154 NATIVE AQUARIUM FISHES 



THE ROACH, OR SHINER 

 Abramis crysoleucas 

 This fish is one that takes easily to the aquarium and is quite hardy 

 under any reasonable conditions. It is very active. In the sunlight 

 flashing its bright silver sides, it is a very pretty member of the aquarium 

 family. Of a gentle nature and will take any food. The natural distri- 

 bution is in the Northern States east of the Rockies. 



THE KILLIFISH 



Killifish, from either fresh or salt water, are among the most hardy 

 of the smaller fishes. Used largely as bait-fish on account of their tenacity 

 of life, they exhibit the same quality in the aquarium, standing very bad 

 treatment before succumbing. The barred sides and fleeting iridescent 

 colors are most attractive, particularly in the saltwater specimens. They 

 will eat anything and are harmless to other aquarium fishes. Boys 

 usually know this fish in streams as the "bull-head" minnow, while the 

 popular name on the New Jersey coast for the saltwater form is "Mum- 

 mychog." Average size about 3 inches. 



THE MUD TROUT 



Umbra pygmcea 



Here we have one of the hardiest and most friendly of our small 

 native freshwater fishes. It is not one of the restless kind, yet it is alert 

 and very much alive to what is going on about it, ready to move to its 

 purpose with the least possible effort. The Mud Trout has a fashion of 

 turning its head deliberately towards the subject of interest in a way that 

 suggests a concentration or mental development beyond that of the aver- 

 age fish. Although their manner is menacing they are perfectly harmless. 

 They may be taught to leap several inches out of the water for a favorite 

 morsel of food, such as a small worm, or a shred of raw meat, held on 

 a toothpick. Their color is a pleasing brown, slightly relieved by darker 

 lateral lines and some dots. 



Found in lowland and swampy waters from Long Island to North 

 Carolina, east of the Alleghenies. Sometimes to be had in pet stores, where 

 they are sold at nominal charges. One should not estimate the aquarium 

 value of these fishes by their market prices. 



There seems to be some division of authority as to the breeding habits 

 of this fish. The author once saw a pair placed in an aquarium with 

 a quantity of algse, from the same habitat as the fishes. Next to the glass 

 they hollowed out a little grotto, about the size of a fist. In the morning 

 this was found literally lined with eggs, and the female fanning them. 

 Unfortunately they were infertile. 



