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Shubunkin GoldfishCalico Goldfish

Family: Cyprinidae

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Shubunkin Goldfish (London type)Carassius auratus auratusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

     The unique characteristic of the Shubunkin Goldfish is not their wild calico patterning, but that its pattern is set on a blue background... a color which is quite rare in goldfish!

     The Shubunkin Goldfish are beautiful fish that are almost always speckled or have a variegated color pattern. They are called Chuwen-chin in China but in Japan, where they were probably developed in about 1900, they are called Shubunkin and this is the name that has stuck with them throughout the western world.

     A Shubunkin Goldfish can have so many colors to its pattern it is often referred to as the Calico Goldfish. These colors include yellows, oranges, reds, browns, blacks, purples, grays, and whites; and they are set on a blue background. Other descriptive names for this fish are Speckled Goldfish, Coronation Fish, and Harlequin Goldfish. The color blue is quite rare, which makes the Shubunkin a more valuable goldfish.

     There are two types of Shubunkins, the London type and the Bristol type. The London type is much more common than the Bristol type and is usually what you will find at pet stores. Both types of Shubunkin Goldfish, especially the London type, as seen above, are recommended as a beginner fish. They are one of the hardiest of the gold fish varieties. They are an easy fish to keep as they are not picky and will readily eat what is offered. They are active and strong swimmers. They are also very social and thrive well in a community. Other goldfish recommended for beginners include the Fantail Goldfish, Common Goldfish, and the Comet Goldfish.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:      The Goldfish, a wild carp originally known by such names as the Crucian Carp, Gibel Carp, or Golden Carp, was described by Linnaeus in 1758. They originated in Asia; Central Asia and China. Today domesticated goldfish are distributed world-wide. These fish inhabit the slow moving and stagnant waters of rivers, lakes, ponds, and ditches feeding on plants, detritus, small crustaceans, and insects.
     In the early 1600's these fish were exported first to Japan and then to Europe and were developed into the wonderful colors and forms of gold fish we see today. The Shubunkin Goldfish, one of the more than 125 captive bred varieties, was probably developed in Japan around 1900.

Status:      This species is not listed on the IUCN Red List, and presumably there are no wild populations of this captive bred variety.

Description:      The Shubunkin Goldfish is an elongated, flat-bodied variety of goldfish. The head is wide but short and it has a smoothly tapering body shape from its back and belly to the base of its caudal fin (tail fin). The caudal fin is forked. Its fins generally stand fully erect and the edge of the dorsal fin is slightly concave.
     There are two types of Shubunkins, the London type and the Bristol type. The London type is very similar to the Common Goldfish with virtually the same body and fin shapes. The Common Goldfish however, has a totally different body color, being a solid bright orange and it is also larger. The Bristol type Shubunkin has an enormous tail fin that is very wide, moderately forked with well-rounded lobes.

Size - Weight:      The Shubunkin Goldfish is somewhat smaller than a common goldfish. The environment it is kept in is a determining factor on whether your pet grows to its full potential size. In an average 10 gallon tank, if well cared for and not crowded, they will grow up to about 4 inches (10 cm). In a bigger uncrowded tank they can grow larger generally reaching about 6 inches (15 cm), though some hobbyist report their Shubunkins reaching up to a whopping 13" (33 cm)!

Care and feeding:      Since they are omnivorous, the Shubunkin Goldfish will generally eat all kinds of fresh, frozen, and flake foods. To care for Shubunkin goldfish, keep a good balance by giving them a high quality flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen), blood worms, Daphnia, or tubifex worms as a treat. It is usually better to feed freeze-dried foods as opposed to live foods to avoid parasites and bacterial infections that could be present in live foods.
     Shubunkin Goldfish are some of the hardier species of goldfish. They are very undemanding of water quality and temperature. Many people try to keep goldfish in small one or two gallon bowls with no heater or filtration. But for the best success in keeping goldfish, provide them the same filtration, especially biological filtration, that other aquarium residents enjoy.
     The shape and size of the aquarium is important and depends upon the number of fish you are going to keep. Goldfish need a lot of oxygen and produce a lot of waste.

• A large surface area of water will help minimize goldfish suffering from an oxygen shortage. Surface area is determined by the shape of the tank. For the same volume of water, an elongated tank offers more surface area (and oxygen) than a tall tank. In a fish bowl, filling the bowl to the middle offers more surface area (and oxygen) than filling the bowl to the top. Always provide the maximum amount of surface area.
• Providing a large amount of water per fish will help dilute the amount of waste and reduce the number of water changes needed.
• A general rule of thumb for young fish only is: 1 inch of fish (2.54 cm) per 1 gallon of water. This rule applies only to young fish and is not adequate as they grow. Larger gold fish consume much more oxygen than young fish so maintaining this formula for growing fish will stunt them, and can contribute to disease and even death.
• Keep the tank size and shape in mind when you are buying your fish. To allow for growth, either buy fewer fish than the maximum number of fish (based on the above formula) or be prepared to get a larger tank.

     Because goldfish produce a lot of waste, good filtration is very helpful in maintaining the water quality of the aquarium. Regular weekly water changes of 1/4 to 1/3 is strongly recommended to keep these fish healthy.
     Use a gravel substrate and add some decorations that provide shelter for your pet goldfish. Driftwood and smooth rocks make good, safe decorations; and plants are especially appreciated, either live or plastic. A cover for the tank is desirable as it reduces evaporation and though they are not prone to jumping, on occasion some gold fish will jump out. Most aquariums come with a cover that includes lighting. It is not essential for goldfish, but will help if you have live plants.
     Goldfish are subject to the same diseases as tropical fish. A couple of the more common problems are Ich, Swim Bladder disease, and external parasites including flukes, lice and anchor worms. To learn about these and other diseases and how to treat them see: Aquarim Fish  Diseases & Treatments.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:      These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:      The Shubunkin Goldfish are one of the most hardy varieties of goldfish and can tolerate temperatures a few degrees above freezing, as long as the cooling drops only a few degrees a day. A quick temperature drop can kill them, so if you live in a very cold climate a heater is advisable.
     Temp: Goldfish are a cold water fish and will do best at temperatures between 65 - 72 ° F (18 °- 22 ° C)
     Hardness: 5 - 19 ° dGH
     Ph: 6.0 to 8.0

Social Behaviors:      Goldfish are very social animals and thrive in a community. Not only are they a great community fish but they are great scavengers as well. It is really not necessary to add other scavengers or other bottom feeders to the aquarium when you have goldfish.
     Most fancy goldfish will thrive in both freshwater and tropical aquariums as long as there are no aggressive or territorial fish in the tank. Some good tank mates for fancy goldfish are the Chinese Blue Bitterling and the Northern Redbelly Dace.

Sexual Differences:      Although is it impossible to sex Goldfish when they are young and not in breeding season, the male is usually smaller and more slender that the female. In the breeding season the male has white prickles, called breeding tubercles, on its gill covers and head. Seen from above the female will have a fatter appearance as she is carrying eggs.

Buy Shubunkin Goldfish From LiveAquaria.com

Breeding/Reproduction:      Shubunkin Goldfish are egg layers that spawn readily in the right conditions. See Breeding Freshwater Fish - Goldfish for more information on breeding Goldfish.

Availability:      The Shubunkin Goldfish is readily available but sometimes costs a bit more than other fancy goldfish.

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Latest Comments
I have one these in my 55 gal. tank but it very tempermenatal and likes pick on the other fish in the tank. why is this happening? it is solid white. Shawn Griffis 2010-02-03
I went to the pet shop to get some goldfish for my outdoor pond and ended up with a dozen for $1.99. The clerk told me they are commonly called Calicos and Browns. The 4 browns didn't last long, they died. But the 8 remaining Calicos are huge. They were 1-2 inches when they came home and now some are close to 3-4 inches. I'm not sure how much room they will need when I bring them in the house. They are in a 50 gallon pond now and its starting to be 40 degrees at night. So... when do I bring them in and how big does their inside tank need to be... Jenet 2009-10-04
I have a pond with a few Koi in it and one regular goldfish. Can Shubunkin goldfish live in a pond also. They are so pretty, I thought they would make a nice addition to the pond. Linda 2009-08-27
I have 2 Shubunkins, Blue and Pumpkin! They are my pride and joys. I have had them for about a year now and they are about 13 inches right now. They like to eat small feeder fish or KOI food or goldfish pellets. They eat the flakes but they never finish them. So I don't bother feeding them the flakes. They love their 39 gallon home and are so beautiful. Blue is a rare fish, he is completely blue with black specks and orange lips. Pumpkin is mostly black and orange with a little blue in the background of the orange and black. I really enjoy my fish. Brenda 2009-07-30
Hi there, I have two shubunkins that are both about 2-3 inches and am getting them a new tank tomorrow. I have one male and one female. The male is justy and the female is libby. Justy is a bronze variation of the species so he is bronze all over and libby is the calico colour. They are both londen shubunkin and I love them very much. logan 2009-06-20
Some of the coolest comments:
I have read of another type of shubunkin goldfish, named the american shubunkin. Couldn't tell you what the difference is from other shubunkins, but I do know they were bred around the same time as the London shubunkins (1920's). chris 2009-11-25
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
I love Animal-World! Check here ALL the time for fish info. I have been keeping tropical fish for more years than I want to reveal. I recently got 4 Shubunkin Goldfish. They are my babies! I love them. They are very active, peaceful, always hungry, gorgeous fish. My favorite is a blue one that has just started getting spots of other colors. I have had them in my 29 gallon for a couple months now. I am in the middle now of setting up a 130 for them. I hope they get 12 inches or so. Thanks for the wonderful info Animal-World! greg 2008-08-23
I have two calico goldfish. They are active and very cute! They live with my two comets and I am really glad that this site taught me how to properly care for them! Anonymous 2007-06-04
Hello from England. I have had my beautiful London shubunkin - 'Dotty' for the last four years. He happily lives with a gorgeous Wakin, two other comet goldfish and an albino xenopus toad. Fantastic website, keep up the good work. Lizzie Buxton 2007-04-24

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