in the same tank simultaneously—another essential tip when breeding is to keep the temperature around 600F (150C).
It would increase the temperature by about 350F (20C) each day up to 740F (230C). It would help feed the fish high protein feed during the spawning period, including worms and brine shrimp. Consider providing them with small portions three times a day.
Don’t overfeed as it will get the water dirty and make them passive, due to which they won’t mate inside the tank. You should change about 20 percent of the water every other day until the females lay the egg.
Fry will be dark black or brown color at the start. The color allows them to remain undetected to avoid being eaten by prey. They will gain the color of an adult oranda after several months. You can put the young fish in the aquarium once they grow to about an inch long.
Where to Buy?
You can find young oranda fish in pet stores. The fish is exotic and commands a higher price as compared to standard goldfish.
You may have to pay between $30 and $40 for a young one. Make sure that you buy healthy fish with no disease.
Consider keeping the newly bought fish in a separate aquarium. Monitor the fish to look for signs of diseases such as lazy movement, lack of appetite, or any unusual behavior.
If the fish seems to be ill, you may need to take it to the vet. Always introduce healthy fish in your aquarium; otherwise, the unhealthy fish can spread the disease.
Conclusion
Oranda goldfish are bright, vivid fish with an attractive personalities. The fish has an elegant and graceful tail fin. It has a peaceful temperament and can get along with most other similar-sized fish. Professional aquarists will have an easy time taking care of the fish.
Their care is not that challenging. It can thrive in different water conditions. Unlike other fish, the goldfish won’t die or become ill if the tank has become a little dirty.
Still, it would help if you regularly cleaned the tank to ensure that they remain happy and healthy inside the aquarium. The fish is cute and charming and can live for years under ideal conditions.
