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Shubunkin
BeginnerLong-bodied calico goldfish. Wakin type, hardy and active. Displays red, white, black, and blue colors. Perfect for outdoor ponds.
Difficulty
Beginner
Temperature
5〜30℃（適温18〜24℃）
Lifespan
10-15 years
Size
15-30cm
Diet
Goldfish pellets, omnivorous
About
The Shubunkin is a hardy, single-tailed Japanese goldfish developed during the Meiji era through crossbreeding of Wakin, Telescope Eye, and calico Fantail varieties. Its most celebrated feature is the calico nacreous coloration—a mosaic of red, white, black, orange, and especially vivid blue tones across translucent scales. The blue coloration, rare among goldfish, makes strongly blue-hued individuals particularly prized by enthusiasts. Body shape is similar to the Wakin—streamlined and built for active swimming—and the breed can grow to 20–30 cm. Regional variations include the London and Bristol Shubunkin types, the latter notable for its large, heart-shaped tail. They should be kept with similarly active swimmers such as Wakin or Comets rather than slow fancy varieties.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Shubunkin
The Shubunkin lives 10-15 years.
Size of the Shubunkin
The Shubunkin grows to 15-30cm.
Temperature & humidity for the Shubunkin
The ideal water temperature for the Shubunkin is 18〜23℃.
Shubunkin are robust, adaptable to a wide temperature range of 5–30°C, and well-suited to outdoor pond life.
Basic Info
Origin
Japan
Lifespan
10-15 years
Care Specifications
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness (GH)
- 5–19 dGH
- Water Temp.
- 18–23℃
PeacefulGroupBreeding: Moderate
Sources: FishBase / Aqueon Goldfish Care Guide
Morphs (Varieties)
Goldfish varieties are line-bred for body shape, tail type, scale type, and coloration. Traits such as protruding eyes, transparent scales (calico), and albinism are single-locus traits.
RecessiveVisual only with two copies; one copy = het (carrier).
Calico (mosaic transparent scale)
Line-bredEstablished by selective line breeding.
Single tail (wild-type fin)
Sources: Wikipedia - Goldfish (Varieties) / Goldfish — Wikipedia (Japanese edition, varieties)
A curated selection of notable morphs. Inheritance modes are a breeding-planning guide; actual appearance varies with combos.
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms: Cyprinus auratus Linnaeus, 1758, Carassius auratus auratus (Linnaeus, 1758), Cyprinus thoracatus Valenciennes, 1842, Carassius burgeri Temminck & Schlegel, 1846, Cyprinus chinensis Gronow, 1854
Authority databases: FishBase · GBIF · FishBase: Carassius auratus · GBIF: Carassius auratus
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
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