How to Identify and Care for Red Cap Oranda Fish

The red cap oranda is a beautiful, strikingly colored fish, which belongs to the Cyprinidae family. Like other cold-water cyprinids, it is a man-made cultivar. These pet fish are a peaceful, schooling species that are well suited for a community tank. Read on to learn how to identify and take care of your red cap oranda.

Things You'll Need

  • 24-gallon fish tank Red Cap Oranda Aquarium heater Tank filter Tropical fish food Aquarium decorations
Show More

Instructions

  1. How to Identify Red Cap Oranda

    • 1

      Identify the red cap oranda first by the raspberry-like growth, which is known as the "wen." This growth may be limited to the top of the head or may encase its whole head aside from the eye and mouth area.

    • 2

      Look out for a deep, compact body that grows up to 5 inches in length and about 2 inches wide

    • 3

      Take note of its delicate, flowing fins with an extra long, flowing double caudal fin. It's elegant caudal fin can grow up to one and a half times its body length.

    • 4

      Note its red and white coloration. It has a white body with metallic or nacreous scales (a combination of matte and metallic scales). Its red coloring is restricted to the fleshy, head-growth that caps its head.

    How to Care for Your Red Cap Oranda

    • 5

      Set up your aquarium for the red cap oranda. When selecting an aquarium, choose one that allows a minimum of 10 gallons of water for each goldfish it will house.

    • 6

      Clean the aquarium and then fill it with some room temperature water. Allow the water in the aquarium to sit for 24 hours or more before you introduce your red cap oranda fish to their new home.

    • 7

      Each week, do a 25 to 30 percent water change to maintain good water quality. Maintain the tank water's pH range at 6.5 to 8.5.

    • 8

      Install your aquarium heater and filter in the fish tank. Adjust the setting of your heater to 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit

    • 9

      Spread your aquarium gravel on the floor of the fish tank. Put in any other additional aquarium decorations as desired.

    • 10

      Feed your red oranda goldfish with high quality gold fish pellets or flakes. You can supplement this with live foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms as well as leafy plant materials such as lettuce, spinach, peas or kale. Color enhancing and growth boosting foods may also be provided, which are available from pet supply stores.