What can go with Shubunkins in a 30 gallon tank?

Question

I think Shubunkins are too cool, but I'd like a little bit of variety. Furthermore, I don't like the bubble-eye goldfish, or the plain feeder fish type of goldfish. Also don't want mollies (ich), and I guess most tropical freshwaters are out anyway because of the pH. If I'm not interested in fish over $5, what am I left with?

Answer 1

A Shubunkin is part of the gold fish family, there are many types of other fish that would be fine with shubunkins. I used to keep shubunkins with small koi and fancy goldfish in a 30 gallon tank. Now I will say this, that can only work for about a year or so. Shubunkins and koi unlike goldfish, will continue to grow no matter the size of your tank. After they grow to large for your tank you will be left with either parting with the fish and buying new ones, or getting a larger tank. If you let shubunkins or koi stay in a tank that is to small for them they will start to become deformed, and start to grow outwards and become wide and stubby rather than long and slender. Dont buy any fish that are naturally small fish, remember any fish in the goldfish family will eat any fish that will fit in their mouths. This includes betta's also. ( I learned this the hard way) Small koi cost about as much as shubunkins and there are many types of fancy goldfish such as loin head aka oranda's (they look like they have a little hat on), ryukin( the pom pom tailed ones) , pearl scale (they have larger, scales that stick out from the body) and black moor's (all black goldfish with big eye's that stick out, not bubble eyed though). You don't have to settle for the bubble eye goldfish or the comet or sarsa style (feeder goldfish). Good luck, I hope this helped.

Answer 2

You can't mix any fancy goldfish with the slim-bodied goldfish, such as Shubunkins, because the fancies swim too slowly and wouldn't get enough food. The fancies are also more delicate, especially the bubble-eyes, and can be damaged by the fast swimming Shubunkins. You also can't put mollies or any kind of tropical fish with goldfish because goldfish are coldwater fish and tropicals need heaters. In conjunction with the limitations on the type of fish that can be put with Shubunkins, you're extremely limiting yourself on what to get if you're not willing to spend more than $5. Commons, Comets, Shubunkins and Koi are the only fish that are compatible with each other. Koi are pond fish, so unless your Shubunkin is in a pond or you have about a 300 gallon aquarium, you can't have koi. So, you are limited to Common, Comet and Shubunkin goldfish to put with your Shubunkin. But, then, you have another limitation; the size of your tank. With a 30 gallon tank, at the very most, you can only have two commons, comets or shubunkins, and that is only if they are less than 5 inches in length. They, of course, will grow past this length in a couple of years, so if you got another one of these goldfish, you would need to plan to buy a 50-60 gallon tank when these goldfish got past this size. I don't know what size your shubunkin is now, but if you like shubunkins, try looking at a Bristol Shubunkin. They have very long flowing fins and are really graceful and beautiful. Just remember to keep in mind giving them enough room in your tank. But, Bristols are going to cost way more than $5. For a good quality, good size, you can probably expect to pay more like $50. I would say that the only thing that is compatible with fast, slim-bodied goldfish that is inexpensive would be a bottom feeder. The only compatible bottom feeders for goldfish are apple snails, Hillstream Loaches, Dojos, Bristlenose Plecos, Rubbernose Plecos and Dwarf Octocinclus. That's about it. I know it's not much and certainly not an exciting answer, but with goldfish, you have some tight restrictions as to compatibility, environment, and cost. Good luck though with whatever you decide! Have fun!

Answer 3

Shubunkins are cool fish and I understand your need for variety. There are a few choices for a cold water tank that make great tank mates

Gold Barb (Barbus schuberti), the Green Barb (Barbus semifasciolatus), the Rosy Barb (Barbus conchonius), and the Two Spot Barb (Barbus ticto).Bloodfin Tetra - Both the standard Bloodfin (Aphyocharax anisitsi), and the False Bloodfin (Aphyocharax dentatus) tolerate temperatures cold.

Just remember do not overload your aquarium. SInce you already have shubunkins, keep an eye on your testing levels. This means you may have to up your water changes to once a week.

Answer 4

Nothing, unfortunately. One shubunkin is fine in a 30 gallon tank, but nothing else. Shubs (and all goldfish) are very heavy bodied fish that eat a lot, poop a lot, and produce copious amounts of ammonia. They need a lot of water to cope with the amount of waste they produce.
If you want variety in your 30 gallon tank, you'll have to trade in your shubunkin(s) for some tropical (but know that these will need a heater) - if you're attached to your shubs, then your limit would be one, maybe at most two, shubunkins in a 30 gallon tank.

Answer 5

NOTHING!