Shubunkin: Everything You Need to Know
The Shubunkin is part of the goldfish family. This popular, colourful pond fish comes from Japan.
Compared to the koi, Shubunkin proves to be much less complicated. The attractive animals require less space and are therefore also very suitable for keeping in somewhat smaller ponds.
Features of the Shubunkin
The physique of the shubunkin resembles that of common goldfish. They can be up to 30 centimetres long and have a large tail fin, which can be up to half of the total length.
The most striking feature of the Shubunkin, however, is without doubt its colourful pattern. Its transparent or metallic scales can have orange, yellow, red, blue, white and black accents in a variety of combinations.
In terms of colouring, the Shubunkin can easily compete with the much more expensive and demanding Koi carp.
Breeding forms of the Shubunkin
The Shubunkin is bred in four different breeding forms. The animals differ primarily in the distribution of colour, but they also show differences in their physique. The American Shubunkin for example is a bit stronger and reminds more of veiltails compared to the other breeding forms.
The Shubunkin is available in these four breeding forms:
- American Shubunkin
- Bristol Shubunkin
- Japanese shubunkin
- London Shubunkin
Life expectancy of the Shubunkin
Provided that a species-appropriate keeping of the fish is guaranteed, Shubunkin have a rather high life expectancy. Healthy animals can easily reach an age of up to 20 years.
Shubunkin keeping
Since the Shubunkin is a schooling fish, it should not be kept alone, but at least with four other conspecifics. However, if space permits, the shoal may also be larger.
Shubunkin need less space than Koi carp. However, your pond should have a minimum volume of 400 to 500 litres, although larger is of course better. The larger the pond, the easier it is to ensure a high water quality and the easier it is for the shubunkin to protect themselves from possible enemies, such as free-running cats.
In addition, the fish are likely to reproduce and therefore need more space in the future anyway. If the shubunkins are to spend the winter in the garden pond, a water depth of at least 1.5 metres is also required. If this is not the case, the shubunkin must be transferred to an aquarium for hibernation.
Keeping them together with other fish such as goldfish, koi carp or gold orfes is normally no problem for Shubunkin.
The right equipment for the Shubunkin pond
Apart from a sufficient size and depth, it is important to ensure that the pond is not exposed to too much sunlight, if possible. Ideally, a location in the shade should be chosen.
It is also recommended to plant water lilies. These not only provide the shubunkin with additional shade, but also offer the opportunity to hide from possible predators.
In order to ensure an optimal oxygen supply to the shubunkin, a circulation pump or pond aerator is recommended. This is especially true if the pond is exposed to the sun, as the oxygen content in the water decreases at higher temperatures.
A filter system appropriate to the size of the pond is indispensable, especially if there is a high stock of shubunkin. Otherwise, the excrements of the fish quickly cause contamination, which significantly increases the risk of disease.
Keep Shubunkin in an aquarium
Although the Shubunkin is actually a pond fish, keeping it in an aquarium is possible without any problems. The prerequisite for this is of course a sufficient capacity. Just like the keeping in a pond, a volume of 400 to 500 litres is the minimum that must be kept.
Ideally the water temperature should be between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius so that the fish feel comfortable. It is also important to filter the water and to provide the shubunkin in the aquarium with sufficient hiding places.
Breeding Shubunkin
Male Shubunkin are sexually mature from the second and females from the third year of life. Shubunkin are considered to be very prolific and reproduce without problems under good husbandry conditions.
The mating season of the fish is in April and May. During this period the males hunt the females and try to make them lay their eggs. After fertilisation, it takes about a week for the young fish, which are one to two millimetres in size, to hatch.
Shubunkin usually form their typical colour pattern after one year. At the beginning, the young fish are therefore usually still dark and monochrome. It can also happen that the appearance of the offspring resembles that of ordinary goldfish, as in some cases the original genetic make-up is restored.
Since goldfish like the shubunkin also regard their young as a food source, it is recommended to transfer the offspring into an aquarium until the fish have reached a size of about four centimetres. Alternatively, a sufficiently large shallow water zone with plants that provide protection for the young fish is also suitable for this purpose.
The right diet for the Shubunkin
The diet of shubunkin proves to be relatively uncomplicated. The frugal fish eat available water plants and small animals, such as insect larvae or water fleas.
In order to ensure a sufficient supply of nutrients, however, supplementary feeding with pond fish food suitable for shubunkin is recommended. The feed should be as easily digestible as possible and should have a balanced combination of nutrients.
The amount of food should be such that the fish are able to eat everything within five to ten minutes. Otherwise the leftovers of the food will quickly lead to water contamination.
The shubunkin should be fed once a day from spring to autumn, one diet day per week is quite reasonable.
With sinking temperatures the amount of food should be reduced more and more. In winter no feeding is necessary, because the shubunkin reduce their metabolism and go into winter rigidity.
High quality Aquaris pond fish food for Shubunkin
You want to support the health and vitality of your shubunkin in the best possible way? Then our Aquaris pond fish food is the perfect choice. The high-quality food in the form of granules or sticks is ideal for feeding Shubunkin.
The easy digestibility not only ensures a supply of all necessary nutrients, but also helps to reduce water pollution caused by the excrements of your Shubunkin.
Leave your comment