Oranda goldfish

Behaviour and habits

The oranda is a fancy goldfish with a distinctive raspberry-like head growth, or 'wen', and a heavy, rounded body. It is peaceful and slow, spending its time cruising and grubbing for food, and it is far happier in cool water than in a warm tropical tank. Its shape makes it a clumsy swimmer, so it needs space and no fast, boisterous tankmates.

What to feed, and how often

Sinking goldfish pellets plus blanched peas and greens, given two or three small meals a day. It should not be fed floating food, which it gulps and which worsens buoyancy problems; a green-rich, sinking diet keeps the digestion — and the swim bladder — happier.

Water changes and maintenance

Change 30–50% weekly. Fancy goldfish are big, messy and long-lived, so they need a large tank, cold water and strong filtration to keep nitrate down.

Care and how easy it is

Not a bowl or small-tank fish: it needs 120 L or more per fish, cold water, heavy filtration and a careful diet.

Common health problems

Very prone to swim-bladder disorders, as well as fin rot and bacterial infections from poor water.

If it gets sick

For buoyancy trouble, fast the fish for a day, offer green food and check the water, observing for a few days before treating.