Goldfish were originally cultivated in China over 1000 years ago, and over the centuries, have been developed into many different types all over the world. The Calico Ranchu Goldfish was cultivated in Japan, and is one of the many subspecies of Goldfish that have been bred to enhance certain qualities.

Like all Ranchu Goldfish, Calico Ranchu Goldfish lack a dorsal fin, instead sporting a distinctive shape due to the fleshy growth on their cranium, which begins to form in the first one to two years of the fish’s growth. This protuberance continues to grow throughout the Ranchu’s life, resulting in truly spectacular older specimens. However, while visually impressive, the Ranchu’s hood makes them slightly more challenging to keep than other Goldfish. You need to be wary of sharp or rough surfaces in your aquarium, as this can damage the Ranchu’s hood if they bump or brush against them.

Calico Ranchu Goldfish make peaceful tankmates, and are traditionally a schooling fish that do well when kept in small groups rather than solo. Being in a group will help protect them from bullies and keep their beautiful flowing tails safe from little nippers. They are slower swimmers than some other Goldfish, which means they can miss out on food in competitive aquariums

We recommend feeding your Calico Ranchu Pisces Goldfish Pellets or Flakes. Spirulina Flakes and Algae Wafers will provide valuable variety to their diet. We’ve found that Calico Ranchus, like all Goldfish, enjoy eating Duckweed, which is easy to grow in your aquarium and is available from Scapeshop.com.au.

These cold water fish thrive in water temperatures ranging from 8-23 degrees celsius, and as they produce lots of waste, we recommend good filtration and plenty of plants to oxygenate and clean the water, as well as enriching their lives and supplementing their diets.