Characteristics of Ryukin and how to keep them

The Ryukin is a goldfish with a distinctive tail fin that came to Japan from China. It is one of the first goldfish we imagine when we think of goldfish in Japan. In this article, we would like to explain in detail the characteristics of Ryukin and how to keep them.

What is Ryukin?

Ryukin,This species was born in China as a variant of the waggin and became fixed. The body shape is relatively short, tall and generally rounded. The head is small and the tip of the mouth is pointed.Each fin (fin) is long, and the tail fins are especially distinctive, with some species having distinctive tail fins. And one thing that should not be forgotten in Ryukin is the enormous abdomen. Viewed from above, individuals that are even on both sides and moderately taut tend to be highly valued. Due to the roundness of the Ryukin's body shape and the long length of each fin, the Ryukin itself is not a good swimmer. However, the fact that it is not a good swimmer makes it a good ornamental fish because it can be kept in an aquarium and viewed slowly.

Origin of Ryukin

Ryukin,When it came to Japan from China in the Edo period (1603-1867), it came from Okinawa (Ryukyu) across Kagoshima (Satsuma). At that time, it was named Ryukin because it was a goldfish from Ryukyu.Therefore, "Ryu" is the correct spelling for Ryukin Ryu, not "Ryu". Originally, Ryukin was one of a type of goldfish called bunyos in China. The Ryukin that is now common in Japan has a rounded body shape from the head and dorsal fin to the anterior end of the basal portion of the dorsal fin, a feature that was not present in the Chinese bunyo. Therefore, it can be said that this is a feature that was uniquely created in Japan after it came to Japan from China. Since it has been very popular among the Japanese since its arrival from China, various species have been derived from Ryukin in various places.

How to enjoy Ryukin

The way to enjoy Ryukin is the easily characterized tail fins and enormous abdomen.To enjoy the tail fins, it is recommended to view them from the side (side view) in an aquarium rather than from the top (top view) in a bowl or other container.Except for a few species, Ryukin's tail fins grow in proportion to their body growth. And the larger tail fins are very attractive as the Ryukin sway smoothly from side to side when they move.The abdomen, another characteristic of the fish, is different from the tail fin and is recommended to be seen in the upper view. The abdomen is easier to see with the upper view because we enjoy whether the left and right sides are even and whether the abdomen is moderately taut.If you are thinking of keeping Ryukin for the first time, we recommend that you choose a Ryukin by the shape and color of its tail fins. There is a wide variety of Ryukin species with different tail fins, so just knowing this will give you an idea of the appeal of Ryukin, so we recommend looking at the tail fins if you are unsure when you decide to keep one.

Points to keep in mind when mixing swimmers

When mixing goldfish with other goldfish and other species, there is sometimes uncertainty as to what species is good and what species is not. First,There is no general prohibition against this or that when mixing goldfish with other species.Therefore, depending on the personality and environment of the goldfish you keep, even species that are said to be bad for each other may get along well with each other. However, there is also the matter of compatibility between goldfish. If you put incompatible goldfish together, there is a high possibility that they will fight or that only one of them will monopolize the food. However, as explained in the beginning, there is no prohibition for goldfish, so if you want to mix them, it may be OK to do so. Now, let us explain which goldfish are compatible with Japanese goldfish and which are not.

Compatible goldfish

Goldfish that are most compatible with Ryukin are Ryukin-type goldfish such as calico Ryukin and Demekin (Demekin).Ryukin-type goldfish are characterized by their tail fins, so it is a pleasure to mix various species and compare their tail fins.
About Calico Ryukin
About Dekomegane
About Ryukyu Mold

Incompatible goldfish

Goldfish that are incompatible with Ryukin are Japanese goldfish, such as Wakin (Japanese goldfish) and Comet (Japanese goldfish).Many types of Japanese goldfish are agile and grow large in a short period of time. If they are mixed with Wagane-type goldfish, please be aware that the Ryukin goldfish may be eaten by other Wagane-type goldfish for food, etc., and the difference in body size may cause them to move away from each other.
About WAKIN
About Comet
About Us

What to keep in mind when keeping Ryukin

The Ryukin is a goldfish with a variety of features in its tail fins compared to other species. And,As the tail fin grows, it becomes larger and more magnificent, but in the case of ordinary Ryukin, once the tail fin reaches a certain size, it may not be able to resist gravity and droop down.Drooping itself is okay, but the possibility of looking bad will arise. Therefore, it is best to consider this when increasing the size of the body. The Ryukin is a goldfish that is seen and purchased just as often as the Wagane. It is also one of the least expensive goldfish you can buy, and it is easy to keep even for beginners. Therefore, it is a recommended goldfish for those who want to keep goldfish for the first time.

Goldfish derived from Ryukin

Calico Ryukin

Calico ryukin was fixed by crossing Ryukin with Sanshoku dimekin.More information about the characteristics of Calico ryukin and how to keep them is explained in the detailed pages below.

short-tailed Ryukyu goldfish

The short-tailed Ryukin is a type of Ryukin that became popular in Japan and was exported to China in recent years, becoming popular in China and then returned to Japan.As the name suggests, it has a shorter tail fin than the regular Ryukin. More information on the characteristics of the short-tailed Ryukin and how to keep them is provided on the detailed page below.

Sakura Ryukyu goldfish (Ctenochaetus nipponensis)

When Ryukin came to Edo (present-day Tokyo) and became popular, the usual Ryukin were clearly colored, but we thought it would be interesting to have a cherry-colored goldfish, so we created the Sakura Ryukin.More information about the characteristics of Sakura Ryukin and how to keep them is provided in the detailed pages below.

Tosa gold

Tosakin was fixed by crossing Osaka Ranchu with Ryukin.This goldfish is now a natural treasure of Kochi Prefecture. Details on the characteristics of the Tosa goldfish and how to keep it are explained in the detailed pages below.