Chocolate Oranda

Chocolate Oranda Goldfish

(Carassius auratus)

Chocolate Orandas are a distinctive fancy goldfish variety, known for their deep bronze, brown and chocolate colouring, rounded body shape, flowing double tail and developing fleshy head growth known as the wen.

Their colour can vary quite a lot between individuals. Some fish are a dark chocolate brown, while others show warmer bronze, gold or olive tones across the body and fins. Lighting can also make them appear lighter or darker, and their colour may continue to develop as they mature.

The wen usually becomes more pronounced with age, so younger fish may have only a small amount of visible head growth when first purchased. Body shape, tail length and head development will vary naturally from fish to fish.

Chocolate Orandas are peaceful, fairly slow swimmers and are best kept with other gentle fancy goldfish of a similar size. Avoid mixing them with common goldfish, comets or shubunkins, as these faster varieties can easily outcompete them at feeding time.

They require a mature, fully cycled aquarium with good filtration, strong oxygenation and plenty of open swimming space. As a guide, allow around 100 litres for the first fancy goldfish, followed by approximately 50 litres for each additional fish. Ammonia and nitrite should remain at zero, with regular partial water changes used to maintain stable water quality.

Feed a good-quality sinking fancy goldfish pellet or gel food in small portions. Their diet can be varied with suitable vegetables and occasional frozen foods such as daphnia or brine shrimp.

Use smooth decorations and avoid sharp rocks, rough ornaments or hard plastic plants that could damage their fins or developing wen. Chocolate Orandas can grow to around 20cm, sometimes larger, and with the correct care can live for well over ten years.

Please note: photographs are examples of the fish available. Exact colour, body shape, tail length and head growth will vary between individual fish.