There’s no wonder why the jovial little Ranchu is often called the “King of the Goldfish” in its native Japan. These fun and colourful little goldfish are amongst the most popular varieties - and there are quite a few competitors!
Ranchu goldfish are most easily identified by their hooded heads and their lack of a dorsal fin, as well as their chubby body shapes. Indeed, their body shape gives them the often-used nicknames “piggies” or “milk cows,” and it’s a big selling feature for these lovely little creatures.
Want to raise one or more Ranchu in your home? Here are a few quick tips:
Give Them a Good Tank and Habitat
As with all domesticated fish and especially goldfish, Ranchus need a suitable tank and water conditions to not only survive but to thrive.
Your fish tank or aquarium should be at least 75L in capacity, just for one alone. They like having friends, so consider going for something larger than 75L. More is better, not only for them to have more space to swim around in but also to keep their stress levels low and in control.
The water should be kept reasonably warm at around 18-24°C. Filter out the water frequently, but try to ensure that the flow is gentle and not too harsh. Unlike many other goldfish, Ranchus sometimes have difficulty swimming and can bob around, so they don’t like strong currents too much.
Change around a third of their water every week to keep it clean, and make sure you’re testing water pH levels and keeping contaminants at a minimum.
You should also be decorating their habitat and making it an enjoyable place for them to live in, as well as to look at. Visually appealing is fairly subjective, but for the sake of your Ranchu, try to stick to decor that is clean and well-rounded, give them a couple of hiding spots, and don’t use anything too sharp because this can damage their fins. You can put some hardy plants inside or floating plants, if you like the look.
Changing their habitat every once in a while gives them a little variety, but always make sure to give them a couple of hiding spots. They can get stressed out fairly easily, but they’ll surely appreciate the change of scenery from time to time.
Feed Them Well
What sort of food should you be feeding your Ranchu? They like quite a varied diet of fish food, which includes everything from pellets to vegetables and protein. Indeed, it’s probably best for their health and enjoyment that you provide them with a good mix, but always make sure that you’re feeding them quality pellets filled with nutrients.
Try to feed your Ranchu 2-3 times per day. They don’t mind if you drop the food directly into the water. They’ll usually let it sink, then swim about, grazing on what you’ve fed them.
In addition to pellets, don’t be shy to give them some little boiled peas or leaves of spinach, and the occasional brined shrimp is also a tasty snack for them.
You should be checking for illness, as Ranchus are prone to quite a few illnesses that could kill them. If they aren’t eating as much as they should or their eyes get cloudy, act quickly and provide them with medication or adjust their diet.
Give Them Friends
Ranchu are a fairly social type of goldfish, and they do tend to get along well with other similar goldfish (of temperament). That is to say, goldfish that are calm and gentle, not too aggressive, and somewhat slow in movement should all get along well with Ranchus.
Zen Aquarium
Buy Ranchu goldfish and much more from Zen Aquarium.