Sometimes there is confusion about lionhead and ranchu. Here in Hawaii, the old-time ranchu breeders often refer to their goldfish as lionheads. The name 'lionhead' comes from the wen (head growth) covering the head which is reminiscent of a lion's mane. Both ranchu and lionhead have wen growth covering the head although the wen is larger, more pronounced and develops earlier in the lionhead than in the ranchu.
The defining characteristic differentiating lionhead from ranchu is not the head growth, but the contour of the back and the angle of the tail. The ranchu has a much more curved dorsal contour and the tail joins the body at an acute angle (less than 90 degrees). The up-turned tail meeting the sloping curve of the back is called the ranchu "tail tuck". The lionhead on the otherhand, has a dorsal contour that is relatively flat and the tail joins the body at an obtuse angle (more than 90 degrees).
Recently, the name 'lionchu' has been coined to describe a goldfish without a dorsal, a pronounced tail tuck like a ranchu and a large wen which wraps around the head like a lionhead. You will find a few listed below.
| item | click photos for a larger view | variety | size | price | USA flat-rate shipping | inv |
| We're sold out of lionhead and the next batch are only about an inch long (as of March '10). Hopefully, some will be ready to sell by late summer. | ||||||
| the lowest shipping costs to anywhere in the US or Canada | ||||||
contact us at raingarden@hawaii.rr.com
49-041 Kamehameha Highway
Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 USA
808-294-3973 for goldfish
808-294-1921 for flowers & vacation rental