Ranchu goldfish in Animal Crossing
It's in the pond, it's daytime only, and it's worth 4,500 Bells. Here is the quick reference, and a little about the real fish behind the sprite.
Quick reference (New Horizons)
- Location: ponds (the still water on your island, not rivers or the sea).
- Time: 9 AM to 4 PM.
- Season: all year, both hemispheres.
- Shadow size: small, the same as a regular goldfish and a killifish.
- Sell price: 4,500 Bells at Nook's Cranny, and 6,750 Bells to C.J.
- Rarity: uncommon. Small pond shadows are usually goldfish, pop-eyed goldfish or killifish, so expect a few throws before a ranchu.
How to catch one faster
Use fish bait made from manila clams on a pond during daytime and re-cast at every small shadow. Ponds spawn fish slowly on their own; bait forces a spawn each time. Scaring away the goldfish that turn up keeps the pond cycling. The ranchu goldfish also appeared in New Leaf with the same pond, daytime pattern.
The real fish
The in-game ranchu is drawn as a round, hooded goldfish with no dorsal fin, which is accurate. Real ranchu are a Japanese breed developed from the Chinese lionhead, judged from above in shallow tubs, and called the king of goldfish in Japan. They come in red, red-and-white, black, calico and more; see the varieties page. Bred right, they are slow, heavy and oddly charming, which is why they cost more than a museum donation. If the game got you curious about keeping one, start with the care guide: the real ones need 20 gallons and a filter, not a pond.