1 Shubunkin In A 60litre

[assistant52]

Hi guys,

I have 1 (small) Shubunkin in a 60 litre tank. I just have a few questions.

I know Shubunkins, like all fish of this type, can grow to be quite big. When my Shubunkin does begin to get to big for his tank I was just going to drive him over to my parents house and put him in the pond with their koi/shubunkins/goldfish.
Is this ok? to go from being a tank fish to a pond fish?

also.

He looks a bit lonely... Can i get another Shubunkin, totalling 2, in my 60 litre tank?

Like I said when they grow to large transferring them to a big pond is not a problem but I dont want them to be stressed before then?

 

[dbanner]

Personally I wouldn't. A single one should be in a tank in the region of 180-200 litres (around 4 feet in length). Even when small. They can reach around 20cm (5 inches) adult size.

Ideal tank setup would be to have a planted area and then a wide open swimming area. The potential size of these fish is not the only reason they need bigger tanks even when small, it's because of how much waste they produce. Waste = ammonia. A lot of ammonia in low volume of water = unhealthy fish.

You may be able to get around this if you over filtrate your tank and have a filter of say 5x LPH (litre per hour) turnover to your tank volume. So a filter that's good for around 300LPH with more being better. Also do daily water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrites at a minimum.

Another thing to be wary of is "stunting". This is when a fish is kept in tanks that are too small. A fish will then stop growing on the outside but it's internal organs will continue to grow... Not good.

Anyway, good luck with your shubunkin and I hope this helps

 

[fluttermoth]

I would get it out into the pond now, before the weather gets too cold and it's stuck in there for another four or five months. As dbanner rightly says (although there's no evidence that fish's internal organs continue to grow) goldfish kept in tanks that are too small never grow properly.

You can, to a certain extent, negate the effects by doing very large, regular water changes; and by that I mean 60-75% at least twice a week, but it's never an ideal situation for the welfare of the fish.

 

[assistant52]

Thanks for the advice dBanner.
I'll stick with the one shubunkin, I'm so annoyed, when I got the tank my LFS must have taken me for a sucker because the sales man said I could fit 4 in the 60litre he sold me!!!

The well being of my fish is the most important thing to me so I am glad I just bought the one fish now.

 

[assistant52]

*sigh* looks like he's going to the pond this weekend then, Best for him but I'll be sad to see him go, his colours where so nice!

Is there any coldwater fish suitable for a 60litre tank or should I just relent and go tropical?

 

[fluttermoth]

I don't know why shops persist in perpetuating this myth that goldfish are fine in small tanks.

I guess it's because mentioning 'tropical' scares the average 'man in the street' off as they think they're terribly delicate and expensive, and of course goldies sort of 'bring it on themselves' to a certain extent by being so blimming hardy!

Anyway, keep up the water changes,as big and as often as you can and he should be ok until you can get him into the pond, but if you can't do that in the next week or two, it's going to be too cold, and you'll have to keep him in until the spring.

There's no problem in transfering tank fish to ponds, btw; it's where they evolved to be. Just bag him up, one third water, two thirds air aand float him before releasing him, just as if you'd bought him from the shop

 

[assistant52]

I don't know why shops persist in perpetuating this myth that goldfish are fine in small tanks.

I guess it's because mentioning 'tropical' scares the average 'man in the street' off as they think they're terribly delicate and expensive, and of course goldies sort of 'bring it on themselves' to a certain extent by being so blimming hardy!

Anyway, keep up the water changes,as big and as often as you can and he should be ok until you can get him into the pond, but if you can't do that in the next week or two, it's going to be too cold, and you'll have to keep him in until the spring.

There's no problem in transfering tank fish to ponds, btw; it's where they evolved to be. Just bag him up, one third water, two thirds air aand float him before releasing him, just as if you'd bought him from the shop

Thanks Fluttermoth you always seem to be on hand with the best advice

Can you recommend any coldwater fish for a 60 litre tank? I will switch to tropical if I have to because there are some lovely tropical fish out there, I just fell in love with the carpy types and a massive tank/pond just isn't do-able at the minute

 

[fluttermoth]

There are variatus platies, but not many others, although it does depend on the dimensions of the tank, which are actually far more important that volume when it comes to stocking.

I deplore this horrible habit that seems to have arisen in the last few years of talking about tank size purely by volume, rather than 36x12x15" or whatever like we used to!

Anyway, post the dimensions and we'll be able to tell you if there any temperate fish that would go in there, but I doubt it'll be long enough

 

[assistant52]

haha sorry I just saw other people on this forum doing it and followed their lead

My tank is 60cm x 30cm x 35cm

I already know you're going to say I should go tropical. I guess if i ever get a better job I can get a nice big tank for temperate fish.

Until then, can you recommend me some nice tropical ones?

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Sadlly Shubunkins dont get 5 inches but 12"

 

[dbanner]

Sadlly Shubunkins dont get 5 inches but 12"

I stand corrected

 

[assistant52]

I'll transfer him over to my parents pond when I drive down either this week or next, he can hopefully grow to his full size and live for many years in there

 

[dbanner]

I'll transfer him over to my parents pond when I drive down either this week or next, he can hopefully grow to his full size and live for many years in there

Sounds good to me. You are definitely doing the right thing