Carassius auratus l.f. red oranda - Tropical Fish for Sale UK

Solid red over a rounded fancy-goldfish body, finished with the oranda's elegant head growth — that combination keeps the red oranda (Carassius auratus) among the most requested cold-water fish in the UK hobby. It is a long-term companion too: with a lifespan of around ten years and an adult size near 15 cm, this is a fish you plan an aquarium around rather than add on impulse, and one that rewards the planning with a decade of slow, stately colour.

Peaceful by temperament and active at every level of the tank, the red oranda still needs its company chosen for fairness. Round-bodied fancies are not built for racing, so pair it only with other fancy goldfish of a similar body shape and swimming ability. Faster, competitive fish — including common and comet goldfish — will reach every meal first, while fin-nipping species, aggressive fish and warm-water tropicals are each unsuitable for their own reasons. The compatibility record sums it up neatly: this fish thrives in a community, provided the community is built of its own kind. As an omnivore it takes a wide range of foods, which keeps balanced feeding easy so long as quicker fish are not stealing the meal first.

An omnivore rated at moderate care, it wants cool, well-buffered water: 15–25 °C, pH 6.5–8.0 and hardness of 10–30 dGH, in an aquarium of at least 110 litres. None of those numbers is difficult to hit; the discipline is in holding them steady year-round and resisting the urge to add quicker, pushier tankmates later on. Cooler-running rooms suit it better than heated tropical setups, since the recorded range tops out at 25 °C.

Red oranda goldfish requirements

• Full adult size: ~15 cm
• Expected lifespan: ~10 years
• Aquarium volume: 110 litres minimum
• Temperature: 15–25 °C (cold water)
• Chemistry: pH 6.5–8.0, 10–30 dGH
• Diet: omnivore

Planning your purchase

Budget tank space for the full-grown 15 cm adult, not the youngster that arrives, and stock alongside similar slow-bodied fancies from the start. Allow the full 110 litres for the first fish and scale the volume up generously for each additional fancy you plan to keep. Red orandas are dispatched UK-wide via licensed live-animal courier, covered by our live arrival guarantee.