The overlapping patches of red, white, blue, grey and black (along with dark speckles) normally extend to the finnage of Shubunkins.

Sometimes good blues may be obtained by breeding bronze (metallic) with "pink" (matte-scaled) goldfish, but a grey slate colour may result instead.

It may take several months for the nacreous coloration to develop on a young fry (baby fish).

Shubunkins are excellent pond fish because they reach a length of 9 to 18 inches (23 to 46 cm) at adulthood.

With proper diet and water conditions, the average lifespan of a Shubunkin goldfish is around 10–15 years.