Saturday 14 May 2011

Goldfish Care: Caring Shubunkin Goldfish

Caring Shubunkin Goldfish and Feeding


Caring Shubunkin Goldfish


Shubunkin Goldfish
One varieties of Common Goldfish we will discuss here is Shubunkin Goldfish. As we know The Shubunkin Goldfish is an elongated, flat-bodied variety of goldfish. The head is wide but short and it has a smoothly tapering body shape from its back and belly to the base of its caudal fin (tail fin). The caudal fin is forked. Its fins generally stand fully erect and the edge of the dorsal fin is slightly concave. For details Shubunkin Goldfish information can found in this article "Shubunkin Goldfish".

Preparing fish tank

Shubunkin Goldfish are some of the hardier species of goldfish. They are very undemanding of water quality and temperature. They can do well in goldfish aquariums, a pond, or even a goldfish bowl when small, as long as the environment is safe and their tank mates are not competitive. Setting up an aquarium in a manner that will keep your fish happy and healthy is the first step to successfully fish keeping.

Deciding Aquarium Size

The shape and size of the goldfish aquarium is important and depends upon the number of fish you are going to keep. Goldfish need a lot of oxygen and produce a lot of waste. Keep the tank size and shape in mind when you are buying your fish.

Tank Shape: It is important to give proper fish tank for your Goldfish. For imagery, choose proper goldfish tank that give more space than other. Elongated shaped tank would have more space than tall tank, you should consider this. Always fills your tank to medium limit of water will give more space and oxygen for your goldfish. Surely, much space of your tank is not only will give more oxygen, but this condition will help your water more clean longer, because it will dilute the amount of fish waste and reduce water change frequency.

Tank size: Start with a 20 - 30 gallon tank for your first goldfish is a good idea and then increase the size of the tank by 10 gallons for each additional goldfish. Providing a large amount of water per fish will help dilute the amount of waste and reduce the number of water changes needed

Water rules: Please keep in mind when you want to buy a new aquarium or fish tank that tank shape and size is important. For proportion only, think that 1 inch of your young goldfish will need 1 gallon of water. As they are growth it will need more space than young fish. With this in mind, you will be more wisely when tailoring what proper size and how many max-numbers of fish in your new tank will give good environment for any aquarium residents.

Fish - size and growth: Refer to tank size and water rule have been described above, you have had imagery now about proper place for your fish. Your goldfish will grow and all things has to you prepare before, include fish tank. The proper environment will improve their growth. First of all, a good reason is to buy fewer fish than the maximum number of fish that can be kept into your tank, because as they grow, they will need more space than they were young, this need you prepared before to keep them at the proper tank size or get a larger tank when they grow mature. Larger gold fish consume much more oxygen than young fish, so if you forget to consider the proper tank size, the environment will dwarf them, goldfish not happy, and can contribute to disease and even death.                                                  

Lighting

Most aquariums come with a cover that includes lighting. A cover for the tank is desirable as it reduces evaporation and though they are not prone to jumping, on occasion some gold fish will jump out. Lighting is not essential for goldfish, but does make the aquarium a nice show piece and lighting will help if you have live plants.

Filtration and Temperature

Goldfish produce a lot of waste. Good filtration, especially biological filtration, is very helpful in maintaining the water quality of the aquarium. Filtration systems remove much of the detritus, excess foods and waste. This helps keep the tank clean and maintain the general health of the goldfish.

Goldfish are a cold water fish and will do best at temperatures between 65 - 72° F (18°- 22° C) with ph 6.0 to 8.0. The Shubunkin Goldfish are one of the most hardy varieties of goldfish and can tolerate temperatures a few degrees above freezing, as long as the cooling drops only a few degrees a day. A quick temperature drop can kill them, so if you live in a very cold climate a heater is advisable.

Aquarium Decor and Substrate

You can add some decor, but make sure that all ornamentation is smooth with no protruding points or sharp edges. Smooth rocks or driftwood, should be used sparingly if at all. Aquarium plants would be the best choice of aquarium decor for goldfish, but unfortunately these fish are diggers. Consequently live plants may be uprooted. Artificial plants make a good substitute and silk plants are safer than plastic ones.

Provide a gravel substrate to help create a natural and comfortable environment for your fish. A medium sized gravel works best.

Water Change

Maintain the water is required for keep better environment of your goldfish. We know that with best upkeep will keep your fish more long live. Get water change regularly with water change of 1/3 will keep water more clean, and reduce waste pollution? With clean environment, it will help fish healthy.


Feeding Shubunkin Goldfish


Shubunkin is belong to omnivorous goldfish, the Shubunkin Goldfish will generally eat all kinds of fresh, frozen, and flake foods. To care for Shubunkin goldfish, keep a good balance by giving them a high quality flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen), blood worms, Daphnia, or tubifex worms as a treat. It is usually better to feed freeze-dried foods as opposed to live foods to avoid parasites and bacterial infections that could be present in live foods.