MARINE AQUARIA 141 



should be quickly siphoned out or otherwise removed. Sea horses can, no 

 doubt, be brought to living in saltwater of a hydrometer strength of 

 1.017, which would probably increase the length of life of daphnia in the 

 marine aquarium to 10 minutes or more. As these strange fishes usually 

 eat by reaching out for food while attached by their tails to a piece of 

 sea-weed, it is necessary to gently circulate the daphnia through the 

 aquarium by the aeration system or other means. 



These odd creatures are of world-wide distribution. On the Atlantic 

 Coast they are more plentiful in September than at any other time, when 

 they are often brought up clinging to fishermen's nets. Only one species 

 occurs on our Atlantic Coast. This is the one shown in Fig. 113. 



Feeding in Marine Aquaria. Practically all marine animals are 

 carnivorous. Chopped oysters, clams, fish, worms, crab meat, scraped 

 lean beef and shrimp form the principal articles of diet. Canned shrimp 

 is convenient and usually very acceptable. It can be had at all seasons. 

 Little oyster crabs, either whole or cut up, make choice morsels for either 

 fresh or saltwater fishes. 



Anemones should have small bits of food offered them with forceps 

 (shown on page 120), lightly touching their tentacles with the offering. 

 Three times a week is often enough to feed these lower forms. 



The fishes may be fed every day or two, according to temperature, 

 always remembering that animal food not quickly eaten soon fouls the 

 water. 



It is rather surprising to find that many of the small marine fishes 

 relish crisp lettuce leaves, finely chopped. This no doubt makes a bene- 

 ficial change for them. 



Diseased Marine Fishes. Very little is known about treating the 

 ailments of marine fishes. As salt is the general cure-all for freshwater 

 fishes, it has been discovered that less salt is the best general treatment 

 for marine fishes that are out of condition. Short trials at hydrometer 

 test 1.010 are beneficial, this, of course, being brought about gradually. 

 Otherwise, we see no reason why animal parasites, injuries, etc., should 

 not be treated the same as for freshwater fishes. 



As there are a number of different hydrometer scale readings, it is 

 suggested that the instrument to be used should first be tried in normal 

 seawater, which would establish a positive basis from which to work 

 with that particular hydrometer. 



