Lionhead Goldfish
Carassius auratus
About this strain
The Lionhead is the Chinese antecedent to the Japanese Ranchu — it shares the absent dorsal fin and pronounced wen head growth, but differs in back profile (flatter, less dramatically arched than the Ranchu) and tail carriage (held more horizontally rather than tucked under). Wen development can be extreme in mature specimens, covering the entire face. Colors include red, red-and-white, and calico. As with all dorsal-less, wen-heavy fancies, water quality must be excellent and the tank must be kept clean of any organic waste that can irritate or infect the wen tissue.
Origin
Developed in China, with documented history going back to at least the 1500s during the Ming Dynasty. The Lionhead is considered the ancestral form from which the Japanese Ranchu was later derived.