Shubunkin
Country of origin | Japan |
---|---|
Type | Single tailed |
Classification | |
BAS | [1] |
Shubunkins (Japanese: 朱文金, Hepburn: Shubunkin, 'vermilion brocade') are a hardy, single-tailed goldfish with nacreous scales and a pattern known as calico.[1] The Shubunkins are of Japanese origin.[2][3]
The Shubunkin was created by Yoshigoro Akiyama (
Description
Shubunkins are similar to the
It may take several months for the nacreous coloration to develop on a young fry (baby fish). Shubunkins are excellent pond fish because they reach a length of 9 to 18 inches (23 to 46 cm) at adulthood. A Shubunkin goldfish is considered an adult at 1 to 2 years of age,[2][3] even though they live much longer. With proper diet and water conditions, the average lifespan of a Shubunkin goldfish is around 10–15 years.[4]
Genetics
Blue colouring in goldfish comes from black pigment within the body wall.
- When two fish with nacreous scales breed together, the offspring will on average include 1/4 with metallic scales, 1/4 with matte scales, and 1/2 with nacreous scales.
- If a fish with nacreous scales breeds with a fish with metallic scales, the offspring will on average include 1/2 metallic and 1/2 nacreous.
- If a fish with nacreous scales breeds with a fish with matte scales, the offspring will on average include 1/2 matte and 1/2 nacreous.
- If a fish with metallic scales breeds with a fish with matte scales, the offspring will all be nacreous.
Variants
- London Shubunkins have stout bodies and short, rounded finnage that is similar to the common goldfish.[2][3]
- American Shubunkins (pictured in infobox), also called "Japanese Shubunkins", [5] have a slimmer body shape than the London Shubunkin, with deeply forked, pointed tail fins, and longer finnage all around. They are the most frequently seen type of shubunkins and the most common kind of shubunkins in many fish stores and markets.[3]
- Bristol Shubunkins are a long broad-bodied goldfish with well-developed finnage, possessing a tail that is exaggeratingly large, moderately forked, and rounded at the end, making a shape similar to that of a heart or the capitalization of the letter "B". They are the rarest shubunkins, hardly in stores, and few are in the US. The name Bristol shubunkin comes from the city in Britain where they were originally bred.[2][3]
References
- ^ ISBN 0-86622-041-0.
- ^ ISBN 1-902389-64-6
- ^ ISBN 0-8348-0448-4
- ^ "Shubunkin Goldfish 101: Care, Size, Lifespan & More". Aquarium Source. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- ^ "Shubunkin "poor man's koi"". 30 April 2012.