Anyone who has ever kept Coldwater fish or owned a pond will know that these beautiful fish the Oranda Goldfish (Carrassius auratus) are not your average Goldfish.
These beautiful fish develop a large crown or wen as it’s also known on the top of their head giving them a distinctive look from your normal Goldfish.
These fish need a little more care and attention than your average coldwater fish due to the very sensitive crown on the top of their head, but take it from us they are worth that little bit of extra care. These fish would make a lovely addition to any cold water tank or pond ( With the right conditions)
Table of Contents
Oranda Goldfish: Species Profile
| Scientific Name | Carrassius auratus |
|---|---|
| Size | 8-9” Max |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Tank Size | 30 Gal minimum |
| Origin | Most are farm raised in China |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Water Conditions | 65-75f KH 4-20 pH 6.3-7.2 |
| Color | Assorted |
| Care level | Easy |
| Price | $4-$30 Depending on size and quality |
The Oranda is one of several varieties of coldwater fish knows as Goldfish, Carassius auratus auratus. The Oranda Goldfish and the other varieties of goldfish originated from Asia, China, and Japan many years ago but is now found all around the world. The rise in demand for this fish has grown significantly over the past 5 years and we can see why.
The colors and shape of this fish with its striking crown is a beautiful addition to any tank or pond.
These fish are similar in body size and color to the veil tale goldfish but have the added bonus of the amazing crown on top of their head.
These fish have been imported to different parts of the world for many years now but have been breed under strict controls and guidelines as not to overpopulate the goldfish and coldwater species. This has kept the demand high for these coldwater fish.
Although demand is high for Oranda Goldfish the prices have not dramatically risen, the only ones that fetch high prices are the show condition fish. A fully grown show winning Oranda has been sold for $2000 into a Japanese collection recently.
These quality Oranda are sort after by many people especially the Asian community who have a strong love for this amazing looking fish which often take pride and place in their home aquarium.
Do Oranda Goldfish need a large aquarium?
When choosing a fish for your home aquarium you should always consider if the tank is suitable for this species. All goldfish are part of the Carp family which are a hardy species but can grow fast and often outgrow their tank.
A tank size of 30 Gallons is a minimum or a Small pond of around 50 Gallons would be ideal.
When the crown grows large on your Oranda they are susceptible to damage as they swim into objects and dig in the gravel for food.
The Crown can damage very easily and lead to infection. Once the crown has reached a size where it starts to affect their vision you need to consider things like removing ornaments or sharp objects from the tank to avoid injury.
People also take their Oranda to the vet or local aquarium and have their crown trimmed so that the fish can lead an easier life. This may seem extreme but it’s like having your dog’s nails trimmed.
The rate at which the crown will grow will depend on a number of contributing factors. The quality of the water will affect the growth rate, the size of the aquarium and providing a clean aquarium or pond and a protein-rich diet will also enhance the development of the head-growth.
The crown will start to grown and fold after just 3 Month but won’t fully develop until around 2 Years. Oranda Goldfish can live until they’re 10 Years old, much longer than your average goldfish lifespan.
Ensure you have a fine gravel bed for your Oranda to dig in, they love nothing more than to dig around in the gravel bed for food. However, this can be dangerous for them if the gravel is too big and sharp. Again this can damage their crown and lead to infection.
Oranda Goldfish Tank Mates?
When your Oranda is young they mix very well with just about any coldwater fish. However, as their crown grows their eyesight becomes poor and they struggle to feed quickly.
Therefore it’s important to make sure they live with slow feeding fish like themselves to avoid starvation.
Good tank mates include:
- Shubunkin
- Fantail goldfish
- Telescope Goldfish
- Other Orandas like Chocolate Oranda
- Blackmoor Goldfish
- Comets
- Ranchu
- Lionchu
These are all slow feeding coldwater fish and pose no threat to your Oranda as they start to slow later in life.
We are often asked the question: Can goldfish live alone? Read our article on this topic and find out. You may be suprised!
Oranda Goldfish Diet?
Like all pets, it’s important to feed your fish or animal with a controlled and balanced diet. Oranda Goldfish are no different.
They will feed on a good quality flake food or Pellet food like the two links provided which are available on Amazon. These types of quality food provide all the nutrients they need to thrive.
Oranda Goldfish are omnivorous and will eat just about any type of dried food and live foods. Limit protein, however, to 30% of the diet.
Read our complete fish food guide for lots of helpful suggestion for their diet.
It’s nice to give them the odd treat and change in diet like live Blood Worms which are available from most good pet stores and aquarium stores. If you can’t make it to your local store them you can Freeze-dried Bloodworms online and we recommend Omega One’s product.
We buy ours from Chewy.com because it’s inexpensive and they have fast delivery. Omega Bloodworms is a nice once a week treat then just stick to your normal fish flakes or pellets twice a day.
NEVER overfeed your fish. This is the number one mistake most aquarists make. Read why in our block entitled: What to do if you overfeed your fish?
Orandas are very susceptible to poor water conditions and overfeeding is the main reason why fish tanks have poor water conditions.
Breeding Oranda Goldfish in a home aquarium?
When your oranda does start to breed you will see a definite courtship routine which will result in hopefully over 1000 eggs at any one time.
These will hopefully hatch into young fry after 5-6 days. You will need to feed these young fry specially prepared fry food made up from bloodworms. Baby fish food like Ocean Nutrition food is perfect available from Amazon.
The number of your fry that survives will be down to the other tank mates. Your Oranda will have a hard time trying to defend their egg and fry.
Separating them when they are in the breeding stage will be the best way to ensure you get lots of young fry surviving. when breeding starts the male will have white prickles, called breeding tubercles, on its gill covers and head. The female will become fatter with eggs.
This is the only way to identify the sex of these goldfish. The same can be said for most varieties of goldfish. The males are normally smaller and thinner than females.
Oranda Goldfish Lifespan
The average lifespan of an Oranda Goldfish is 12-15 years but with care and love they can live longer and have been known to live up to 20 years.
The water conditions, diet and size of the aquarium will all play a vital role in prolonging their lifespan. With the best water conditions and a well balanced diet they will live a long and happy life. They won’t live as long as Koi but 20 years is a nice long life for a pet fish.
Read our 21 Best Container Pond Ideas to see some amazing and unique ponds. Click here!
Water quality is very important for goldfish
Most Goldfish and coldwater fish like water temperatures around 65 – 72° F (18°- 22° C). However, the Oranda Goldfish have a lower tolerance for pollution and cannot tolerate temperatures much below 60° F (16° C).
They also need good water quality as previously mentioned so ensuring your tank is the correct temperature and has a good filtration system is vital for their survival.
Keeping Oranda Goldfish in ponds is not really advisable. You can keep them in an outside pond if you have a small temperature controlled garden pond.
If you live in a country where the water temperature fluctuates through the seasons it’s not advisable to keep Oradnas in that environment.
They need a constant temperature and a calm environment to live it. If you added an Oranda to a pond full of Koi they wouldn’t live very long. Number one, they won’t get any food. the Koi would eat it all and they would starve and secondly, they will get stressed in the fast-paced pond with the fast swimming smaller Koi and the larger ones.
Conclusion: Oranda Goldfish complete care guide
Oranda Goldfish are inexpensive coldwater fish that are available in a variety of colors. They are peaceful and easy to care for fish. They are great companions for other coldwater fish like the amazing Black Moors.
They are a great addition to any coldwater fish tank and some garden ponds. Make sure you check out other varieties of Oranda like the Chocolate Oranda and other suitable tank mates like the Telescopic eyed Goldfish. Both are fantastic coldwater fish.
If you’re considering buying your first fish tank you should read our guide, Starting a fish tanks for beginners. It’s a complete guide for you to help you set up your new tank without making any mistakes.
- How many eggs do Koi lay? How many and how often
- How long are Koi fish pregnant? Live Spawning or egg Layers
- Do Koi fish Eat Mosquito Larvae? Cool Facts!
- Can Goldfish eat worms? Garden or other types of worms!
- Can Goldfish eat Bloodworms? Are they safe to eat!
I have been working in the tropical fish industry for over 30 years now and I’m still learning. Everyday is a school day in this hobby. In my spare time I play golf very badly!