DESCRIPTIVE KEY TO BREEDING, ETC. 241 



GYMNOTID^— GYMNOTID EELS (No. n) 

 Little is known of the habits of this South American group. They 

 have never been bred in aquaria. 



HEMIRAMPHIDiE— HALFBEAKS (No. 12) 

 Members of this family are common in most seas. A few tropical 

 ones are fresh-water. Dermogenys is one of these. It is live-bearing and 

 should be treated like the live-bearing Killifishes. 



LORICARIID^— SPINY ARMORED CATFISHES (No. 13) 



The family of Spiny Armored Catfishes is confined to South America. 

 Practically nothing is known of the breeding. 



NANDID^— NANDIDS (No. 14) 

 A small Indian family. Nandus has never been bred in this country. 

 Badis should be provided with a small flowerpot turned on its side near 

 the middle of the aquarium. The eggs are placed on the upper inside 

 of the flowerpot and are guarded by the male. The female should be 

 carefully removed. As soon as the young are able to swim the male 

 may be removed. The Nandids are carnivorous but not very savage. 



OPHICEPHALID^— SNAKEHEADS (No. 15) 



This Asiatic and African family is largely carnivorous, feeding parti- 

 cularly on other fishes. They may be fed small chunks of meat in the 

 aquarium. Channa asiatica and some Ophicephalus deposit their eggs 

 loosely, floating on the surface. Some care is usually taken of the eggs 

 but it is considered best to remove the adults. Certain species of Ophi- 

 cephalus are said to build "nests," like the Sunfishes. 



The Snakeheads are "Labyrinth Fishes" like Anabantidae, breathing 

 atmospheric air, for which they must rise to the surface every few 

 moments. 



PANTODONTID^E— BUTTERFLY FISH (No. 16) 

 This peculiar family contains but a single species, from W. Africa. 

 It is one of the few fresh-water flying fishes. Examples have been seen 

 to dart quickly along the surface and, when sufficient momentum is 

 gained, leave the water and skim over the surface, supported by the large 

 pectoral fins. They, of course, cannot steer themselves in the air and 

 drop back into the water when the momentum is spent. 



The eggs are deposited loosely and float on the surface similarly 

 to Channa and Ophicephalus. 



PERCIDiE— PERCHES (No. 17) 

 The Yellow Perch, Perca is too large a fish to be bred in small 

 aquaria. The eggs are laid in bands on a sandy or pebbly bottom. The 

 Darters, accustomed to swift, cold water (except Copelandellus and 



