Orandas - Carassius auratus
This growth often covers most of the head, in juveniles the eyes and mouth are not usually covered. As these fish age, it is not uncommon for the wen to begin to overgrow the eyes and impair the vision of older specimens. The fish are not usually inhibited by this growth and compensate in other ways to obtain their required nutrition.
These fancy goldfish have been selectively bred for a number of characteristics over many decades and even centuries. They are available to the home hobbyist in quite a variety of colours. Depending on availability, there can be quite a colour choice available in the aquariums of the stores at Center d'Animaux NATURE Pet. These include orange, red, blue, black, chocolate, bronze, white and silver.
Not all fish are a single colour, some of the more often seen combinations included and white, red and black, black and white, calico variations and even the tri-colour scheme of red, white and black.
Orandas are not as hardy as most other fancy goldfish and prefer to be kept in warmer water than is more commonly associated with the cool water carps. A temperature starting at 65oF up to 78o is their preferred range.
Stress and other things can make these fish prone to bacterial problems with the wen, so special care should be taken to ensure that infections do not become a problem. The wen is somewhat fragile, so sharp or rough objects should not be placed in their habitats.
Smooth objects, such as well worn river rock and pebbles are a much better choice to prevent accidental damage from ornaments that are too sharp to be safe for them.
Orandas, like other fancy Goldfish are omnivorous, willing to eat almost anything that can be considered food. The problem is that often the protein levels can climb too high in ordinary fish foods and other treats.
It is better to feed goldfish a relatively low protein content in their diet. Properly formulated Goldfish flakes and pellets contain a lower protein level for this reason, and should be the main component of most home kept orandas and other goldfish.
Goldfish spend quite a lot of their time digging in the gravel for food, so the tank can often suffer from the fish successfully uprooting live plants in the process. Plants are welcome in the tank, but they must be well rooted and not prone to being damaged from the constant digging going on all the time.
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