I read that Spider Man and perhaps a few others are interested in the "Crystal Ranchu" that Dandy Orandas has recently imported. I have a set of these - and have some hopes of breeding them in the future. They are, at this time, in green water for healing - the females were in a little bit of rough shape from breeding frenzy, but are healing nicely. I will get pics very soon.

I guess what I wanted to say - and ask - is that:

1. If you are interested in those Crystals from Dandys - you may want to act fast - I do not know what he has left

2. I find them very interesting and unique. The "crystals" have not yet popped for me - but shipping was a stressor - and no fish shows its true colors right after shipping. (When I pull them from the green water for cleaning today, I will check again. ) The body type is pretty cool - kinda long bodied but the heads are nice and cheeky and solid.

I hope to be able to post up any picture I take in the next few hours.

Does anyone else have any "crystals"?..... How do you like them? Any suggestions?

Crystal ranchu? Now that's one thing I missed while in Indo

Any pics, daryl?

I will have to take pics another day. I got hit with some sort of flu-type bug - and I feel really really sick.

'nother day.

Did you get the blue, reds, red and black ones. I like the all red ones the best. You are right about the body being longer. But like Ken said and I believe this also, that these fish are from Japanese stock. I have always like the traditional japanese ranchu especially the top view version that we rarely see here in the States. These fish look very much like top view ranchus even with the head growth (wens) Keeping them in green water should bring out that crystal effect. I really need to call Ken to see if he has any left. I think I will put mine outside. I live in Miami and the winter time is a great time to put the fish outside, too too hot in the summer though. Hope you feel better soon Daryl

I guess I missed those! Daryl, I hope you feel better soon!!! Post some pics when you feel better! I love seeing your fish!

umm can you describe it for now?

there were three color versions of the crystal ranchu red, red and black, and blue. The all red ones look like matt fish but as the fish pass under the light you can see very lightly the scales. The scales are not very pronounced as on a normal fish so as the light hits them only parts of the scales reflect the light back thus giving it a crystal effect. The red and blacks and blues appeared to have more prounced scaling. However even with them they are not as pronounced as regular fish. The blues and red and blacks look to have a matt finish covering their scales. Once again as the light hits them only part of the scales reflect the light back giving it the crystal effect. Ken from dandy orandas said the best way to see the crystal effect is to place them outside in the sun.

These fish do not look like the traditional chinese ranchus with the squat bodies and large head growths. Their bodies are bit longer with very smooth backs and the type of head growth is very firm without all of the bumps you see on the traditional chinese ranchus. They remind me of the traditional japanese top view ranchus

feel better soon. my two friends and my brother have it. i am just waiting for it to come to me. lol.

Here is what I got from Danddy. They were in the green water for a week.








I like them very much.. Best chinese ranchu for me. If I have a chance, I want to breed them with some good Thai ranchu that I have and getting (dreaming ... dreaming ... dreaming ........)

Those are real beauties!!! I want to see more! I cannot wait to see what you will get when you breed them! Keep us posted, ok??????

I am feeling a bit better today, and really need to change out my green water on the crystals. So I will attempt to get photos today.

Good description! I have a blue male and a red female and two black/reds ( m&f) that will most likely become red. (black stays pretty well for me, though, with my weird water -so maybe they will keep some black - but I doubt it).

Fred, those are beautiful!!!!!

Daryl, glad to hear that you are feeling a little better!!!

I heard that you guys is in Chicago can keep really black fish from loosing their colors. No such luck in here in Miami, the water is too warm, too hard. Glad you are feeling better Daryl

Glad to hear that you are feeling better today. I would like to see the pics of your ranchu too.

For breeding I have to see. I don't have the space yet. (wanna move out of NYC ASAP for breeding project )

I hear ya buddy!

Gee looks like my Rancu Mr. big

Space? what is that???

I have tanks on the floor, tanks in the dining room, tanks in the laundry. Last year, I even had a tank on the floor in the bathroom - such that you nearly had to straddle it to use the john.

We are in the process of designing our new house for our "retirement". I have drawn in a "fish room" that is about 30X40 feet. I am trying to convince the architect to incorporate a glass roof over part of it - where I can have an "indoor pond" where the fish will get sunlight. When we build in a year or two, THEN I will have ROOM!!!!

30x40? wow such a big room for fish. My whole place is about 30x40. Two person and 8 fish(90,60,29 g tank) has to share that space

Such is the life of the big city, eh?

Your new fish are gorgeous~! I saw them on the DVD. I love seeing them in new people's homes though. So exciting!

Yup - I could not STAND to live in a city. I do not want to see any neighbors when I look out my windows.....just trees and fields........

in the city!

Me, too, Daryl!!! I would love to be able to buy a bunch of land and build my house right in the middle of it!!! Your in-door pond sounds neat!

Daryl,
I would like to see your crystal ranchu too .

Well, I give up trying to get better pictures. Here are the best I have at this time........

Well... it appears that this stupid computer hiccuped and copied one picture twice. Sorry about that. I cannot edit it, either, or so it seems.....

Sorry

They're so chubby and cute, and nicely formed! I love them! You know which one is my fave? The red one! He's got black X's under the eyes like a football player. How cool is that?

That is a little girl. I guess she plays powder puff, huh?

There ya go.

it is unfortunate that you really cannot get that crystal effect from daryl's pictures even though his pictures are very good. I think they need to bee seen with the correct type of lighting to them justice. Daryl you got some really beautiful fish. I am sure that you will be one of the first in the states to breed them

Why, thank you. I hope so.

They still are not showing much "crystal" scales - I would be hard pressed at this time to differenciate between "standard" and "crystal" scales, yet. I still think that they are stressed a bit.

Some of the wounds on the red/black female have gotten slightly infected - particularly around the eyes. There is one open wound there. I have started treating - and it is already responding to treatment, just 12 hours from the start, though. I am throughly confident that all will be fine with them. I just have to get them over the first bump. (They were injured in particularly rough breeding activity!)

I generally do NOTHING, except place new fish in salt when they arrive. If and only if there is reason to treat, I do. There has simply not been a reason, up until now. I have not been able to scrape any parasites or see any other problems with them. They have a UV on the tank and all has been well. The tails are healing splendidly, but the one has a sore on her wen over the eye - and that has popped up a bit with some problems. I am also sure as soon as they are de-stressed a bit more - no more salt and medications, etc. they will show up more "crystal".

They are splendidly healthy in every other way - active and alert and eating well. I am very pleased. The more I watch them, the more I find myself hoping that the red/black does stay. I normally do not want to get too attached to a fish's colors, for they change so much, but those have an endearing, pudgy look with the red/black faces...... gotta love 'em!

Hey, look who's fish popped up! Those are cute as a button, Daryl! I just adore that blue one in particular, but do I see just a tad of red (shows up as rust color) on one side? They have some very nice headgrowth for a bit longer fish. Too much headgrowth for a true japanese fish, but that face ist just adorable. The girls seem to be healing nicely.

In the first post of pictures, picture #4, is there a bit of red on the base of the blue ranchu's pectoral fin, or is that just the light?

Man.. i want to take all of them

The blue is one of the clearest blues in the crystals that Dandy's had. The fish does, however, have some "chocolate" sections of scales here and there. He is not a completely "clear" blue as are a few others that I have.

Yes - that is some red at the base of his fin. He, too, has a few bang-ups. He, too, seems to be responding well to treatment. They all have a few tiny problems here and there.... But I am VERY pleased. I opted to get them before they "healed" for I am comfortable enough caring for them myself - and wanted to do it myself.

There is no natural red coloring on the fish, though. Any that you see is either choco in spots or red from healing/sore tissue.

wow, they look great I like the red one personally. I also believe the crystal color will come out soon.

Wow there so beautiful.I adore there chubby little faces.How cute!

Wow very nice fish.

Yeah, that rusty/choco color is what I was refering to. I don't see any actual red on the blue baby, but if he ever looses his blue, those rusty spots will be the red coloration on him.

I ahve seen loads of "black" fish and many "blue" fish that have the tell-tale "chocolate/red" that portends their changing to reddish or red fish. This one is a bit different. I have every expectation that he will remain blue, however, with small spots of chocolate.

Really? Is that because of the placement of those choc. scales, in proportion to the blue ones?

Daryl, how many fish total do you have right now, not including your new fry?

Oh, good grief! Uh..... 50 ish..... I guess..... of my own....

Some are "rescues" and I do not really know if they are "mine" or if the previous owners will get them back. Some are being housed for others during the winter.... There is one who is here on "breeding loan".....

Awesome!

I wish I were retired.....I'd have that many too.

Sounds like a NICE room! Unfortunately...you know you won't have room for long, there are so many ways to fill up that space . I just bought ten acres that I'll be putting a fish house on (oh yeah, and a people house too), tentative plans are for a 40x40 fish house but I'll eventually have a large greenhouse seperate from that for some very large stock tanks (I'm dreaming of those 10' rounds) to raise various types of fancy goldies in.

That said...my current house is 20x20 for a two-year-old, two adults, three dogs, a cat, and the 18 tanks in the attic-type space (one of those rooms that slope down on the sides). Yes, I am desperate for the warm weather so we can move a temporary trailer house out onto the new land to move into until this house is sold and we can afford the house we want for the acreage. I'm with you about the city, I know I'll never leave Wyoming because this is as far as I can get from anything remotely resembling a city.

Those are some gorgeous fish, if you end up breeding them I'd definitely be interested in purchasing a few babies one of these days

Hi everyone,

just one question. does anyone know where can I get japanese ranchu in US?

thanks

I have heard that there is this guy name paul. He is one of the on line vendors known as www.goldfishpassion.com He does not directly import from japan but Thailand. Apparently his vendors in Thailand have japanese brood stock. At times he has the famous top view ranchu which the japanese are famous for. Most of his ranchus are the traditional side view ranchus. They appear to be very nice. The top view ranchus are in the $400-500 range which is not bad considering what top show quality fish go for. Dandyorandas.com has some crystal ranchus (new color) which really look like Japanese ranchus even though they are imported from China.

You might want to contact Ed at Goldfishutopia.net . He was planning to get a real TVR from Japan. But I don't know what the status is.

My goodness they are adorable!

Thank you all !!!

What makes it crystal anyways i don't know if its me ... i couldn't really tell and i was trying to search it on the web and seems like there is nothing about it !

The scales themselves are a bit different. As they were described by the sales person to Dandy Orandas "Each scale has reflections like little crystal" or some such.

What I see is that the crystal scales look as if the "center" is almost a matt finish, with the outer ring being a type of metallic - almost irridecent metallic. This gives the whole fish a kind of sparkling appearance you do not get with the standard metallic finish.

It is neat. The more the fish settle in, the more "crystal" they appear. I am pleased with them. They are doing better each day - and the injuries the females got during spawning are healing nicely. They are clean and healthy and healing perfectly. Very attractive little fish.

I am quite pleased, too, with the body shape and type - much more of the modern "Japanese" Ranchu look. Definately neat and different. They are as cute as can be!

wow thats spectacular .. i would wanna see them in person... i wonder if i will ever have a chance lol.. would you think breeding the tow crystal together will end up with baby crystal scales !!

I have absolutely no idea. I do not know how the crystal trait is situated in the genetic picture. I am going to have to find that out emperically.....

That may take a few years......

For those of you in Canada, The Fish Sempai is also carrying 'Crystal Ranchu'. I'll dig up some photo's of my last trip. I had already arranged to pick up other fish before I knew he was carrying those, but its just a matter of time. Come the Spring I'll be picking some of those guys up for sure!