Shubunkins

Hi everyone! I’m new to the group. I have a question about goldfish. I started a 5 gal planted aquarium. I put 2 shubunkins in there not knowing they won’t grow properly. I have a pond I plan on transfering them into but they need to be at least 3-4 inches before I can do so. Can they grow to that size in this tank and how long will it take them to reach that size? Any helpful suggestions I don’t want to have stressed fish but I also can not upgrade at the moment. I do weekly water changes between 15-25%. My water levels stay within good perameters minus my PH which runs a little high due to the water I use. Working on cleaning some drift wood now to help naturally lower it. Thanks in advance!

 

Hi everyone! I’m new to the group. I have a question about goldfish. I started a 5 gal planted aquarium. I put 2 shubunkins in there not knowing they won’t grow properly. I have a pond I plan on transfering them into but they need to be at least 3-4 inches before I can do so. Can they grow to that size in this tank and how long will it take them to reach that size? Any helpful suggestions I don’t want to have stressed fish but I also can not upgrade at the moment. I do weekly water changes between 15-25%. My water levels stay within good perameters minus my PH which runs a little high due to the water I use. Working on cleaning some drift wood now to help naturally lower it. Thanks in advance!

I would say a 20g with 50% waterchanges twice a week would be better. They grow fast when they have more space.

 

Unfortunately I can not do anything bigger for them except the pond. I’ll change the water how every often if it keeps him growing. Do you know if it will disrupt my plants to do every other day changes? Would the tank and fish be able to handle 2-4 cups 1/4 to 1/2 gallon of water change daily? I know I’m combating a growth hormone I can’t see.

 

What's the issue with the pond that you can't put them in there now? Other fish or predators or something?

 

What's the issue with the pond that you can't put them in there now? Other fish or predators or something?

Both the other fish are very big it has a strong current and there are predators if he can’t get to the deep end fast enough but the current is the strongest there. It isn’t my pond but I don’t want to give the fish a bad life he wasn’t expensive but I’m not sending them out to be food. I feel so terrible I didn’t research this before I got them.

 

Both the other fish are very big it has a strong current and there are predators if he can’t get to the deep end fast enough but the current is the strongest there. It isn’t my pond but I don’t want to give the fish a bad life he wasn’t expensive but I’m not sending them out to be food. I feel so terrible I didn’t research this before I got them.

I gotcha. I didn't know if it was your pond and you maybe thought they were too little to be outside yet is all. I understand completely.
5 gallons isn't going to be enough for them, really. Even one won't do well in a tank that size. Can you return them to where you bought them? Maybe not like a get-your-money-back return but just so they can be sent to live somewhere more suited to them? I know you didn't mean to put them into too small of a tank. I bought a 2" shubunkin for my pond in March, and he's over 5" now 5 months later, along with all the 30-cent feeder comets I bought who are as big. My pond is protected and predator-free though.
If you don't have room for more than a 5 gallon, taking them back would be the best thing for them. If you really want to keep them and see them get big and live in the pond, you really need to find something bigger for them to live in. A sterilite tote with a filter on the floor in your breakfast room would be better than a 5 gallon tank, honestly. I hope I am not sounding harsh because that's not at all my intent.

ETA: FWIW your 5 gallon looks beautiful and you should grab some endlers for it! They'd love the hard water and stay tiny.

 

I gotcha. I didn't know if it was your pond and you maybe thought they were too little to be outside yet is all. I understand completely.
5 gallons isn't going to be enough for them, really. Even one won't do well in a tank that size. Can you return them to where you bought them? Maybe not like a get-your-money-back return but just so they can be sent to live somewhere more suited to them? I know you didn't mean to put them into too small of a tank. I bought a 2" shubunkin for my pond in March, and he's over 5" now 5 months later, along with all the 30-cent feeder comets I bought who are as big. My pond is protected and predator-free though.
If you don't have room for more than a 5 gallon, taking them back would be the best thing for them. If you really want to keep them and see them get big and live in the pond, you really need to find something bigger for them to live in. A sterilite tote with a filter on the floor in your breakfast room would be better than a 5 gallon tank, honestly. I hope I am not sounding harsh because that's not at all my intent.

ETA: FWIW your 5 gallon looks beautiful and you should grab some endlers for it! They'd love the hard water and stay tiny.

I never thought about just putting him in a tote with a pump and some gravel. That’s fabulous thank you! I just have to grab another filter but no biggie there. I got them from petsmart. I’d have time to plan a bigger home to possibly keep him this way. How are you protecting your pond. This pond is at my work. It’s huge only has two big comets in it.

 

I never thought about just putting him in a tote with a pump and some gravel. That’s fabulous thank you! I just have to grab another filter but no biggie there. I got them from petsmart. I’d have time to plan a bigger home to possibly keep him this way. How are you protecting your pond. This pond is at my work. It’s huge only has two big comets in it.

My pond is protected by being ten feet from my house haha. It's attached to the side of my deck, like a big horse trough with vertical sides. There aren't really a lot of predators around since I live in a dense neighborhood. The side is about waist-high from the ground on the outside away from the deck so too high for an animal to climb in. I have lots of floating plants and it's about 25" deep. I live in central North Carolina so it doesn't get too terribly cold in the winter, but I admit this winter will be the first for this setup.
But anyway... you could use any food-safe plastic bin, or even a small water trough from a feed store and run an oversized filter in it. You could forego the gravel altogether, really. I've seen lots of pictures where people just keep (fancy) goldfish that way permanently. Here's my pond if you want to see what I'm talking about.

 

My pond is protected by being ten feet from my house haha. It's attached to the side of my deck, like a big horse trough with vertical sides. There aren't really a lot of predators around since I live in a dense neighborhood. The side is about waist-high from the ground on the outside away from the deck so too high for an animal to climb in. I have lots of floating plants and it's about 25" deep. I live in central North Carolina so it doesn't get too terribly cold in the winter, but I admit this winter will be the first for this setup.
But anyway... you could use any food-safe plastic bin, or even a small water trough from a feed store and run an oversized filter in it. You could forego the gravel altogether, really. I've seen lots of pictures where people just keep (fancy) goldfish that way permanently. Here's my pond if you want to see what I'm talking about.

I love that! ❤️ Thank you so much I appreciate you help!

 

To grow goldfish you need to make sure they are getting fed well, and there aren't any growth inhibiting hormones. So lots of space will help them grow, but you can do without though it'll be more work. I would recommend moving them to storage bins with sponge filters as long as they're cycled. Doing frequent water changes, especially in smaller tanks, will definitely make a difference. Also, feeding a good quality, high protein diet, in small increments, several times a day will mimic summer and help them grow. Good luck, that five gallon is beautiful btw.

 

Thank you! I went out and got a filter and got them in 30g of water. So hopefully the past three weeks of only weekly water changes didn’t cause too much damage. I feed them three times a day. I do a flake twice a day and a little chunk of froze brine defrosted so it sinks and separates once a day. They've grown about 1/2” since I got them. Fingers crossed. Thanks again!

 

I love that! ❤ Thank you so much I appreciate you help!

Thank you I took your advice and went and grabbed a filter and put them in a large tote about 30g of water. Seem happy. Thank you! Hopefully they get to reach full size.