HISTORY OF RANCHU GOLDFISH
Modern Ranchus are considered a Japanese variety of Fancy Goldfish, but their origins can be traced back to China. Ranchus were first developed from Lionhead Goldfish. They were further developed in Japan beginning in the late 1800s but did not begin to resemble modern Ranchus fully until the early 1900s.
APPEARANCE OF RANCHU GOLDFISH
Ranchu Goldfish have a short, round, egg-shaped body with an arched or curved appearance and large, bulbous heads. Two characteristic features of Ranchus are their lack of dorsal fins and the presence of fleshy, raspberry-like head growths. While Ranchus can be easily mistaken for Lionheads, Ranchus have higher arched backs. Ranchus also have splayed caudal fins with three to four separate, rounded lobes. Lionheads have caudal fins that are more similar to Fantail Goldfish.
Ranchus can be found in various colors, including red, white, orange, and blue, and several color combinations, including calico, red and white, back and red, and black and white. Sometimes, they may have red scales with white edges. The color of a Ranchu Goldfish can change as it matures, sometimes completely. White is the color that most commonly shows up later in life. Ranchus were initially bred as metallic-scaled fish but can come in nacreous or matte scalation patterns as well.
The typical size of a full-grown Ranchu is five to eight inches long. Because of the shape of their bodies and lack of dorsal fins, Ranchus can have difficulty swimming. Ranchu Goldfish are incredibly delicate and typically not recommended for beginner Goldfish hobbyists.
