liohead Goldfish

Native

Lionheads were bred in China to depict the image of the mythical Chinese lion-dog They were introduced to Japan from China during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Japanese produced lionheads with more rounded back profiles, modified tails and diminished size of the headgrowth.

Description

The lionhead is a hooded variety of fancy goldfish. This fish is the precursor to the ranchu. The tremendous hood or headgrowth and fat cheeks of lionheads give them a facial appearance similar to canine puppies. Lionheads have short but deep bodies, and relatively straight or evenly arched backs without dorsal fins. The finnage, in general, is short. The tail of a traditional lionhead can be fully separated, partially separated, or webbed. The back of the proper lionhead is quite broad to support the placement of the raspberry-like hood. Hood development may vary but is more pronounced in males. The hood normally takes a year to develop in young fry. Mature male lionheads periodically shed patches of their headgrowths.