At Lunar Fancies, we specialize in premium Ranchu goldfish (fancy goldfish), raised with the highest care and attention. Every live goldfish for sale is inspected for health, color quality, and balanced form before shipping. Our fish are professionally packaged for safe delivery, ensuring your Ranchu arrives healthy and stress-free.

We’re dedicated to maintaining the health and safety of each fish from our tanks to your aquarium. While we cannot accept returns of live goldfish, we may offer a refund if a Ranchu arrives Dead on Arrival (DOA) or with severe cosmetic damage, in line with our Refund Policy

Each Lunar Fancies shipment reflects our promise: healthy, beautiful Ranchu goldfish — safely delivered to your home.

If your Ranchu goldfish looks stressed or sick, start by testing your water.

Most Ranchu and Fancy Goldfish health issues come from poor water quality — especially ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, chlorine, or chloramine imbalance. Even healthy goldfish can become weak if water parameters drift out of range.

✅ Step 1: Test Your Aquarium Water

Use the API Freshwater Master Test Kit to check ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels.

For chlorine and chloramine, use Chlorine/Total Chlorine Test Strips — both are toxic to goldfish, especially Ranchu and Oranda breeds.

💡 Pro Tip: Many “goldfish illnesses” like fin rot or lethargy are actually caused by invisible ammonia spikes or chloramine buildup.

✅ Step 2: Add Aquarium Salt at 0.3%

When your tank water temperature is around 78–80°F, add aquarium salt to support healing and reduce stress.

This range helps Ranchu goldfish stay active and strengthens their immune response.

Formula for 0.3% Aquarium Salt:

Salt (oz) = Tank Volume (gallons) × 0.3 × 1.04

Example: For a 40-gallon tank → 40 × 0.3 × 1.04 ≈ 12.5 oz of salt.

⚠️ Why Total Chlorine Matters

Total chlorine includes both free chlorine and chloramine, both harmful to fancy goldfish and other freshwater fish.

Aging tap water alone can remove chlorine, but not chloramine — which stays active unless treated.

Use Seachem Prime or an equivalent water conditioner to:

• Remove chlorine and chloramine
• Detoxify ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate for up to 48 hours
  

🌿 Keep Your Ranchu Goldfish Healthy

Up to 80% of Ranchu goldfish health problems come from poor water quality.

Regular testing and proper filtration are key to keeping your goldfish tank balanced.

Keep test kits, aquarium salt, and Seachem Prime on hand to protect your fish year-round.

Fancy and Ranchu goldfish thrive in clean, stable water.

Good goldfish care starts with consistent testing and maintenance. Poor water quality is the #1 reason fancy goldfish become stressed or sick.

✅ Ideal Water Parameters for Goldfish

To keep your Ranchu and Fancy Goldfish healthy and vibrant:

• Ammonia: 0 ppm
• Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: Below 40 ppm
• pH: 7.0 – 8.0
• Chlorine / Chloramine: 0 ppm
  

Use the API Freshwater Master Test Kit to measure ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH, and use Chlorine/Total Chlorine Test Strips for chlorine and chloramine.

💡 Tip: Even trace amounts of chlorine or chloramine can harm Ranchu goldfish instantly, so regular testing is essential.

✅ Step 2: Treat Tap Water Properly

Always treat new water with Seachem Prime or age the water before adding it to your goldfish tank.

Prime instantly removes chlorine and chloramine, and also detoxifies ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate for up to 48 hours — keeping your goldfish safe during water changes.

Why use Seachem Prime:

• Works for both Ranchu and Fancy Goldfish tanks
• One 500 ml bottle treats up to 5,000 gallons
• Cost-effective and safe for long-term use
  

✅ Step 3: Maintain a Clean Goldfish Aquarium

Perform 30% weekly water changes and ensure good aeration for oxygen-rich water.

Stable, oxygenated, and dechlorinated water supports healthy growth, smooth swimming, and bright coloration in your fancy goldfish.

💡 Pro Tip: Consistent testing and conditioning are your best defense. Most fancy goldfish health issues come from poor water quality, not disease.

Goldfish, especially Ranchu and Fancy Goldfish, produce a lot of waste — so keeping the tank clean is key to their long-term health.

But clean doesn’t mean sterile — your goal is balanced water quality, not spotless glass.

✅ Partial Water Changes

Replace about 30% of tank water weekly to keep ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate under control. Always treat new water with Seachem Prime to remove chlorine and chloramine.

✅ Filter Maintenance

Rinse filter sponges or media in tank water (not tap water) to preserve beneficial bacteria.

Avoid over-cleaning; your biofilter helps break down goldfish waste and stabilize water chemistry.

✅ Remove Waste & Debris

Siphon out uneaten food, fish waste, and debris to maintain water clarity and prevent ammonia spikes.

Strong filtration and high-quality biofilter media are highly recommended for goldfish tanks, since Ranchu goldfish produce heavy bioloads.

💡 Pro Tip: A clean goldfish tank isn’t just clear water—it’s healthy bacteria, low toxins, and steady parameters that keep your fancy goldfish thriving.

💡 Pro Tip: A clean tank isn’t just visually clear water—it’s about stable water chemistry and healthy bacteria.

Setting up the right home for your goldfish is the single most important step to ensure they live a long, healthy, and happy life. While cartoons might show goldfish in small bowls, a proper setup requires a few key pieces of equipment to create a stable and clean environment.

Here is a complete checklist of the essential supplies you need for a thriving goldfish tank:

1. A Properly Sized Aquarium
The single biggest mistake new owners make is choosing a tank that's too small. Goldfish grow large and produce a lot of waste.

• For Fancy Goldfish: Start with a minimum of a 20-gallon tank for one fish, and add 10 gallons for each additional fish.
• For Common/Comet Goldfish: These grow even larger and are best suited for ponds. If kept in an aquarium, they require a minimum of 55-75 gallons.

2. A Powerful Filtration System
A good filter is non-negotiable. Goldfish are messy, and a filter is crucial for removing waste and keeping the water free of harmful toxins like ammonia.

• What to look for: Choose a filter rated for a tank larger than what you have. For a 30-gallon tank, get a filter rated for 40 or 50 gallons. Hang-on-back (HOB) or canister filters are excellent choices.

3. Water Conditioner
Tap water contains chlorine and chloramine, which are toxic to fish. You must treat all new tap water with a water conditioner before adding it to the aquarium. This simple step makes the water safe for your goldfish.

4. Safe Substrate
Substrate is the material that covers the bottom of your tank.

• Best Option: Fine sand or a bare-bottom tank. Goldfish love to forage, and sand is soft and easy for them to sift through.
• Avoid: Gravel can be an issue as goldfish may accidentally swallow it, leading to choking or impaction.

5. An Air Pump and Air Stone
While a good filter provides some surface agitation, an air pump connected to an air stone is highly recommended. It increases the oxygen level in the water, which is vital for these active fish.

6. Safe Decorations and Hiding Spots
Decorations provide enrichment and give your goldfish places to hide and feel secure.

• Choose wisely: Use smooth decorations without sharp edges to avoid tearing delicate fins. Live plants like Anubias or Java Fern are also great additions.

7. A Lid or Hood
Goldfish can be surprisingly energetic and may jump out of their tank. A secure lid is a simple piece of equipment that can save your fish's life and reduce water evaporation. It's also where you will mount your light.

8. An Aquarium Light
While goldfish don't strictly need a special light to survive, having one on a timer for 8-10 hours a day helps establish a healthy day/night cycle and allows you to better see and enjoy your beautiful fish.

9. A Water Testing Kit
This is a crucial tool for monitoring the health of your aquarium. A liquid test kit (like the API Freshwater Master Test Kit) will allow you to check for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels, ensuring your water is safe for your fish.

A Ranchu goldfish, which is a type of fancy goldfish, typically has a lifespan of 5 to 10 years.

With exceptional care in a pristine environment, it's possible for a Ranchu to live even longer, sometimes reaching up to 15 years.

However, like other highly specialized fancy goldfish, the Ranchu's unique body shape—with its arched back, lack of a dorsal fin, and prominent head growth (wen)—makes it more delicate than common goldfish. Achieving their maximum lifespan is highly dependent on excellent care, including:

• A Large, Uncrowded Tank: To provide ample swimming space and maintain stable water quality.
• Pristine Water Conditions: To prevent infections in their wen (head growth).
• A High-Quality Diet: To avoid digestive issues and swim bladder problems, which their compact bodies are prone to.

Ranchu goldfish require a specialized diet to support their unique anatomy and ensure they live a long, healthy life. Their round, compact bodies make them prone to digestive and swim bladder issues, while their prominent wen (head growth) needs quality protein to develop properly.

The best diet for a Ranchu is a high-quality, protein-rich sinking pellet or gel food as their daily staple.

1. Why Sinking Food is Essential

This is the most critical part of a Ranchu's diet.

• Prevents Swim Bladder Issues: Ranchus should not eat from the water's surface. Floating foods cause them to gulp air, which can become trapped in their digestive tract and lead to serious buoyancy problems (swim bladder disease).
• Sinking pellets and gel food allow your Ranchu to feed from the bottom of the tank, which is their natural foraging behavior, without swallowing excess air. Always choose a sinking formula.

2. Key Ingredients to Look For

A quality food will support both body and wen growth. Check the label for:

• High-Quality Protein: Look for ingredients like fish meal, shrimp meal, or spirulina listed first. Protein is vital for healthy wen development.
• Vitamins and Minerals: A balanced formula with added vitamins (especially Vitamin C) will boost their immune system and enhance their vibrant colors.
• Low Fillers: Avoid foods that are heavy in low-quality fillers like corn meal or wheat flour, as these can be hard for Ranchus to digest and may cause bloating.

3. Supplemental Foods for a Varied Diet

To aid digestion and provide enrichment, supplement their staple diet a few times a week with:

• Blanched Vegetables: Skinned, boiled peas are a favorite and act as a natural laxative, preventing constipation. You can also offer small pieces of steamed broccoli or spinach.
• Occasional Protein Treats: Frozen or freeze-dried foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms are excellent treats to offer once or twice a week.

Feeding Tips for Ranchus:

• Soak Pellets: Before feeding, soak dry pellets in a small cup of tank water for a minute.4 This softens them, making them easier to digest.
• Feed Small Meals: It's better to feed 2-3 small meals throughout the day rather than one large one.
• Don't Overfeed: Only give them what they can completely consume in about two minutes to maintain water quality and prevent health issues.

No, goldfish cannot live in water straight from the tap. While tap water is safe for humans, it contains chemicals that are toxic to fish and can cause severe stress, gill damage, and even death.

However, the good news is that tap water is the best and most convenient source of water for your aquarium once it has been properly treated.

What Makes Untreated Tap Water Dangerous?

Municipal water suppliers add disinfectants to our tap water to kill harmful bacteria and make it safe to drink. The two main chemicals used are:

1. Chlorine: This chemical is extremely harsh on a goldfish's delicate gills, causing chemical burns that can lead to respiratory distress and suffocation.3
2. Chloramine: This is a more stable compound of chlorine and ammonia. It is also toxic to fish and will not evaporate from the water on its own like chlorine can.

The Essential Solution: A Water Conditioner

To make your tap water instantly safe for your goldfish, you must use a goldfish water conditioner (also called a dechlorinator).

• What it does: A quality water conditioner neutralizes toxic chlorine and chloramine on contact. Many formulas also detoxify heavy metals that can be present in tap water.
• How to use it: Simply add the recommended dose of water conditioner to the new tap water before you pour it into the aquarium during a water change. Follow the instructions on the product label for proper dosage.

Treating your tap water is a simple, inexpensive, and non-negotiable step in goldfish care. By always using a water conditioner, you ensure the water is safe and healthy for your fish to thrive in.

🧠 Ranchu Temperament & Behavior

Are Ranchu goldfish aggressive or friendly?

Ranchu goldfish are famous for being incredibly friendly, peaceful, and social. Often called "water puppies," they are known to recognize their owners and wiggle excitedly at the glass during feeding time. They are strictly non-aggressive. In fact, due to their slow swimming speed and lack of a dorsal fin, Ranchus are more likely to be bullied by other fish than to be the aggressor.

Do Ranchu goldfish get lonely? Can they live alone?

While a Ranchu can survive alone, they are social schooling fish that thrive on interaction. They are much happier and more active when kept with at least one other fancy goldfish. A solitary Ranchu may become lethargic. We highly recommend keeping them in pairs or small groups for the best quality of life.

🐠 Best Tank Mates for Ranchu Goldfish

What are the best tank mates for Ranchu goldfish?

The best tank mates for a Ranchu are other slow-moving fancy goldfish. Because Ranchus are clumsy swimmers, they need companions that compete for food at the same speed.

• Top Choices: Other Ranchus, Lionheads, Orandas, Pearlscales, and Ryukins (if the Ryukin is not too aggressive).
• Avoid: Single-tail goldfish like Comets, Shubunkins, or Common Goldfish. These breeds are too fast and will starve the Ranchu by eating all the food.

Can Ranchu goldfish live with tropical community fish?

Technically yes, but it is risky due to behavior, not temperature.

• Young/Grooming Ranchu: often kept at 78°F–80°F to maximize growth and metabolism.
• Adult Ranchu: prefer a stable 74°F–77°F.
• This range does overlap perfectly with many tropical fish.

2. The Real Problem: "Lifestyle" Incompatibility
Even though the temperatures match, keeping them together is difficult because:

• Speed Gap: Ranchu are poor swimmers due to their lack of a dorsal fin and round bodies. Fast tropicals (like Tetras or Danios) will out-compete them for food, leaving the Ranchu stressed or hungry.
• Bullying: The Ranchu's slow movement and fleshy wen make them easy targets. "Fin-nippers" like Tiger Barbs, Serpae Tetras, or Angelfish will relentlessly attack the Ranchu.
• Bioload: Goldfish produce massive amounts of waste compared to tropical fish. This high-nitrate environment can be toxic to sensitive tropical species (like Neon Tetras).

The Verdict:
If you must keep them with other fish, avoid standard "community" schools. Only choose peaceful, bottom-dwelling scavengers that can tolerate high waste, such as Bristlenose Plecos (caution required as they sometimes suck on slime coats) or larger Corydoras (caution required as they can get stuck in goldfish mouths).

Can Ranchu goldfish live with Bettas or Guppies?

• Bettas: No. Bettas require warm water and can be aggressive toward the flashy fins and bright colors of a goldfish.
• Guppies/Mollies/Platies: Not recommended. While peaceful, livebearers are very fast eaters and will out-compete the Ranchu for food. Furthermore, a fully grown Ranchu might accidentally inhale smaller fish like Guppies.

What "cleaner fish" or bottom feeders can live with Ranchus?

Choosing a cleanup crew for goldfish requires caution.

• Safe Options: Hillstream Loaches and Bristlenose Plecos (Ancistrus) are generally safe and tolerate cooler water. Mystery Snails and Nerite Snails are excellent choices as they are peaceful and help manage algae.
• Unsafe Options: Avoid Common Plecos and Chinese Algae Eaters. These fish grow very large and have a tendency to latch onto the flat sides of the Ranchu to eat their slime coat, which can cause severe injury or infection.

How many Ranchu can I keep in my tank forever?

To avoid rehoming fish or upgrading tanks later, follow the "Forever Home" Stocking Rule: Allow 15–20 gallons per fish based on their adult size, not their current size when they are young.

The "Young Ranchu" Trap:
When you buy Young Ranchu, they are only 2 inches long. A 100-gallon tank will look empty with just 6 of them. Resist the urge to buy more.

• Rapid Growth: If fed correctly, these "babies" will become fist-sized "water pigs" within 12–18 months.
• The Consequence: If you stock based on their baby size (e.g., putting 20 young fish in a 100-gallon tank), you will face nitrate spikes, stunted growth, and the stress of having to give away your beloved pets when they get too big.
• The Strategy: Stock for the fish they will become, not the fish they are today.

Recommended "Forever" Limits:

• 40 Gallon: 2 Fish (Minimum size for a pair).
• 55 Gallon: 3 Fish (Ensure flow isn't too strong).
• 75 Gallon: 4–5 Fish (Excellent depth for Ranchu).
• 100 Gallon: 6 Fish (The "Sweet Spot").
• 125 Gallon: 7 Fish.
• 150 Gallon: 8 Fish (A true "Jumbo" display).

Do Ranchu need specific temperatures?

Yes, but the temperature changes based on the fish's life stage.

Phase 1: Young | Age 2 mo – 1 Year

• Target: 75°F – 80°F.
• Goal: High Metabolism & Maximum Growth.
• Action: Feed high-protein pellets (45%+) 3 to 4 times daily. The heat helps them digest heavy food quickly to build bone structure.

Phase 2: Adult | Age 2 Years+

• Target: 70°F – 74°F.
• Goal: Organ Health & Stability.
• Action: Feed lower protein (<40%) /high fiber 1–2 times daily. Cooler water protects organs and prevents Swim Bladder Disease.

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