76 FISHFOOD 



if not watched, may blow across the collecting pond. If the rafts are 

 dried immediately after using and all daphnia cleaned out from between 

 the fabric and the wood, they will last several seasons. The bottom frame 

 is usually blank, so that the slightly sagging cloth on the one above will 

 have drainage and not stand in the shallow water bound to collect in 

 the bottom of can. Drainage could, of course, be obtained by placing 

 small blocks on the bottom frame. 



Cyclops. We list these crustaceans because they are so widely dis- 

 tributed and because they are actually a food for those fishes which can 

 catch them. A little smaller than daphnia, they move through the water 

 in straight lines with a jumping motion. The shape is also different, as 

 will be noted in the illustration. The two tabs at the tail are not always 

 present, these being egg pouches which drop off. Cyclops are carnivorous. 

 They devour infusoria. It is also a belief that they kill newly hatched 

 fishes, possibly by getting into the gills, so that there is some doubt as to 

 whether this animal should be listed as a fishfood or an enemy. They 

 are introduced into the aquarium with daphnia and are seldom entirely 

 eradicated except by small, active fishes. 



Flies. While it is usually a difficult matter catching enough flies 

 with which to feed fishes, they are really a splendid food and should be 

 used if opportunity offers. Fishes soon get to looking for these delicate 

 morsels after sampling them a few times. Cutting the wings off with 

 scissors is undoubtedly painless and makes the fly "stay put" on the 

 water. Those freshly killed with "fly swatters" are as good as live flies, 

 except for feeding lizards, etc. 



Small crickets and small soft grasshoppers are also very acceptable 

 to fishes able to eat them. 



Mosquito Larvae. These are often known as "wrigglers" and are 

 familiar to those who have looked in rain barrels. Their bodies are 

 straight and about a quarter of an inch long. Most of them rest at an 

 angle to the surface of the water with head down as shown in Fig. 56, 

 and are always ready to "wriggle" to the bottom at the first sign of 

 danger. From midsummer on they may be found in still water where 

 there are no fishes. They are taken in the same manner as daphnia, 

 except that one has to get them with a quick sweep before they can get 

 down into the water. They can usually be seen floating together in black 

 masses. The city entomologist, whose duty it is to rid a community of 

 mosquitoes, will give information as to where they may be obtained and 

 will be glad to have his burdens lightened by the fish breeder. 



Mosquito larvae may be termed a special food. It can only be had 

 in large quantities towards the middle and end of summer, and is only 



