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NATIVE AQUARIUM FISHES 



mud as do goldfishes and are more active in avoiding their enemies. The 

 color on the back is light orange, shading to lighter on the sides and 

 white on the abdomen. The general appearance is not unlike a common 

 goldfish, of a rather pale, brassy color. The extreme length is two feet, 

 requiring probably ten years of growth under favorable circumstances. 

 The young are suitable for aquarium keeping, but the top must be 

 screened to prevent their leaping out. 



THE GOLDEN TENCH 



Tinea tinea, aureus 



As a showy fish of golden orange hue the Golden Tench is con- 

 sidered second only to the goldfish itself. Covered with exceedingly fine 

 scales and dotted with black it presents by reflected light an iridescent 

 effect, comparable to that of an opal. By transmitted light they are 

 sufficiently translucent to show the skeleton and internal organs. Al- 

 though timid, they become quite tame and will live on any kind of fish- 

 food. Harmless to other fishes and otherwise thoroughly desirable. 

 Tenches should be bred in open ponds with mud bottoms. 



Fig. 143. The Golden Tench (Tinea tinea) [Young] 



The Green Tench is the ancestor of the Golden Tench and differs 

 only in coloring, its color being of a bottle-green character. "Tench- 

 green" is a popularly recognized shade of color in some parts of Europe. 

 Tenches are liberally supplied with protective slime and it is believed by 

 some that fishes injured by accident search out a tench to rub the injured 

 part against. For this reason it has been known as the "Doctor Fish." 



