26 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AND 
THE SHUBUNKIN 
One of the more recent introductions is the Shubunkin. This is 
simply a transparently scaled, highly mottled, common goldfish. All 
breeders of fancy stock occasionally get fish which are known as “sports” 
which have reverted back in form, but not in color to the original type. 
The Japanese have now fixed them as a breed, and export a fair number 
of them. They are of the most striking variation in color, and make a 
hardy, attractive aquarium or pond fish. The colors most sought after 
are blue backgrounds, sprinkled and mottled with dark red, brown, yellow 
and black. 
The Japanese stock has quite short fins, but those bred in America 
are a little more developed in this respect, the illustration showing the 
American style. 
THE FANTAIL GOLDFISH 
This is no doubt the early type of double-tailed goldfishes and is the 
kind most frequently met with in pet shops. Enormous quantities of them 
are annually raised in Japan, China, United States and Germany. Being 
long of body, with fins not highly developed they make good breeders and 
Fic. 12. THe Fantarr 
agile swimmers. This means that in the contest for life they are able in 
most cases to hold their own with the hardy single-tailed variety. Since 
the price for “fantails” is considerably in advance of that for ‘“‘commons,” 
it would seem a better commercial venture to invest a little more money 
at the start for “fantail”? breeding stock. However, none should go into 
the raising of fish of any kind as a commercial enterprise without first 
obtaining actual experience in a smaller way. 
The anal fins, as well as the tails, should be double and clearly 
divided. 
