Do Shubunkin fish eventually loose their calico colors?

A Calico Subunkin has by definition, a mixture of metallic and/or transparent scales that produce a pearl like translucency or appearance. This pearl like appearance should be apparent for the life of the fish. If this fades or disappears with age, then either the fish has been misnamed, or the conditions in which the fish is being kept are not good enough. The basic rules for keeping fish healthy are :- 1 inch of fish needs at least 1 gallon of water. :- Every tank needs a permanently running cycled filter. Every tank needs at least 50% of its water replaced every week. Keep to the above rules/requirements and your fish will stand a chance of survival. Fail in any of them and I can guarantee that your fish will have constant health problems.