Ranchu 3065072 223650685 2008-07-05T02:21:56Z Squids and Chips 2947772 Disambiguate [[Western]] to [[Western culture]] using [[:en:Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation_popups|popups]] {| border=1 cellspacing=0 align="right" cellpadding=2 |- align=center bgcolor=pink !Ranchu |- align=left |[[Image:Goldfish Ranchu 2.jpg|200px]] |- align=center bgcolor=pink !Country of origin |- align=center |[[Japan]] |- align=center bgcolor=pink !Type |- align=center |Fantailed |- align=center bgcolor=pink !Breed standards |- align=center |[http://www.bristol-aquarists.org.uk/goldfish/ranchu/ranchu.htm BAS] |- align=center bgcolor=pink |} [[Image:Black Ranchu.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A black ranchu goldfish.]] The '''ranchu''' is a [[hood|hooded]] variety of fancy [[goldfish]] developed in [[Japan]].<ref name="Andrews">Andrews, Dr. Chris. "An Interpet Guide to Fancy Goldfish", Interpet Publishing, 2002. - ISBN 1-902389-64-6</ref> It is referred to as the "king of goldfish" by the [[Japanese people|Japanese]].<ref name="GFSA">[http://www.goldfishpages.com/Articles/GFSA%20Ask%20the%20Judges,%20Ranchus.pdf "GFSA - Ask the Judges", an article about the Lionchu by Larry Christensen, Peter Ponzio, Scott Taylor, Tony Reynolds and John Parker, from the Goldfish Pages Website (Goldfish Society of America), date retrieved: 27 May 2007]</ref> ==Origins and evolution== The modern-day ranchu is a Japanese development of the lionhead.<ref name="Andrews"/> They are the direct outcome of crossbreeding experiments of different Chinese lionhead specimens.<ref name="GFSA"/> ==Description and standards== The ranchu is a highly regarded fancy goldfish in Japan. Compared to '''[[Lionhead (goldfish)|lionheads]]''', ranchus have a more downturned tail and tail fin.<ref name="Andrews"/> Although similar to lionheads, ranchus have more-arched backs and have much shorter tails that are tucked-in at a sharp angle.<ref name="Johnson">Johnson, Dr. Erik L., D.V.M. and Richard E. Hess. "Fancy Goldfish: A Complete Guide to Care and Collecting", Weatherhill, Shambhala Publications, Inc., 2006. - ISBN 0-8348-0448-4</ref> A ranchu has an egg-shaped body with a deep belly that is between 5/8 to 3/4 the length of the fish. This goldfish does not have a dorsal fin and breeding standards require that the back should not have any vestiges of the dorsal fin on it. The back should be rounded and not flat, as in the case of lionheads. The area of the caudal [[peduncle]] should curve sharply downwards to meet the tail. The caudal peduncle itself should be broad and neither lengthy or too short (a properly formed caudal peduncle avoids swimming motion impairments to this type of goldfish). The ranchu's tail meets the caudal peduncle at a forty-five degree angle, giving the fish a unique swimming motion. Furthermore, the tail lobes are rounded, and all other finnage are paired.<ref name="GFSA"/> [[Image:ChocolateRanchuRodsan18a.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A chocolate-colored ranchu.]] The most prominent feature of the ranchu is its head. There must be sufficient space between the eyes, and also from the eyes to the front of the head. The gill cover should figuratively extend quite far towards the tail. The headgrowth should seem to begin from the bottom of the gill cover and move upward.<ref name="Johnson"/> The headgrowths of young ranchu fry may take at least a year to develop.<ref name="Andrews"/> Young ranchus possessing broad foreheads and square noses generally produce better headgrowths.<ref name="Johnson"/> Mature ranchus can reach between 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) in length. Ranchus may come in orange, red, white, red-and-white, blue, black, black-and-white, black-and-red, natural, and chocolate coloration. [[Scale (zoology)|Scalation]] may either be metallic, nacreous (calico) or matte.<ref name="GFSA"/><ref name="Johnson"/> Ranchus with a pale-yellow bodies and bright red heads are rare.<ref name="GFSA"/> Ranchus are well-adapted to water quality and [[pH]] fluctuations.<ref name="Johnson"/> ==Classification, deportment and conformation== Japanese, [[Thailand|Thai]], [[United States|American]] and [[United Kingdom|British]] ranchu breeders, as well as many prestigious goldfish-keeping societies, all adhere to two strict viewing classifications of the ranchu, namely: the '''top-view ranchu''' comportment and the '''side-view''' selection criteria.<ref name="GFSA"/><ref name="Johnson"/><ref name="Goldconnection">[http://www.goldfishconnection.com/articles/details.php?articleId=147&parentId=15 Goldfish Connection - Types of Goldfish: Ranchu, date retrieved: 22 May 2007]</ref><ref name="NEO">*[http://www.neoranchu.com/standards.html#Anchor-49221 NEO Ranchu Classification and Standards, date retrieved: 22 May 2007]</ref><ref name="Thaicenter">*[http://www.thairanchucentre.com/grading.php Thai Ranchu Centre Ranchu Standards and Grading, date retrieved, 22 May 2007]</ref> But Japanese aesthetic standards for ranchus are more exacting. Ranchus are interestingly compared to [[sumo|sumo wrestlers]], who are large, fat and out-of-shape men (from a [[Western culture|Westerner's]] point of view), with funny hairdos. Similarly, the ranchu seemed to be a big, fat and "out-of-shape" fish with funny headgrowth or "bramble-heads".<ref name="GFSA"/><ref name="Johnson"/> However, traditional Japanese culture, [[aesthetics]] and concepts regard these attributes of both ranchu and sumo wrestler as an imposing and solid figure composed of massive circles and squares, which are abstract representations of balance, proportion, dignity, graceful movement and power.<ref name="Johnson"/> ===Top-view ranchu (TVR)<ref name="GFSA"/><ref name="Ponzio">[http://www.goldfishpages.com/Articles/What%20is%20a%20Lionchu.pdf "What is a Lionchu?" by Peter Ponzio, an article from the Goldfish Pages Website (Goldfish Society of America), date retrieved: 26 May 2007]</ref>=== The Japanese are firm believers that the best view of the ranchu is from the top. The ideal ranchu is described (when seen from above, not from the side) as similar to the [[koban (Japanese gold coin)|koban]], an elongated and [[oval]]-shaped (almost [[rectangle|rectangular]] but with rounded corners) old Japanese [[coin]].<ref name="Johnson"/> ===Side-view ranchu (SVR)<ref name="GFSA"/><ref name="Ponzio"/>=== A ranchu's back (seen from the side) is compared to a traditional Japanese [[comb]], which comes in two shapes. The first comb-shape (the '''nagate''' or long style) is long with rounded corners and is similar to the koban coin. While the second comb-shape (the '''marute''' or the round style) is shorter, round and is similar to a round coin viewed from the side, but still not as round as any modern-day circular coins such as the [[penny]] or [[dime]] of the [[United States]]. Both comb shapes are acceptable in ranchu exhibitions and competitions.<ref name="Johnson"/> ===Selection and judging=== Most goldfish shows and competitions judge ranchus in an aquarium setting, and judges view the fish from the side and the top, taking note of the fish's comportment and conformation to physical standards, motion and movements. The attachment of the tail to the caudal peduncle are also meticulously evaluated.<ref name="GFSA"/> ==References and further readings== <div class="references-small"> <references/> </div> ==See also== {{main|Goldfish}} *[[Lionhead (goldfish)|Lionhead]] *[[Lionchu]] {{Goldfish breeds}} [[de:Ranchu]] [[ja:ランチュウ]]