Ryukin Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Cyprinidae
FishDifficulty: ●●●○○Data: well-established
About
The ryukin is a deep-bodied fancy goldfish recognised by the pronounced hump rising immediately behind its head and a caudal fin often twice as long as the body itself. It reaches about 20 cm, and up to 25 cm in large aquaria and breeders' ponds, making it a heavy, wide fish that needs floor space and volume rather than height. The exaggerated shape leaves it among the slower fancies: it cannot hold station in a strong current, cannot chase down food, and shares the egg-bodied family's tendency to swim bladder disorders, so it belongs only with other short-bodied varieties.
Care
Budget 110 L minimum for one fish on a 90 cm footprint, with filtration turned down - strong flow wears out a humped, deep-bodied swimmer. Keep unheated at 16–21 °C and feed soaked sinking food in small portions twice daily.
Diet
Omnivore; soaked sinking pellets or gel food, blanched vegetables and frozen daphnia, split into small meals to keep the compressed gut working.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (38)
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Avoid (233)
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Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Breeding tuberclesStrong · only in breeding condition — they vanish out of season
Goldfish and their cyprinid relatives grow small white bumps on the gill covers and leading pectoral rays when they come into breeding condition.
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Ryukin Goldfish need?
- A Ryukin Goldfish needs an aquarium of at least 150 litres (39.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 110 cm (43.3 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Ryukin Goldfish need?
- Ryukin Goldfish does best at 10–26 °C (50–78.8 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 6–25 °dGH.
- What group size does a Ryukin Goldfish need?
- Ryukin Goldfish is a social species — keep a group of at least 2 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Ryukin Goldfish suitable for beginners?
- Ryukin Goldfish sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature10–26°C
Optimal temp.16–21°C
pH6–8
Hardness (GH)6–25°d
Carbonate (KH)4–15°d
Adult size21 cm
Min. volume≥ 150 L
Min. tank length≥ 110 cm
Group size≥ 2
Swimming zoneAll levels
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowLow
Lifespan~12 yrs
Try in the calculator