What is a good ranchu?
 

Hi all

Think this thread is way overdue. We have all seen pictures of ranchus, but many of us do not have a good idea of what a top quality ranchu is.... hence this thread is intended to allow those who know share with those who would like to know. If you don't intend to share, please keep away from this thread. There are enough other threads to amuse you. :p

Thanks for reading.

what I know is that different breeders do breed their ranchu to be special in one way from other breeders.
When choosing ranchu the basic qualities must be there:
we talk abt the head first:
squarish head shape, eyes distance apart, eyes to mouth distance
body:
head and body proportional, distance from body to tail (gap), thick back bone
Tail:
no broken tailbone, when ranchu not swimming the tail must be spread apart.

Yokozuna
 

Only 9 months into TVR, I am still finding out and seriously don't really know it myself. As a picture tells a thousand words, I hope that this picture of a Yokozuna will help.

Ranchu Lover,

You posted a pic of an OYA which a lot of us here don't have the fortune to own such big fish. Maybe we can start with Tosai class.

I have attached a link here for pictures of tosais in the AJRS 2003.

AJRS 2003 Tosai Class Winners (taken from another website)

As far as I can observed, most (if not all) of them have well defined and developed head. The headgrowth is so well grown that the eyes of the ranchu is almost invisible when viewed from the top (what I termed "embedded" or "sunken" into the head). The fishes have thick backbone, good tail seat and large tail. Some tails are quite big as compared to the body size but I guess this will balanced out as the fish grow bigger and older. Scaling is not very clear in these pics but on a few pics, you can tell that the scales are quite small, neat and well organised.

Last but not least, the swimming posture of the ranchu is important but can't comment here as I only have static photos. :p

Hi Ranchu Lover,
Anyway you can get the pics of this Yokozuno when it won during Tosai and Nisai?
Appreciate it.

Regards,
David Hou

Hi David

I wonder whether that's possible, given that each ranchu might not necessarily be entered into all competitions as it ages/matures. Even then, they might not be as attractive/nice (as another (sibling perhaps?) which goes into a particular competition) during certain stages of its life. Really a tall order. ;) But I too am interested in seeing the pics if there are any.

Hi CL,
Yokozuno is suppose to mean 3 times winner! ;)

Regards,
David

Thanks. Is that in all age categories, or 3 times winner in all competitions?

If my understanding is correct, the SAME ranchu has to win in 3 consecutive years (e.g. 2002 Tosai Class, 2003 Nisai Class and 2004 Oya Class).

hope my explanation is clear to you. :D

Three years of Oya also can.