View Full Version : Aggresive Shubunkin
Hi, i have recently purchased two Shubunkins. The smaller one of the two every so often attacks the slightly larger one's left eye.
Anyone have any idea why this may be happening?
Dangerdoll
09-17-2006, 8:56 PM
How big of a tank or pond are they both in and what else is with them? Also, what are the parameters of the water? How old are the fish?
I have no ida how old they are. One of them is just under 3 inches, the other is just over 3 inches.
They are in a 6 gallon tank at the moment, but will be moving in to a 20 gallon tank with my 2 gold fish in a couple of weeks.
I have tested the water, everything seems fine. Nitrate is at about 20 (Pet store told me i would never get this to 0)
But everything else looks fine.
The tank has some natural fern for cover and dorset pea gravel covering the bottom.
fantail
09-18-2006, 6:11 AM
Shubunkins as well as goldfish need at least 20 gallons each when small and 50+ when bigger,they can grow to over a foot in length.
They are really only suitable for larger ponds because of the waste they give off.
Filtration will need to be 10 times the tank capacity just to cope with one of them.
They are probably fighting over territory and it wont get easier in the bigger tank as you are only allowing 5 gallons per fish.
20 gallons each? that does seem alot.
So if i wanted to keep 2 Goldfish/Shubunkins in a tank, the tank would need to be 5ft long?
fantail
09-18-2006, 8:07 AM
Are you asking for four fish?
If so then you need to give them a lot of space once they are fully grown. Goldfish do the most growing in the first 3 years and people make the mistake of putting them in to small tanks where it stunts growth and causes spinal deformities.
You could compare a grown goldfish with an oscar as one oscar needs a 55 minimum tank.
So yes a large tank is needed if you plan on keeping them for a long time and also filtration of 10 times tank turnover will be needed as well, externals are the best for goldies.
Lot of money, but you can get cheaper tanks from ebay and also you need to have a big room to put them in.
How about a pond?? and have fancy goldfish indoors?
Thanks for the replies Fantail. I didnt realise Goldfish needed that much space.
The two goldfish were given to me a few months back, i was told they are about 7-8 years old. They are only 3-4 inches long. Are they likely to grow much more?
I currently have an internal sponge filter, that filters 500 litres per hour, would i be better with something else?
fantail
09-18-2006, 8:30 AM
As long as theres lots of media for the bacteria to grow in then its fine. Can you get a link from google to the filter you have?
3-4 inches at that age is severely stunted poor guys. They may grow a bit more with room but the damage may well be done.
heres a link to the filter i have.
http://www.edkins.com/superfish_aqua-flow_2.htm
I'm sure they have grown a little since i got them, they certainly have perked up now being in a bigger tank. They swim round so much more and play in the bubbles from the filter.
fantail
09-18-2006, 8:55 AM
The filter is fine for an 11 gallon tank with goldies in it. So if you decide on the 20 gallon then you will need something that does more than that, maybe the fluval3+ type of filter and above. You have to be careful the tank isnt turned into a washing machine and the fluvals have bars on the front to restrict water flow. Other filters have spray bar attachments. The key is to have a filter or filters that have lots of media in them, which is why i always recommend externals but they are expensive so try to get the best you can.
So you could keep your existing modeland find something a bit smaller to run along side it such as a fluval 2+ but space may be restricted so a hang on back type may be ok.
That Filter is in the 20 Gallon tank. I'm gonna look in to getting an external filter too
Would a FLUVAL 105 EXTERNAL FILTER be any good with my Tank?
The tank is 30"x12"x15"?
fantail
09-18-2006, 2:30 PM
With the internal it will be enough.