What is a Shubunkin goldfish?
The Shubunkin goldfish is a variety of long-bodied goldfish. They are very similar to the standard Comet goldfish except for their distinctive calico coloration and elongated fins. The Shubunkin makes a great addition to many goldfish and temperate fish tanks.
What fish can live with Shubunkins?
Shubunkins are peaceful fish that are more likely to thrive if kept in groups of conspecifics or with other large goldfish varieties. If you keep your Shubunkins in a pond setting, Koi and Golden Orfe can also make suitable companions. The Shubunkin is a very fast, agile swimmer.
How big do Shubunkin fish get?
Shubunkins are generally considered more suitable for life in a garden pond than a tank unless you have a very large aquarium. These are big fish! When fully grown, Shubunkins reach between 12 and 18 inches in length. Generally, Shubunkins kept in ponds grow larger than tank-kept specimens.
What is the scientific name of the Shubunkin?
A Brief Overview Of The Shubunkin Scientific Name Carassius auratus Diet Omnivore Care Level Easy Activity Active, social Lifespan Up to 30 years 14 more rows ...
What does a shubunkin look like?
The most notable feature of the Shubunkin is its color. They take on shades of yellow, red, orange, white, grey, and even blue. The blue spots are the most special, as it's rare in Goldfish. These colors combine to create a distinct Calico look. Most Shubunkins are also heavily spotted, making each one unique.
How big can shubunkins grow?
Shubunkin Goldfish Maximum Lifespan & Size If kept in an aquarium, they may only grow up to 10 inches in length, depending upon the size of the aquarium and the number of other fish present.
Do shubunkins breed with goldfish?
Often people ask if shubunkins can breed with common goldfish or if fantails can breed with comets. Well, they are all the same species. Just as a yorkie and a doberman pincher dog can breed, so too can two different varieties of goldfish.
What do shubunkin fish eat?
Like all types of Goldfish, Shubunkin feed on insects and small crustaceans. Some live or frozen foods to feed them occasionally include Daphnia, blood worms, tubifex worms, krill, and brine shrimp.
Do shubunkins eat other fish?
The first thing to know about tank mates is that these fish are very active and will steal food from other fish. This means that slow-moving or shy fish will not make the best tank mates. Tetras, guppies, killifish, glass catfish, and cherry barbs all can work alongside the shubunkin goldfish.
What is the difference between goldfish and shubunkin?
However, the Shubunkins are calico goldfish; they possess nacreous scales (an intermediate between metallic and transparent scales that are pearly in appearance). The overlapping patches of red, white, blue, grey and black (along with dark speckles) normally extend to the finnage of Shubunkins.
Where do shubunkins lay their eggs?
Plants are essential for breeding- they provide a place for fish to lay their eggs. Eggs of shubunkin fish are too sensitive that have to be kept safe and secured to make successful hatch.
Is a shubunkin a koi?
First, all varieties of koi are from Japan and have been bred for a very, very long time. Shubunkin are from China and are very similar to goldfish and tend to be hardier and more resilient than koi. In general, shubunkin are smaller than koi and can be raised in a large aquarium.
What does a baby shubunkin look like?
Shubunkin juveniles are a rather drab black or dark brown color. That provides the fish with a degree of camouflage so that they don't get eaten by larger predatory fish. The fishes' true colors appear after a few months when they can be introduced to your main tank or pond.
How much do shubunkins cost?
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How often do you feed shubunkins?
Feeding Your Shubunkin Goldfish. Give your fish several small meals a day. Shubunkin goldfish have hearty appetites, especially when they live in warmer water. Offer your fish 2-3 small meals throughout the day, but take care not to give them more food than they can handle in a single meal.
Do shubunkin fish have teeth?
One remarkable trait about the shubunkins is that they don't possess teeth as many other animals do. Instead, their teeth are located in the back of their throats, also known as pharyngeal teeth. Due to their bright and multi-hued coloration, these fish are great additions to any pond or aquarium.
Species Summary
Sometimes referred to as the Calico or Speckled Goldfish, Shubunkin Goldfish make beautiful additions to both tanks and outdoor ponds.
Average Shubunkin Goldfish Size
Like other goldfish species, Shubunkins will grow based on their environment. In a standard aquarium, you can expect the average Shubunkin Goldfish size to reach five or six inches when fully grown.
Lifespan
With proper care, the typical Shubunkin Goldfish lifespan is 10 to 15 years. That’s assuming they’re kept in a habitat with proper water conditions and a good diet.
Appearance & Types
Shubunkin Goldfish can be categorized into three different types. These are America, Bristol, and London Shubunkin.
Shubunkin Goldfish Care
If you’re thinking about owning one of these fish, you have a lot to look forward to! Shubunkin Goldfish care is fairly straightforward since they’re quite hardy. They do well in captivity and can thrive in conditions that other fish cannot.
Food & Diet
As omnivores, Shubunkin Goldfish are not picky. They will eat pretty much anything you drop in the water.
Behavior & Temperament
Shubunkin Goldfish are social and active creatures. They will spend most of their day exploring the tank.
Origins and Habitat
Shubunkin Goldfish are also known as Calico Goldfish, meaning multicolored. As a type of Goldfish (Carassius auratus), they’re descendants from the wild carp living in Asia today and were first bred in Japan. The Shubunkin earns its name from a town in Japan called Shubuta where they were first bred.
What Does Shubunkin Goldfish Look Like?
The Shubunkin is similar to the Common Goldfish and the Comet Goldfish in appearance and is crossbred from these two, as well as the Calico Telescope Eye Goldfish. They have nacreous scales which are pearly in appearance and look like a mix between transparent and metallic scales.
Shubunkin Goldfish Vs. Koi
Below is a good reference video from J Lo on the difference between Shubunkin Goldfish and Koi. As you can see, the Shubunkin compliments as Koi with it’s varied color and fin shapes. They look amazing together in a pond! In some Koi keeping circles, the Shubunkin is often label a “poor man’s Koi”.
How Big Are Shubunkin Goldfish?
One common feature among the Goldfish species is that they grow based on their surroundings. Typically, Shubunkin Goldfish reach a size between 6–12 inches, but if you keep them in a small space, they’ll be smaller.
How Long Do Shubunkin Goldfish Live?
Depending on their environment, Shubunkin Goldfish are hardy fish and typically have a lifespan of 10–15 years with proper care.
Temperament and Activity Level
These fish are super social and like to hang out in groups. They’ll likely spend their days exploring their aquarium or pond, meaning that they’re very active. Like most Goldfish species, they’re fast swimmers and do well paired with other fast-swimming fish.
What Are Good Tank Mates for Shubunkin Goldfish?
While they can live alone, the Shubunkin thrives in tanks with other fish, and they make a good addition to community tanks. Some species suit them better than others, however.
Goldfish Origins
Shubunkins are just one of around 200 varieties of goldfish. The origins of all goldfish can be traced back around 1,000 years to a species of wild carp that’s still found today in parts of Asia, specifically in Siberia.
What Do Shubunkin Goldfish Look Like?
Shubunkins have short, broad heads and a long, flat body that tapers to a deeply forked tail. The fins are upright, and the edge of the dorsal is slightly concave.
Compatibility and Tankmates
All goldfish are very social fish that don’t do well if deprived of company. So, we recommend that you keep at least two Shubunkins, ideally more if you have a large enough tank or pond.
What To Feed Shubunkin Goldfish
Like all goldfish, Shubunkins are omnivores, eating a mixture of plant matter, algae, and meaty protein.
Tank Requirements
If you want to keep Shubunkins in an aquarium setting, you need a large setup of 75 gallons or larger for one pair of fish. Add a further 10 gallons of water per additional fish.
Water Parameters
Shubunkins are coldwater fish that need a water temperature of between 65o and 72o Fahrenheit.
Tank Maintenance
You’ll need to keep your fish tank clean and safe for the Shubunkins by performing 30% water changes every week.
Shubunkin Goldfish Facts & Overview
These fish are extremely social and will make amazing additions to community tanks full of other fast-swimming fish. The reason for this is that these goldfish are extremely fast swimmers and will eat as much food, as fast as possible.
Appearance (Blue, London, Bristol, and American)
These fish come in many different patterns, all with calico coloration. When you hear the word “calico” you probably think of the cat. The reason for the color is all to do with genetics.
Habitat and Tank Conditions
The goldfish you see in stores today are descendants of wild carp from Asia. As a member of the Cyprinidae family, they prefer to live in slow-moving, lakes, rivers, ponds, or ditches. Here they feed on plant material, detritus, small crustaceans, and insects.
Diet
It can be hard to say what these fish ate in the wild due to them being a captive created and raised species. However, if we take a look at their carp ancestry, it is likely that they ate whatever they could: plant material, small insects, or scraps of detritus.
Care
Like any goldfish, the shubunkin is extremely messy. This means that you will have to perform water changes and clean your tank more often than other species of fish. This is not too much of a problem but can be time-consuming.
Breeding
Shubunkin goldfish were likely first bred in Japan from carp and are now one of the 125 goldfish species traded worldwide.
Are Shubunkin Goldfish Suitable for your Aquarium?
Shubunkin goldfish make excellent fish for both beginners and advanced aquarists.
We tell you all about the shubunkin fish
We welcome you to our portal specialized in one of the most colorful fish you can have in your aquarium, the Shubunkin fish, with a great variety in color, a lot of vitality and especially easy to breed.
Good companions in the fish tank
As you can predict, the name these fish receive comes from Japanese, meaning intense red mixed with different color. Checking as one of its characteristics are its red dots joining other types of colors. This species has varied greatly over the years giving rise to other subspecies that mix black or blue spots, instead of red features.
Maintenance of Shubunkin fish
If you are starting in the world of aquarium we advise you to have the Shubunkin fish in your fish tank since they are usually very resistant and you will not have problems in taking care of them properly since they can live in extreme temperatures inside the aquarium and with very variable water conditions.
How to care for Shubunkin fish
To have a Shubunkin fish in good condition for more than 10 years, you have to know how to take care of them, preventing them from having lethal diseases for them.
Breeding of the Shubunkin fish
If you have a pair of Shubunkin fish and want them to raise, you can easily do so as long as you take care of some important factors.
Fish tank for Shubunkin fish
These fish need conditions in the aquarium in which they are found that you must know so that their life expectancy increases.
Types of Shubunkin
So that you can choose the best type of Shubunkin fish for your fish tank, we analyze each of the variants that you can find in the market.
Types and Appearance
Once you understand the different types of Shubunkin Goldfish, you would know which is best for you. The common types include Bristol, America, and London Shubunkin.
Care
Let us say that you are new to keeping fish in an aquarium; how would you care for a Shubunkin Goldfish? Well, the first thing you have to know is that this fish type does not need a lot of work. Most people find it hardy. You can easily do the bare minimum, and the goldfish would thrive in captivity.
Tank Size
It is possible to come across different information about the overall required tank size. However, it is advisable to opt for a small fish tank. Some aquarists would recommend that you choose a 20-gallon tank, while others would recommend more.
Water Requirements
The water requirements are just as important. This goldfish type needs cooler waters compared to what you would offer a tropical fish. Also, the water should be well-oxygenated and also have a neutral pH.
Tank Setup
The tank system is also important. Your Shubunkin Goldfish would need the best biological filtration system. This is because these fish species tend to produce a lot of waste. Such eventually leads to high nitrate levels and ammonia. Ensure the system you pick is powerful enough to cycle the entire water in the pond or tank.
Potential Diseases
Shubunkins tend to be prone to some conditions. The most common disease they can experience is Ich. This condition is caused by a parasite and can be highly contagious. This would make the fish have many white spots all over its body. If you do not treat it in time, the condition can ravage the whole tank and easily kill the fish.
Feeding
The Shubunkin Goldfish are not picky when it comes to feeding. They are omnivores, so they would eat almost anything that you put in their tank.
About the Shubunkins
The Shubunkin goldfish breed was created in the 1900s in Japan. Then it went through further selective breeding to produce more variations.
The body and tail of a Shubunkin
Body: Although in general, the Shubunkin goldfish has a streamlined body, the body thickness differs from one variation to another. For an instance, the London Shubunkin’s body is thicker than the American/Japanese Shubunkin’s.
Keeping Shubunkins in fish tanks
Although Shubunkins are more suited for ponds and look great in them, you can also keep them in fish tanks. They do still look beautiful even when viewed from the sides.
Species Summary
Average Shubunkin Goldfish Size
Lifespan
Appearance & Types
Shubunkin Goldfish Care
Food & Diet
Behavior & Temperament
- Shubunkin Goldfish are social and active creatures. They will spend most of their day exploring the tank. Oftentimes, you can find them scavenging for plant detritus or leftover foods at the bottom of the tank. They’re so good at scavenging that many don’t even bother keeping bottom-dwelling fishwith Shubunkins! When they’re not doing that, you’ll ...
Tank Mates
Breeding
Conclusion