Goldfish, which are a member of the carp family, were among the first fish to be maintained in aquariums, dating back to the 18th century.
The oranda goldfish, often known as the Red Cap, is a breed of goldfish that was developed artificially from the widely recognised aquarium goldfish (Carassius auratus).
People call oranda goldfish with different names in different regions like the goldfish with bubble head or also the Red cap fish.
But, here is how the goldfish with big head looks like and indeed it looks very unique and attractive within its species.
As fish keepers became more adept at manipulating their breeding, an enormous variety of fancy and unusual variations began to develop.
In today’s market, this deliberately bred goldfish is available in a variety of colours and body types, some of which have pretty unique heads and eyes.
These two goldfish, named Oranda and Oranda little red riding hood, belong to a breed distinguished by a conspicuous bubble-like hood on the head.
In fact, some new fish keepers refer to them as “Goldfish with a huge head” because of this characteristic.
When it comes to the face, the hood, also known as a wen or crown, can be a noticeable growth on the top of the head or it can completely encircle it, save for the eyes and mouth.
Here is how the the red cap oranda looks like.
However, despite the fact that they are both of the same breed and possessing a wen, there are slight distinctions between Oranda little red riding hood and Oranda goldfish.
Oranda small red riding hood may grow to be around 8 inches in length and has enormous, magnificent fins as well as a red cap on its head. When males reproduce, they develop white lumps on their lids, gills, and heads.
The normal Oranda goldfish, on the other hand, grows to around 10 inches in length and has a huge head in proportion to the size of its body. Males, like little red riding hoods, have white bumps on their bodies when they are reproducing.
Their sociable nature allows them to coexist peacefully with all other goldfish species, despite their disparities in size and shape. They also have an average lifetime of between 10 and 15 years, which is comparable to humans.
What are Big Head Goldfish Called?
One of the most distinctive characteristics of an Oranda goldfish is its large head, which is shaped like a bubble.
The breed was originally brought from China and Japan, although it was incorrectly believed to be indigenous to the Netherlands at the time of its establishment.
Consequently, it was given the moniker Netherlands Lion head, from which the name Oranda was formed.
Despite this, Oranda goldfish have swiftly risen to become the most popular fancy goldfish type among aquarium fish owners, because to the fleshy outgrowths on their heads.
The majority of the time, they have metallic or matte scaled bodies that are similar to veil tails, but with larger, longer, and deeper forms, as well as lengthy quadruple tails that stretch out widely when the fish is not moving.
Orandas, on the other hand, are available in a number of hues, the most common of which are orange, red, red and white, red and black, black, blue, chocolate, bronze, white, or silver, Panda-colored (black and white), tricolored (red-black-white), and calico-colored patterns.
What is the maximum size of an Oranda Goldfish?
When kept in captivity, oranda goldfish can reach lengths of 7 to 12 inches in the wild, with the average length being 8 inches.
Gradually, the fish grows in size over time, with the trademark head crown on newborn fry becoming obviously huge within a year or two of being born. In fact, it begins to develop when a baby oranda is approximately 4 months old.
Also it is important take care of the tank size since the oranda might feel sophisticated with the tank size. Hence, It is recommended to have a bigger tank size as the fish grows and gets bigger.
Behaviour of Oranda goldfish
It is important to understand the behaviour of the bubble head gold fish beforehand in-order to make sure you are well prepared and this could also help you choose the right tank mates for the oranda goldfish.
The behaviour of oranda is quite similar to that of Prussian carp that belongs to similar family as that to the big head goldfish.
Orandas are not aggressive in the same way that regular goldfish are. This species of fish is quite calm and loving, and they get along well with other gentle fish in the aquarium.
Even though they are not a schooling fish, they are content to live in a tank with a variety of other fish of their own species.
Even though they are not as fast swimmers as the Comet Goldfish, they are still quite lively and provide a lot of life to your aquarium. You’ll find them swimming and excavating for the most of their time during the day.
They may be found swimming throughout the tank and can be found at both the top and bottom of the tank.
This goldfish doesn’t have much of a hiding place, which is primarily owing to its small size.
Here is the big head goldfish also widely known as oranda goldfish in different color
What is the recommended tank size for Oranda goldfish?
Because Oranda goldfish, like most other kinds, grow to be rather large, you will need at least a 20-gallon tank to accommodate even a single fish of this species.
If you are keeping a pair or three individuals in your aquarium, you will need between 30 and 50 gallons.
Furthermore, for every additional Oranda plant you add to your tank, you should add at least 10 gallons of water and tank space.
The breed is also believed to be more sensitive than other goldfish due to its low tolerance for dirty water compared to other varieties.
Furthermore, because they are messy eaters and produce a huge amount of waste, you will most likely require a larger tank than you would with other fancy, which will increase your costs.
The basic rule of thumb for baby Oranda goldfish is that for every inch of fish, one gallon of water should be provided.
Condition of Tank and Water
They are more susceptible to cold water than other goldfish varieties, with temperatures ranging from 65°F to 80°F and higher.
To keep them in good condition, you need maintain the temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit in a tropical tank or aquarium.
Keep them in a tank where the temperature never goes below 60°F since they are unable to withstand that much cold, and an aquarium temperature setting beyond 85°F is a little too high for them to tolerate.
Second, since dirt, germs, and fungus gather in the microscopic folds of the fish crowns, this breed is extremely prone to illness.
To keep your Orandas healthy, you’ll need to pay constant attention to them and provide them with lots of room.
Setting up of Tank for Oranda goldfish
It’s important to consider their great affection for digging when selecting a substrate. Your goldfish will suffer injuries if their substrate contains sharp gravel or uneven sand. Use large grains of sand or gravel that has been nicely rounded instead.
Check this article out and get an idea of how you can set up a fish tank for your bubble head goldfish.
Please make sure that you do not overcrowd the tank with plants and that you do not end up with more plants than there is available space.
They are large fish that require a large amount of space to swim around in their natural environment. It is likely that your fish will become uneasy if their swimming space is restricted, and they may become ill as a result of the stress.
Choose small, sturdy leafed varieties that will not interfere with oranda’s ability to swim freely if you want plants. Vallisneria and elodea are two plants that you might want to think about.
Specifically, orandas require a normal daylight cycle of 8-11 hours in order to be properly illuminated.
The fact that they enjoy eating causes the water to become contaminated quickly. Therefore, a good filtration system should be in place. Any freshwater fish requires oxygen-rich water, which can only be provided by a powerful aeration system.
Keeping the water oxygenated and free of contaminants will help to keep it clean.
As a result, keep your tank clean and replace the water on a regular basis, and install a strong filter to ensure that they receive the same filtration (particularly biological filtration) as any delicate freshwater species kept in your aquarium.
Water quality should be monitored weekly in a fresh tank setup, and every two weeks to a month in a mature fish tank, with 10 percent alterations made every week.
Are Oranda Goldfish a simple fish to take care of?
Goldfish in aquariums, particularly the wen, are relatively difficult to care for, with the wen being particularly susceptible to infection.
As a result, the breed is relatively tough for beginning goldfish keepers, and it is not recommended for anybody who is new to the hobby of fish keeping. Orandas,
on the other hand, should be rather straightforward to care for for aquarists with moderate expertise in goldfish maintenance.
The two most critical parts of maintaining a healthy Oranda population are a nutritious food and a clean, stable environment, in that order.
And, because we’ve previously discussed tank and water conditions, let’s go on to discussing what should be included in a healthy Oranda goldfish diet.
How and what to feed your oranda goldfish?
Diet and feeding is very important in-order to keep your oranda free from diseases. Hence, you should always take care of its diet to make sure the bubble head is healthy.
If you are planning to keep the goldfish with big head in your aquarium then you should feel relieved with the feeding and diet patterns since the Oranda goldfish are omnivores in nature, they will consume whatever type of fish food you give them including fresh, frozen, and flake.
You must, however, provide them with high-quality food in order for them to maintain a normal nutritious diet.
You should feed them flake food every day, then treat them to occasional portions of live and/or frozen brine shrimp (either live or frozen), bloodworms, daphnia, or tubifex worms (if available).
Even yet, live food is frequently contaminated with parasites and bacterial illnesses that can be harmful to your Orandas, making it generally preferable to serve them freeze-dried food.
Having said that, a well-balanced diet is not only beneficial for the development of the fish, but it is also necessary since this particular goldfish breed is susceptible to swim bladder problem.
The condition is characterised by fish that float uncontrollably around the surface of the water or sink to the bottom of the aquarium.
But if one of your Oranda goldfish is floating upside down despite the fact that its food and feeding schedule are perfect, it might be due to an enlarged wen, which is a rare but potentially fatal condition.
You may wish to create a feeding plan for your fish in order to ensure that they are adequately supplied with a nutritious diet.
Making ensuring your fish are fed food that they can consume in less than 5 minutes is the goal.
Furthermore, goldfish are filthy fish, and additional food and leftovers will exacerbate an already precarious scenario in which water quality is concerned.
In addition, because to the overgrowth of their fleshy heads, Oranda goldfish may have poor vision and have a more difficult time detecting food in their aquarium than other goldfish species.
Keep them away from quick swimmers who will outcompete them for food and cause them to starve as a result of this.
Do Oranda Goldfish Have Aggressive Behavior?
The majority of the time, Oranda goldfish are calm, with practically no reports of violence against tankmates, whether they be other goldfish or other species.
Their safety and socialisation make them excellent candidates for community aquariums, particularly when kept with other goldfish breeds.
If you have an oranda goldfish in your aquarium with other cleaner fish or bottom feeders, it is not necessary for you to add any additional cleaner fish or bottom feeders to the tank.
As with other goldfish breeds, they consume many different types of aquatic plants in their persistent hunt for food, and as a result, they can uproot living plants or gnaw and damage sensitive plants in the aquarium.
Tankmates for Oranda Goldfish
Their serene temperament and sociable habit make Oranda goldfish excellent community fish, but their massive size and relatively high bioload make them nearly hard to keep as a companion fish in captivity.
You may, however, keep them company with other goldfish breeds or tiny, docile schooling fish such as pearl danios and Buenos Aires tetras to keep them in check.
Ensure that the partners can survive in sub-tropical aquariums and that they have a low bioload is the most crucial consideration.
Oranda tankmates that are bad for them include goldfish that swim quickly, such as common goldfish, comets, shubunkin, and other energetic species that will outcompete them in the food chain.
Moreover, because Oranda goldfish are more fragile than other goldfish breeds, they do not tolerate a wide variety of water chemistry and do not thrive in a tank with other filthy fish.
You will also physically hurt your back carrying buckets of water because of the time-consuming water change need if you have more than one filthy fish on your hands.
Oranda goldfish price
The price of the big head goldfish also known as bubble head goldfish varies at different regions. However, you can find these fishes from anywhere between $10-$70 depending upon the color and availability of the fish.
The bubble head fishes originate from the japan and china and this could be the reason you might feel the oranda fish being a bit expensive.
Should you consider Oranda Goldfish for your aquarium?
A beautiful illustration of how much variety there is in the world is the oranda goldfish.
Despite their size, they are peaceful fish who prefer to be kept in groups with other fish of similar size. Even though it’s a difficult fish to take care of, it’s well worth it in the end.
This should constantly be kept in mind because there are several health concerns that might arise as a result of improper treatment. Although they have a relatively simple diet, they are easy to care for at home.
This aquarium fish is one of the most fascinating and gorgeous fishes available on the market at the present time.
What do you think about the bubble head goldfish? Do let me know in the comment section below.
