Shubunkins/goldfish

[kazzzagreen]

Do shubunkins grow and therfore need as much space, in tank terms, as a goldfish?

 

[RandomWiktor]

I do not believe fancies get quite as large length-wise as commons. Many do get rather bulky by comparison. However, with goldfish, the issue is not so much size as waste production. I would say that just about any species of goldfish probably still needs ~ 20gal simply because of thier massive fecal output. Honestly I think for commons, 20gal is a very conservative estimate, as it seems they would fast outgrow it; it is probably a much better estimate for fancies.

 

[black angel]

Shubunkins fall in the same league as goldfish so yes they need the same requirements.

 

[sylvia]

'Shubunkin' is actualy just a term used to describe goldfish with a calico pattern. Usualy 'shubunkins' are either calico comets or calico commons. There are a few other 'breeds' of goldfish that are termed shubunkins (eg: the bristol shubunkin which is a calico-patterned double-tailed fish that is very similar in body shape to a common). All these fish reach at least 8" with all those fish I mentioned above growing to at least 10" (the usual size for a common goldie is 10" but they can get bigger). All these fish are the same species and all are termed 'goldfish' collectively regardless of color. Similarly, telescope-eyes, black moors, bubble-eyes, fantails, veiltails, ryukins, ranchus, lionheads, pearlscales etc are all goldfish.

 

[kazzzagreen]

Ok thank you. One last question though - can shubunkins get aggressive? My friend has a coldwater tank with 3 shubunkins and 2 goldfish (60 gallon tank with excellent water levels) and one of the shubunkins keeps nipping at the bodies of the other fish. It hasn't done any damage but the other fish are looking stressed and are flicking.

 

[sylvia]

Not usualy but the fact that they are flicking actualy suggests a parasitic infection - something that may explain why the fish is nipping at them. Tell your friend to see if the fish that's doing the nipping is flicking as well. I suspect it will be. As the tank is large enough for all the fish, it seems unlikely that this fish just suddenly turned aggressive. Is there a significant size difference between the fish?

 

[kazzzagreen]

one of the goldfish is a bit bigger but the other are all the same size. The fish thats nipping doesn't appear to be flicking but maybe he is. I have already suggested treating with sterazin, (for flukes) so we'll have to try that. We did remove the fish that was nipping so we should probably put him back then? He is in a quarantine tank at the moment.

 

[simonbrown403]

I have two in my pond that are reaching 1/2lb fats sods never stop eating

 

[sylvia]

Yes, put it back in the tank as whatever the other fish have, it'll probably have as well. BTW, it won't necessarily be flukes - it could also be ich, or anchor worms, or velvet etc It may even just be something in the water. You could always treat the bully and the rest seperately if you do not want to risk the aggression though. Oh and make sure there is something actualy wrong before you treat any of the fish with anything.