Ryukin Goldfish, the lovable rogue
by Talulah
The Ryukin is one of the most popular fancy goldfish available and my personal favourite. These beautiful fish were first bred in Japan. The Fan Tail goldfish is considered the Western version of the Ryukin and if often mislabelled in pet shops and aquatic centres. The main characteristic that separates the Ryukin from the Fan Tail is the tall hump that starts from the back of their head. Ryukins have a deep body which becomes almost a perfect ball shape, with their head almost beak like, in adulthood. They are prone to floating issues as a result of their unusual shape, however, with a diet including plenty of fresh vegetables, such as peas and spinach, the risk can be kept to a minimum.
Ryukin goldfish
Their caudal fin can vary, some are long and flowing very much the same as a Fan Tail goldfish, this is probably the most common and popular variant. Others may have a short caudal fin, these fish tend to waddle more than other types. There is a highly rare breed of Ryukin, known as a Tamasaba, these have a single caudal fin. Veil and Butterfly Tail are also in existence within the Ryukin breed, although these are not often seen. The tripod tail, although considered by breeders as a defect, is relatively common among Ryukins.
Ryukin goldfish
Ryukin goldfish
This is actually a very beautiful type of tail and causes the fish absolutely no problems or discomfort. Altogether most Ryukins have eight fins, including pectoral fins, ventral fins and double anal fins, with a tall and proud looking dorsal sitting atop their hump. Ryukins come in a variety of colours, ranging from orange, red, red with white, calico and less common colours such as chocolate, blue or pure white. Calico Ryukins have a smaller hump compared to others, this is related to the breeding method; a rare tall humped calico Ryukin is considered a show quality fish.
Muriel, a pretty Calico Ryukin
As with all other types of goldfish the Ryukin needs good quality water. They live happily in most temperatures, ranging from 64 to 72 Fahrenheit (17 to 22 Celsius). Kept in the right conditions, they can live between seven to ten years and grow to around 10 inches (25.5 centimetres) or more. Although these fish are not designed to be fast swimmers, they can be pretty boisterous and will go to great lengths to develop their own unique swimming style to compensate for their lack of dynamics.
Ryukin goldfish
Ryukin
Ryukin’s often can be extremely bold, and temperamental; it’s not an unusual sight to see a Ryukin give a friend, lingering near by, a swift peck and even chase them with no real reason. Of course each individual fish has their own personality traits and the Ryukin is no exception, but they have developed quite a reputation as being a bad boy fish. Don’t be surprised if you wake up one morning to find your Ryukin has vandalised the contents of the tank. They make an ideal pet for younger owners or people looking for interaction, such as hand feeding, as they particularly enjoy human company and are very intelligent.
Ryukin goldfish
They’re extremely amusing characters and provide hours of entertainment and laughter. If you’re considering keeping a Ryukin goldfish select tank mates carefully. It may not be advisable to keep a Ryukin with Dorsal-less fish such as Lionheads, Ranchus and Egg Fish; these fish are not strong swimmers and therefore may not fare well in a tank with a clumsy, rumbustious Ryukin. Be cautious about adding Moors, Celestials, Bubble Eye Fish or Demekins, not only are these poor swimmers but they are prone to injury as a result of their weird and wonderful eye shapes.
Ryukin goldfish
Although it is not an impossible to keep these fish with the Ryukin and many do with great success. Get to know your Ryukin before deciding to keep a more delicate fish with them. If you choose to add a more fragile member to your community, it maybe a good idea to choose a male. Spawning is a rough business with all types of goldfish but can be particularly brutal with the Ryukins.
Ideal tank mates for the Ryukin are Fan Tails, Orandas, Pearl Scales and other Ryukins. The more slender bodied fish such as the Commons, Comets, Shubunkins and Wakins maybe a suitable but with caution. Never keep any sucker fish such as Plecos, Loaches or Catfish with any type of goldfish, this is a common mistake with novice keepers and can result in injury or even death of the goldfish.