HIGH RANCHU RELOCATION REPORT

At the end of February, the "Big Move" was approaching fast. To prepare my ranchu for a two day journey, I purchased two plastic storage containers with snap on lids. After drilling several venting holes through the lids, I filled each with about 15 gal (57 L) of water, added Prime de-chlorinator and aeration, and transferred the ranchu into them. We where planning to drive late afternoon on Friday, so I had my fish in containers by Thursday morning. No food was given, to purge the fish from excrements. This helps to keep the water clean and with less ammonia build up. Since goldfish will eat back their excrements (read my earlier post "Poopie Monster") I periodically syphoned any derbies.

After the U-Haul truck was loaded and ready to depart, I combined my eight ranchu into one of the two plastic containers and filled it less than 3/4 of its high with fresh dechlorinated water. Container with fish was placed into another container for strength. Lid on. I had it set up on the middle seat of the driver's cabin.

You really become a good driver, when traveling with fish. Quickly you learn to brake and accelerate smoothly. Still, have a couple of towels on hand if the lid isn't airtight.

We did stopped midway for the night and I brought my ranchu inside the motel room and set it with a couple of airstones for the night. Still no food was given! Saturday early morning we were on the road, arriving to our new home in the evening. I had my friend fill a couple of children's pools with the well water from the property and let it sit for a day.

About the well water that I am going to be using. Some of the parameters are

pH - 7.5-7.8
Hardiness - 55 grains per gallon
TD Solids - 985-1000
Iron - 0.5 per million

A month prior to bringing my ranchu to Florida, I made an experiment to hard test my well water. I bought several goldfish from a local Petsmart and kept them for a two weeks in the well water. The fish were doing great! As I was feeling guilty for using these fishes as an experiment, I fed them well and they grew noticeably.

So, here I was, on Saturday night letting my precious ranchu in the water where they will be living and breeding. I set up their original 8 x 2 ft (2.4 x 0.6 m) fiberglass pond and it has been a week since they are in the well water. The ranchu are doing great! As the day temperatures in Florida are warmer than they were in my Washington DC apartment, ranchu's appetite has doubled.

With all this, I have to get used to one thing - NO WATER CONDITIONERS!!! I no longer have to use any de-chlorinators. The well water gets aerated as soon as it is pumped out and can be used straight as is.

First big step is taken, lot's more work ahead.

Storage containers for transporting my ranchu.

Venting holes on the lid.

High Ranchu purging before the trip.

Necessary equipment while traveling: dozing syringe, water conditioner, digital infrared thermometer, air pump, airstone (not shown).

Storage container with ranchu in U-Haul cabin.

Finally, High Ranchu arrived. Temporary home, before their pond is set up.

HIGH RANCHU IS ON THE MOVE!

There has been a silence on my blog. The only explanation I can find, is because ...

I AM MOVING TO FLORIDA !!!

Yes, a dream come true! I am very excited about the move and the new challenges and possibilities in raising my ranchu in a completely different environment. It's outdoors, it's with the use of well water, it's with employing more traditional techniques.

The climate where I am going to live is similar to southern Japan, with some cooler winter days, averaging daytime 71F (22C) and nighttime 52F (11C). Summers are hot and humid, but proximity to the ocean makes it a bit cooler and breezier.

I have big plants for building my display pond and a small ranchu fishery, where I can continue working on a High Ranchu bloodline. This spring/summer for sure, will be a busy time for me!

Time permitting, I will be posting updates and notes of the progress. In month and a half my ranchu should be swimming outdoors!

High Ranchu on the move

UPDATE ON MY NISAI

Finally, I got around to photographing my nisai. They have grown a lot and shaped nicely. The color is brilliant and I already can see several characteristics that I would like to keep and pass in my ranchu breeding program. These are my breeding ranchu for the next spring.

High Ranchu nisai ♂

High Ranchu nisai ♂

High Ranchu nisai ♀

High Ranchu nisai ♀

KEEPING THE TRADITION - Q & A

From time to time, l receive questions from fellow ranchu enthusiasts regarding various aspects of ranchu keeping. Some of the questions bring up interesting topics and spark interesting thought and conversations. I will be posting here what I think is worth sharing and learn from. Here is a great question I received from Doug followed by my answer.

Q

Hi Alexander- First I would like to thank you for writing and sharing information on top view ranchu husbandry through your blog. From what you mentioned in your blog you raised tvr with filtration and i'm raising my ranchus with filtration as well. However, a lot of tvr breeders put emphasis on how important it is to follow the traditional Japanese 100% water change method with NO filtration.

I have done some research about this traditional method. I'm aware that it is done for grooming purposes. It is my understanding that with 100% new water, ranchus are more active and will put on muscles and body growth and as the water fouls, ranchus will be less active and put on head growth. However, why is it that side view ranchu or lionchu or lion head still put on head growth despite being raised in aquariums with filtration? The claim for using traditional methods seems to be based on inconsistent evidence, and might be more due to strict adherence to tradition rather than fact.

What is your view on this topic?

Thanks, Doug (USA)

A

Doug- Thank you for reading my blog and your question. As you probably noticed I use bio and uv filtration on top of 100% weekly water changes. It's more what a traditional method requires, but with my often busy schedule and traveling it is necessary. Good biological filtration paired with uv and good water circulation and aeration is quite important, when water is not going to be changed for 3 weeks, while I am away. The choice I made marrying ranchu keeping with my schedule.

Much like bonsai, you create and maintain TVR. It is not all about the headgrowth and its size. The essence of a great TVR is in its BALANCED appearance and powerful yet elegant swim, very different from other goldfish with headgrowth. TVR are the most standardized among goldfish. To achieve this balance, besides breeding, we employ different techniques based on food, water quality, water depth, amount of exercise, etc. The beauty of raising ranchu is in improvisation, when various techniques are implemented to achieve breeder's / keeper's personal goals and to materialize their vision. Everyone's approach is slightly different and some even protected with trade secrets.

I try to adhere to a traditional Japanese method as much as I can. Besides, it is an honor to continue this over 100 years old tradition.

NOT A STRANGER TO A STRAINER

I just realized that my most used tool in ranchu keeping is a fine metal mesh strainer, the one commonly used in the kitchen. The strainer that I have is 4 in (10 cm) in diameter and is made of staines steal.

One main use is to rinse and drain bloodworms. I usually thaw bloodworms in the cup of pond water and rinse under the running faucet in the strainer. Very convenient! I also use the strainer to skim the pond surface from anything floating. Especially after feeding bloodworms, as their undigested casings will float to the surface.

It is very easy to clean and sterilize!