THE ORANDA

Posted by: Ranchugirl Mar 1 2004, 12:09 PM

Okay, I finally got some quiet time to get this started! Every month I am gonna introduce another goldfish breed, with its special characteristics, a little bit of history, as well as its particular needs. Goldfish of the month March - THE ORANDA (Carrassius auratus) The oranda is one of the most popular goldfish breeds in the Western world. The Chinese generally call the goldfish the flower of the water. Body features The oranda is a very deep bodied goldfish, and his perfect body depth should not be less than 2/3 of its length, not including the tail. He can grow to a rather large size of up to 12 inches, which makes him one of the larger breed of goldfish. He has a long quadruple tail, and comes in many colors including red, red/white, red/black, black, blue, chocolate or bronze, white, calico, panda (black/white), tricolor (red/black/white), redcap (white body/red wen), and his scales can be either matte or shiny. His most distinct feature is his headgrowth, or wen. This prominent warty headgrowth is directly on top of its head, giving it the appearance of having a hood on top of his head, which can very well extent all the way down to the opercula (gill cover). The oranda is born without a wen. The skin on the head begins to thicken and fold 3-4 months after hatching, but it takes 1-2 years until the hood is fully developed. Its development is affected by a number of factors which include the quality of the water, as well as its diet. Stable, clean water and a protein rich diet favour the development of the headgrowth. Habitat The oranda is one of the hardier goldfish varieties, and is able to be kept in a pond outside with no problems. During milder winters, like in Florida or California, the oranda is very well adapted to stay outside, while it would be better to get him inside in a more stable environment in colder areas. This beautiful breed can be kept with many other goldfish varieties, including ranchu, lionhead, moors, pearlscales and many more. It is not adviced though to keep him with faster swimming breeds like the comet, shubunkin or commons due to food disadvantages. Since the oranda can grow to a rather large size, it is recommended to keep him at a minimum of 10-15 gl/fish, with a bigger sized fish being better off in at least 20-30 gl/fish. The biggest goldfish officially recorded with the Guiness Book of Records is Bruce, a 15 inch long oranda bred by the TungHoi Aquarium in Hong Kong. The orandas diet consists of many different kinds, which all combined give the oranda a good advantage in healthy growth. A goldfish should never be fed just one food alone. A few things that can be fed to your oranda are commercial foods like pellets and flakes, as well as other items like peas, salad or cocktail shrimp from the supermarket (unsalted), frozen bloodworms, krill, daphnia, brine shrimp, lettuce, and not to forget, a LOT of the live plants in the tank we cherrish so much! With the orandas deep body he is prone to swim bladder problems with the wrong kinds of food or unsoaked pellets, thats one reason a lot of goldfish keepers make their own gel food for their fish.

Posted by: emmahj Mar 1 2004, 12:29 PM

Wow, that's great! I just read through your article with total absorption. I'd love to have an elegant Panda Oranda, but unfortunately I've just got Aristotle. I didn't know he was an Oranda when I bought him and frankly I don't think Aristotle suspected he was either. He's been rather startled by the object that recently started growing on top of his head! The Oranda in your pic is absolutely stunning though.

Posted by: Black oranda Mar 1 2004, 12:33 PM

Wow Andrea this is some great information. Lol,it's funny i had the exact same idea of doing this. I liked how you putted a Picture of the oranda and labbled it out. Great job Andrea.

Posted by: Tanya_woz_ere Mar 1 2004, 01:19 PM

that is some GREAT information youve got there!!! thanks very much heres another example of a oranda, if you dont mind me posting it? i will edit it if you want me 2 ORanda

Posted by: Ranchugirl Mar 1 2004, 01:27 PM

Perfect, Tanya! He belongs in that topic! Aristotle will get used to being an oranda with pride, Emma, I am sure! Do you have a picture of him?

Posted by: Black oranda Mar 1 2004, 01:34 PM

Im sure he will. Emma pictures would be great!

Posted by: emmahj Mar 1 2004, 03:38 PM

Here's Aristotle, staring in startled dismay at his own reflection. See? - I told you he's completely weirded out by his new wen! Oranda

Posted by: jdude360 Mar 1 2004, 04:04 PM

Here is a pic of my red cap Oranda

Posted by: Ranchugirl Mar 1 2004, 06:27 PM

Emma, Aristotle looks so cute on that picture!! Every oranda here does!

Posted by: Black oranda Mar 1 2004, 06:36 PM

they are both lovely emma.

Posted by: edjeff80 Mar 1 2004, 07:46 PM

This is an awesome idea! Are you going to be doing these every month Andrea? The first one is great! I will have to post a pic of my oranda in the a.m. when I get home.....he finally just starting to get his wen!!(I'm very excited!)

Posted by: koko Mar 1 2004, 08:38 PM

Im sorry but I just have to show my best oranda Oranda

Posted by: edjeff80 Mar 1 2004, 08:45 PM

And what a beautiful oranda it is!!!

Posted by: Ranchugirl Mar 1 2004, 09:12 PM

Yep, Erica, there is gonna be a different breed introduced every month... And Koko, this thread wouldn't be the same without Mr. T.! He fits right in!

Posted by: Black oranda Mar 1 2004, 09:15 PM

Heheh Mr.T is so cute! i love him so mutch

Posted by: koko Mar 1 2004, 09:16 PM

Thank you guys......Mr.T says thank you

Posted by: Black oranda Mar 1 2004, 09:18 PM

Heheh My Black moor can't wait until it will be her breed of goldfish lol. But Accalia can wait. im sure she can/

Posted by: edjeff80 Mar 2 2004, 09:00 AM

Okay, here is my little guy as promised.....he is just starting to get his wen and I'm very happy! Sorry for the blurry picture, he was not wanting to be a camera ham this morning and wanted to show me his rear most of the time!! Oranda

Posted by: blinky000 Mar 13 2004, 04:05 AM

since everyone else seems to be posting pics of their orandas, ill post one of my pride and joy, sooty Oranda

Posted by: Ranchugirl Mar 13 2004, 03:25 PM

Oh, a Panda! Very nice, Amy!!

Posted by: pandaoranda Mar 16 2004, 10:34 AM

WOW!!!THAT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL ORANDA RANCHUGIRL!!!I like em.....I want him/her!!!! koko that oranda has a huge wen!!!And I thought the one at Petco was huge?!

Posted by: pandaoranda Mar 16 2004, 10:37 AM

Sooty is soo pritty!!!!

Posted by: GoldfishGoddess Mar 16 2004, 04:10 PM

Very good Ranchugirl. I liked the article much.

Posted by: JessicaandMarshall Mar 16 2004, 10:28 PM

Great Article. I enjoyed it and the diagram very much. And I LOVED everyones Oranda pictures. And now, Heeeeeeeere's Woogie!! LOL Oranda

Posted by: my nemo Mar 16 2004, 11:09 PM

You all have beautiful orandas.... Here is a pic of the late charlie.. Oranda

Posted by: Tanya_woz_ere Mar 21 2004, 04:51 AM

Everyones orandas are gorgeous!!! I love woogie and its such a CUTE name! he reminds me of my oranda 'storm' hes the one in the middle of this picture ... hes very friendly i love him im sorry that the picture is quite dark but you can just about see him p.s there all orandas in this picture Oranda

copyright © 2004