HIGHRANCHU TIMELINE - ONE FISH'S JOURNEY - PART IV

Here is my last ranchu from the same spawn of April 15, 2014. This male OYA is a very nice looking fish with bright red color and neat, well arranged scales. This ranchu is very similar to the ranchu I described in part II, in terms of scaling, coloration, body shape and tail.

Little over 3 months old. Photographed on July 28, 2014

Little over 5 months old. Photographed on September 27, 2014

Little under 10 months old. Photographed on February 6, 2015

Little under 1 years and 7 months old. Photographed on November 2, 2015

Little under 3 years and 3 months old. Photographed on July 5, 2017

COMMENTS

Currently, this male Oya ranchu is close to 6 in (15 cm) long. As you can see, nothing much changed in his body and tail shape, other than him getting bigger. The head has formed into Shishigashira type, which is somewhat vintage for a modern ranchu. His tail, however, ended up with more red markings.

CONCLUSION

As NISAI fish transitions to OYA, it is harder and harder to keep them in shape. While the tail may not have any dramatic changes with age, the body and head do. My goal is to raise "lean" TVR. I prefer the body outline, as viewed from above, to be more elongated, with no protruding belly, so that the sides from head to beginning of O-Tsutsu (tail peduncle) are somewhat parallel. I also like it if the head width stays not much wider than the width of the back, a cigar shape. 

From the side, I like Se-Koshi (back curvature) to be as flat as possible up to the start of O-Tsutsu (tail peduncle). Reminiscent of a long Japanese boxwood comb. For body parts terminology please click here.

Quality of food and its portioning, along with exercise, is crucial to keeping ranchu in good shape. I will write about this subject in a separate article, reflecting on my experience.

HIGHRANCHU TIMELINE - ONE FISH'S JOURNEY - PART III

Presenting my next OYA fish - a female from the same spawn of April 15, 2014. She has always been a strong fish. Body shape is a bit shorter than in previously discussed RANCHU, but still proportionate.

Little over 2 months old. Photographed on June 5, 2014

Little under 3 months old. Photographed on July 8, 2014

Little over 3 months old. Photographed on July 28, 2014

Little over 5 months old. Photographed on September 27, 2014

Little under 1 years and 7 months old. Photographed on November 2, 2015

Little under 3 years and 3 months old. Photographed on July 5, 2017

COMMENTS

Today it is a strong and active female OYA fish of 6.5 in (16.5 cm) long. The body remains a bit short for my liking, but the overall shape is good. O-TSUKE (tail peduncle scale bracelet) and O-ZARA (under-tail plate) were and remain very good. The tail's O-GATA (tail shoulders) used to be quite stiff, but became somewhat more elastic with age - an improvement.

As seen in photos, this fish has started to loose her red markings pretty early, as she was still developing. Now there is only one red eye with no more red left.

For body parts terminology please click here.

HIGHRANCHU TIMELINE - ONE FISH'S JOURNEY - PART II

Presenting my next ranchu - male fish study from TOSAY to current OYA, hatched on April 14, 2014. I really like this fish. Since it was CBR it displayed very neat scales - small, consistent and well placed.

Little over 3 months old. Photographed on July 28, 2014

Little over 5 months old. Photographed on September 27, 2014

Little under 1 year and 7 months old. Photographed on November 2, 2015

Little under 3 years and 3 months old. Photographed on July 5, 2017

COMMENTS

Currently a beautiful OYA fish of 6 in (15.25 cm) long. The body isn't changing much throughout the years. Elongated shape and overall outline is what I was trying to feature in this ranchu. The tail has no visible change as well, and maintained is coloration. The head, on the other hand, is changing. Its definitely widened but still slightly underdeveloped. The body color pattern somewhat changed. Body has lost a few "Azuki Bean" scales on either side. The head color pattern changed as well, from Ichimonji-aka or Red Straight Line to Kuchibeni or Lipstick, red outlined mouth.

Please feel free to post your own comments.

HIGHRANCHU TIMELINE - ONE FISH'S JOURNEY - PART I

It was hard for me to find photos of ranchu development timeline to see how a particular ranchu changes over time. So, I have decided to periodically photograph four of my fish, which hatched on April 14, 2014.

It is a great way to study and see the grooming faults and successes through the years. It is also a way to observe aging tendencies in a particular bloodline if you are concerned with how your ranchu will look in late OYA age.

So here is the female fish study from CBR to current OYA, since 2014.

Little under 3 months old. Photographed on July 8, 2014

Little over 3 months old. Photographed on July 28, 2014

Little over 5 months old. Photographed on September 27, 2014

Little under 10 months old. Photographed on February 6, 2015

Little under 1 years and 7 months old. Photographed on November 2, 2015

Little under 3 years and 3 months old. Photographed on July 5, 2017

COMMENTS

For me, this is a remarkable OYA fish of 6 in (15.25 cm) long. The body didn't change much and retained its elongated shape and good outline. The tail has no visible changes and maintains a good outline and placement. The head, on the other hand, is changing. Its become wider, but kept its overall shape without an overgrown wen. Also, the coloration and pattern are stable, with very minimal changes.

Please feel free to post your own comments.