Yellow Cap Oranda

Yellow Cap Oranda Goldfish

(Carassius auratus)

Yellow Cap Orandas are a distinctive fancy goldfish variety, usually with a pale white, cream or silvery body and a contrasting yellow to orange head growth, known as the wen. The cap becomes more noticeable as the fish matures, so younger fish may have only a small amount of visible head growth at first.

Colour can vary between individuals. Some fish may have a very neat yellow cap with an otherwise pale body, while others may show small yellow or orange markings around the head, back or tail. Body shape, tail length and the amount of wen development will also vary naturally from fish to fish.

Like other Orandas, they are peaceful, fairly slow swimmers and are best kept with other gentle fancy goldfish of a similar size. Avoid keeping them with common goldfish, comets or shubunkins, as these faster varieties can easily beat them to food.

They require a mature, fully cycled aquarium with strong filtration, good 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 keep the water clean and stable.

Feed a good-quality sinking fancy goldfish pellet or gel food in small portions. Their diet can also 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. Yellow Cap Orandas can grow to around 20cm, sometimes larger, and with good care can live for well over ten years.

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