Shubunkin Goldfish are a single-tailed breed of goldfish known for their vibrant calico colors. Enthusiasts sometimes refer to them as "poor man's koi", because they closely resemble koi, but do not grow as large and can be in a much smaller tank or pond; they can even cross-breed with koi, but produce sterile offspring. (They also lack whiskers.) They are a variant of Comet Goldfish, which were cross-bred with calico veiltails to produce a calico fish with the streamlined body you would find in comet or common goldfish. It is believed that Shubunkin fish were first bred in Japan in the year 1900, so they've been around for a while. Goldfish as a whole are descendent of the Prussian Carp, including Shubunkins.
What makes Shubunkins special?
Cosmetic features
There are three types of Shubunkin goldfish: the American, the Bristol, and the London. London shubunkins possess a short tail and a streamlined body, and are more similar to common goldfish; however, the American shubunkin is fancier, with a longer and more forked tail. Bristol shubunkins have a big fan tail that is distinct and desirable, and tend to be more expensive for this reason. Shubunkins are special and distinct from other goldfish due to their patterns and coloration. They have a "nacreous" pattern. The nacreous pattern is a hybrid between metallic and matte scales, and bear a pearl-ey appearance. They can come in a variety of colors and color combinations, including orange, gold, red, white, silver, blue, and black (though the blue doesn't look super blue-ish in my opinion). They are, in my opinion, the most beautiful of goldfish, but I am biased; I find goldfish with wen to look somewhat repulsive.
Lifespan and resilience
They tend to live from 10-15 years, though they can live for 30 years, and reach adulthood at two years old, at which point they could reach a maximum size of 18 inches in length (which is just crazy to me, because nobody's ever heard of a goldfish getting that big). In their first year alone, they can grow to a foot long. They share this long lifespan with other goldfish. Their blood relative (the carp, or koi), are able to live to 60 years old.
They are not very sensitive to temperature, and can be kept in ponds that are just a few degrees above freezing, or live under the ice of ponds that have melted over. This slows their metabolism, which causes them to need less food and makes them less active. Because of this lack of sensitivity, they can also live in aquariums with heaters. The recommended temperature range for optimal health is room temperature, which is 65-72 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly 18-23 degrees Celsius. They are also comfortable in a wide variety of pH levels, and thus the recommended pH levels are between 6.0 to 8.0. Wow!
Fun facts about shubunkins
- They are omnivorous, and will eat insects, shrimp, worms, plants, moss, and whatever else they can find.
- The oldest Shubunkin fish ever lived to be 43 years old.
- They are peaceful, and will not attack other fish.
- They tend to lose any black coloration when they grow old, but this can be prevented by keeping them in bright light during the day and feeding them food rich in caretinoids, such as steamed carrots or peas.
- They are social fish, and prefer the company of other Shubunkin fish; thus, it is best to keep multiple
- Goldfish are notorious for uprooting live plants, and Shubunkins are no different; thus plants must be anchored down securely if they are to be added to the environment
- While they can survive in the cold, they are very active fish, and will spend most of their time exploring their environment.