(Please note that the fish shown in the photo is only a representative of what an adult specimen would look like. The color may vary based on the age and sex of the fish you receive.)
Scientific Name: Carassius auratus
Common Name: Shubunkin
Adult Size: 18 inches
Life Expectancy: 15 years
Habitat: Asia
Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons
Ideal Tank Conditions:
- Temperature Range: 65 - 72° F
- pH Range: 6.0 - 8.0
- Water Hardness: 5 - 19
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet & Nutrition: Shubunkins will generally eat all kinds of fresh, frozen, and flake foods.
Breeding & Spawning: Shubunkin Goldfish are egg layers that spawn readily in the right conditions. They can be bred in groups as small as five individuals, but they are very social animals and likely to breed in larger groups as well. The only time Goldfish will spawn in the wild is when spring arrives. To spawn them in the aquarium, you will need to mimic the conditions found in nature.
To induce spawning, the temperature can be slowly dropped to around 60° F and then slowly warmed at a rate of 3° F per day until they spawn. Spawning generally begins when the temperatures are between 68° and 74° F
Gender: During the breeding season, the male has white prickles, called breeding tubercles, on its gill covers and head. Seen from above, a female will have a fatter appearance when she is carrying eggs. It is impossible to sex Goldfish when they are young and not in breeding season, but generally the male is smaller and more slender than the female.
Compatible Tank Mates: See Compatibility Chart