Shubunkin 9cm

Shubunkin

Shubunkin goldfish are usually the first fish an aquarist keeps when they enter this hobby. Goldfish make for a fantastic ornamental fish and have such a rich history that they carry. Whilst the traditional orange colour of goldfish is easily recognised, the mottled shubunkin is just as common and loved. Recognised by their elongated body shape, long tail, and stunning colours.

Subunkins can easily be spotted with their diverse variation of Dalmatian patterning and range of colours ranging from black, white, red, orange, and blue. It's almost like these colours were just thrown onto the fish in random order and this randomness is present in every fish! What's important to note is that these are just a colour variation of the comet goldfish which were developed in America. The care of these fish is exactly the same as any other comet strain which means you can keep a mixed aquarium or pond of different comet colours.

Breeding these shubunkin goldfish is not common in the home aquarium but in an outdoor pond with plant cover, it should happen naturally. The females are egg scatterers and as long as there is enough cover and vegetation in the pond, there is a high chance that offspring will survive. Though there are not any immediate distinguishing factors between males and females, the females tend to be rounder.

Tank Recommendations for Shubunkin
As their shubunkin is a colour variation of the standard comet which can easily reach an excess of 20 cm, it is best to keep these fish in a large aquarium. The minimum volume should be around 350 litres for a full-grown fish. This ensures that there is enough space for swimming and a large enough volume for this generally messy fish. A sandy substrate will be great as goldfish often sift through the sand in search of food, Fine-leafed plants will easily become a meal however species like Anubias will be fine to keep.

Suitable Tank Buddies
Shubunkin are great fish because they are not aggressive in the slightest and can be kept with a range of tank mates. Common tank mates they can be kept with are active and small coldwater tolerant fish. The goldfish however might eat fry produced by these smaller fish however they will be perfectly fine with adults. Fin nipping species however should be avoided entirely as they will make short work on the flowing fins off the goldfish.

Usually Compatible
Other goldfish strains, danios, koi, and similar coldwater species.

Sometimes Compatible
Very small and slow-moving fish may potentially become a meal such as white cloud minnows.

Rarely Compatible
Discus, neon tetras, rams, oscars, and other high-end tropical or aggressive species.

Feeding your Shubunkin
These goldfish would be incredibly fun fish to feed because they will really set off a feeding frenzy when in a school. Giving a good quality pellet food would be the easiest and most nutritional option for these goldfish. They can also be fed green matter like blanched vegetables for added variation to the diet.