TankBud

Variety of Goldfish

Oranda

Carassius auratus

One of 12 varieties of Carassius auratus · See all varieties →

Also known as Oranda goldfish, Redcap oranda, Dutch lionhead

FreshwaterFish

Oranda (Carassius auratus)
Noor biology · CC BY-SA 4.0

Varieties · Carassius auratus

See all 12 →

Care at a glance

Temperature
61–73°F
16–23°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
9.8 in
25 cm
Minimum tank
30 gal
114 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Very common
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
A selectively bred fancy form of the domesticated goldfish, developed in China and Japan from wild Carassius auratus that live in slow, weedy freshwater across East Asia.

Overview

The oranda is a round-bodied fancy goldfish topped with a fleshy head growth called a wen. It suits a tank of other fancy goldfish and a keeper past the beginner stage.

Did you know

A well grown oranda can carry a wen so large that it has to feel around for its food.

Caring for the oranda

Give one oranda at least 30 gal (114 L), and add about 40 L for each extra fish. Leave plenty of open swimming space and use smooth decor.

Goldfish are heavy waste producers, so an oranda needs strong filtration and weekly water changes. Keep the water cool, at 61 to 73°F (16 to 23°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Its round body is prone to swim bladder trouble in cold water.

Feed a sinking goldfish pellet with blanched vegetables and occasional frozen foods. Avoid floating flakes, since they make it gulp air and worsen swim bladder problems. For a fish with a heavy wen, drop soaked sinking pellets right in front of it.

Orandas are peaceful and social, and they want the company of their own kind. They are slow swimmers that cannot compete with fast fish. House them only with other fancy goldfish, never with fast single-tails or tropical fish.

Fancy strains like the oranda breed true only with careful selection. Their spawns throw many wild-colored, single-tailed culls, and breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

The oranda is one of hundreds of ornamental strains bred from Carassius auratus, in the family Cyprinidae. Like all fancy goldfish, it has a deep, egg-shaped body and a paired, flowing tail. Its wen is an overgrowth of skin tissue that keeps growing through the fish's life and can partly cover the eyes.

In the wild

The oranda was developed in China and Japan from the domesticated goldfish. Goldfish were domesticated from wild crucian-type carp in China over a thousand years ago. Wild Carassius auratus live in slow, weedy freshwater across East Asia.

From published sources

Tank mates

Each fish here is named as a tank mate for the oranda by at least two published care guides. Every partner here handles cool water. The tank needs about 20 gallons (75 liters) for the first fancy goldfish and 10 gallons (38 liters) for each extra one.

Sources: Practical Fishkeeping, Aquarium Co-Op, Fishkeeping World, Aquarium Source, Tropical Fish Hobbyist.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

Is an oranda a different species from the goldfish?

No. An oranda is a variety of the goldfish, Carassius auratus. It is kept the same way apart from difficulty, adult size, tank size and temperature.

What size tank does an oranda need?

An oranda needs at least 30 gal (114 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What does an oranda eat?

An oranda eats a sinking goldfish pellet, with blanched vegetables and occasional frozen foods. Skip floating flakes, which make it gulp air.

How big does an oranda get?

An adult oranda reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

How does an oranda breed?

Orandas breed true only with careful selection, and their spawns throw many wild-colored, single-tailed culls. Breeding them is of medium difficulty.

What fish can live with the oranda?

Published care guides name weather loach, bristlenose pleco, bulldog pleco and variable platy, among others. Every partner here handles cool water. The tank needs about 20 gallons (75 liters) for the first fancy goldfish and 10 gallons (38 liters) for each extra one.

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