You probably could tell I would heartily recommend them. They actually come
in several colors including calico. Having only ever seen the one for sale
I dont know but I think they may be fairly expensive. Mine was not but I
dont think the vendor really knew what it was or he wouldnt have assured me
it would be okay in a pond. Course then I would have never had her and come
to love her so much, (or cried so much when she passed).
We are also slowly accumulating the parts to set up a 29 gal aquarium. It
will be mostly my wife's. I was surprised recently when she told me she
would probably want gold fish, because of their personality, rahter than
more small community fish which seem more just ornamental.
The regular pearl scale are quite the sight arent they. I have never
observed it but say an article once which said they could be almost
commical. Because of their large body and small head and tail, apparently
they sometimes will go head or tail trying to push that big marble along.
The crowned seem much closer to the Orandas in their swimming style,
They've still gotta shake it to move along but I think that's one of the
endearing things about them. When they come over you definitely know it was
with a purpose. Of course, mine was also probably between 1 and 2 years old.
The pearl scaling was very promininent and beautiful. Maybe they arent
quite so
'graceful' when smaller.

Here is a link I found. Mine was just like the one on the right labeled
Red Crowned but I think it is mislabeled, but perhaps a bit bigger.
http://www.canadiangoldfish.com/members/ted.htm

Have Fun!!
Bill Brister - Austin, Texas
Susan H. Simko" wrote in message
...

I'll have to be on the lookout for an orange crowned. I actually feel
sorry for the little one (for now) as it seems like the tail and fins
just aren't enough to move that marble shaped body. Right now, they're
in a tank with 2 red capped orandas, 2 black moors (technically - one
has decided s/he no longer wanted to be black and has turned orange), 2
calicos and 2 spotted dojos.

Funny, my tank didn't start out to be a goldfish tank. After a five day
power outage in winter several years ago left all my tropicals dead, I
decided to switch to cool water fish in the big tank. I moved the oranda
and calico I had in a smaller tank upstairs to the big tank
downstairs and that was that. Occasionally I miss my angel fish but the
goldfish have such pleasant temperments compared to my former prima donnas.



Susan
shsimko[@]duke[.]edu