I LOVE Orandas. I have 6. I have always been drawn to the short fat ones with the flowing tails and the short round bodies with huge heads, flat faces huge wens and large chests. They just look like little quipie dolls. I also have thinner bodied ones with pointier faces and smaller wens.

What I have been discovering is that I don't seem to have as good of luck with the short fat ones. They seem to be prone to SBD and the two that I have of that shape are suffering on and off from the condition. In fact right now, my largest and fattest doesn't look very good at all. I am not sure he is going to pull through this latest episode of SBD. My thinner bodied Orandas are doing just fine.

Should these "round" ones be avoided? Is it better to choose the thinner sleeker ones?

I personally like the short bodied orandas more than the longer bodied ones. From my past experience, my short bodied ones were less hardy and succumbed to illnesses quicker than my long bodied ones. I love how the short bodied ones look with long flowing tails. My short bodied ones, the majority seemed to have tight compact wens as well and more even shaped.

I have one medium bodied oranda whose body isn't as compact as the other ones I've had, but isn't as long as the 2 longer bodied ones I have now. He hasn't had any SBD issues so far and is the healthiest fish I've ever had.

The long bodied orandas that I have owned, had shorter tails but were hardier than my other fish. The long bodied orandas and other fancies I have aren't as appealing to me (IMO). They havent had any health issues so far either.

In the end, I still love the short bodied fish because they look rounder and cuter. If I ever get a new tank I am going to be looking for the short bodied orandas again.

It all depends on your taste on what to get and what to avoid.

Well, the thinner ones aren't really "up to standard" when it comes to judging and shows and such, but in general, if you love 'em, that is just perfectly fine. The round bodied ones are more of a quality in the eyes of a goldfish judge, but most people never plan on showing their fish anyway, and all that counts is what you prefer and like.

I also like the ones with heavy headgrowth, and unfortunately, I only seem to find them on the longer bodied fish.

I like the thick heavy fat bodies - but I really do not like the "top hat" look to a wen. I want a compact, full face wen on an Oranda.


In general, you should be able to find a "fat" Oranda that is not floaty. Some fish need extra care, though.. but it should not be an impossible mission....

I also prefer the short, fat bodies...I have brought home a couple of fish with this body types that've been floaty, but on a diet of peas, algae wafers, snail cookies, and pellets they rarely have repeats of the problem. The shorter ones do seem to be higher maintenance, but if you're willing to go the extra mile for your fish then get what you like best

My ideal oranda, body shape and wen, is just like the one in Shin's av.

Orandas are my first love in goldfish. I have several and I like the shorter, fatter guys but I do not want so much wen that their eyes are covered. I have one that is thick and built like a torpedo, very little wen but the most amazing colors ever seen, hes a calico. He has a very short tail, the type often seen on Ranchus, kind of dips down.

It all depends on what you like and if that fish "Pops" out at you and just screams "Bring me home"!