Calico Oranda Goldfish are unique in appearance and have beautiful multicolored scales. These fish have become quite popular, due to their docile natures and lovely though interesting physical qualities.

In captivity, Calico Oranda Goldfish are usually quite peaceful, living nicely with other fish and exhibiting schooling behavior. They do require warmer waters, however, and thus should not be kept outside in ponds or in cooler enclosures. Oranda Goldfish are known to be quite docile. They are usually kept because of their interesting appearances, and many people prefer to feed them color or growth enhancing foods.

The beautiful Calico Oranda Goldfish usually reaches about five inches in length. Many are about two inches deep. This goldfish has a large growth over its head known as a wen. Although in some fish the wen encases the whole head, except for the eyes and the mouth, in others it may be limited to the, the cap area, the very highest region of the cap, or the cheek and cap. Calico Oranda Goldfish have long fins, including a dorsal fin. They have veiltail type tails and double caudal fins. The caudal fins are divided down about 90 percent of their length. Calico Oranda Goldfish can have caudal fins that are about one and a half times the length of their bodies. The pelvic and pectoral fins are usually rounded and of medium length. They are well matched in size and appearance. Calico Orandas have nacreous (a mixture of metallic and matte) scales in three or more colors over their bodies. Calicos can have spangled scales.

Calico Oranda Goldfish were probably first developed in China. Today they are valued as exhibition fish and as pets.

Calico Oranda Goldfish require warmer temperatures, usually around 78 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they are quite hardy and will tolerate a variety of temperatures in this immediate range. The pH level for Calico Oranda Goldfish should remain between 7.0 and 8.0. Their tanks should allow them plenty of hiding places. Calico Oranda Goldfish should be fed plant materials and protein. Often, they will eat live plants in their tanks. They can also be fed peas, spinach, lettuce, and zucchini bits. Frozen vegetable diets, plankton, bits of beef heart, bloodworms, glass worms, brine shrimp, and daphnia are also acceptable. Although more natural diets are preferred, tablet and pellet food can also be good choices.

Male Calico Oranda Goldfish usually indicate a readiness to breed by developing small white tubercles over their gill coverings, pectoral fins, and heads. Because parents will often eat eggs, they should be removed from the enclosure where spawn are deposited. Usually, Calico Oranda Goldfish will produce thousands of eggs.