68 FISHFOOD 



The most popularly known food is the white wafer, made of rice 

 flour and white-of-egg. This is used by novice goldfish fanciers every- 

 where. Experts consider it too limited in its content. Also any uneaten 

 surplus quickly clouds the water. There is no denying, however, that 

 many persons have kept fish well for years by feeding wafer in small 

 enough quantities so that there is no surplus. 



Better foods have been placed on the market, most pet stores keep- 

 ing at least one of them. They are granular in form, usually of a dark 

 color and are composed of a mixture of dried insects, meat, fish roe, flour, 

 codfish and other ingredients. Unless one needs a large quantity it is 

 better to purchase a prepared article of the sort described, rather than to 

 undertake its manufacture. 



A very good fishfood is puppy biscuit broken up and ground to 

 small sizes in a coffee mill. This is cheaper than regular fishfood and is 

 very satisfactory. It is used as a base by many dealers in which to add 

 a few ingredients and then place it on the market under special labels. 

 If one uses this biscuit in quantity it may be had cheaply in bushel lots 

 from manufacturers who save broken pieces for this purpose and grind 

 it to size. 



A food used with considerable success is oatmeal prepared exactly 

 as it comes to the breakfast table, containing the same amount of salt. 

 This is especially recommended for feeding young goldfishes when 

 daphnia have become scarce. The shape of a goldfish is permanently in- 

 fluenced in its body development in the first few months, and different 

 methods of feeding produce, to a certain extent, different shapes. The 

 effect of oatmeal, fed plentifully, is to build the short, round body so 

 generally desired. For fishes under ten weeks old the oatmeal should be 

 squeezed through cheesecloth to take out the kernels. Let the young fishes 

 have as much as they can eat all day, but let no food remain over night. 

 This does not apply to fishes in their second year or over, although oat- 

 meal in much smaller quantity is good for them also. 



An improvement on boiled oatmeal is secured by adding a moderate 

 portion of powdered shrimp, dried fish roe, dried mussel flesh or pow- 

 dered shredded codfish. For preparation of ingredients, see page 70. 



Dried bread crumbs make good food for goldfishes, or for vegetarian 

 wild fishes, especially when Graham or whole-wheat bread is used. If 

 one is out of other fishfood this will be found, for a time, a convenient 

 and satisfactory substitute. 



Practically all fishes enjoy scrambled eggs. Beyond doubt it is a 

 fine change from dried foods, possessing both nutritive and laxative 

 qualities. A little Cream-of-Wheat or Cream-of-Barley mixed in before 



