Shubunkin Goldfish: The Goldfish for Ponds, Not Bowls

In this guide

Overview

The shubunkin is a single-tailed goldfish variety prized for its calico patterning, a mix of blue, black, red, orange and white over a mostly scaleless, nacreous body. It is closer in body shape and hardiness to the common goldfish than to the rounder fancy varieties, and grows just as large, up to thirty centimetres in the right conditions.

It is an excellent choice for the increasing number of Indian homeowners setting up outdoor ponds, since it tolerates temperature swings well and its pattern shows beautifully in open water.

Tank and pond requirements

Given its adult size and active swimming style, a shubunkin is far better suited to a pond or a very large tank of at least a hundred and fifty litres than to a small indoor aquarium. It is a strong swimmer and appreciates open space to move.

It handles cooler water well and does not need a heater anywhere in India, making it one of the more climate-appropriate goldfish for outdoor ponds in the country's cooler regions and during winter months elsewhere.

Diet and care

A staple of goldfish pellets or flakes works well, supplemented with vegetables and occasional live food. In a pond setting, shubunkins will also graze on algae and any insect life that finds its way in.

Because it is such an active fish, it needs strong filtration to keep up with waste production, whether in a tank or a pond.

Buying tips

• Priced from around eighty to two hundred rupees for younger fish in most Indian markets
• A good match for anyone planning a garden pond rather than an indoor tank
• Choose fish with vivid, well-defined calico patches rather than dull or patchy colouration, which can indicate poor health or stress

Article content © S Vejay Anand. All rights reserved.