Fig. 290. Melanotaenia nigrans (Slightly reduced) 

 Recently imported from Australia and popularly known as the Australian Rainbow 

 Fish. We predict a permanent place for this beautiful species. The general color is 

 golden with stripes of brown, blue and red. Bright red spot on opercle (gill cover). 

 Easily bred in large open warm pools or tanks. For a fish not coming from the tropics 

 its period of incubation is short, being only about 54 hours at a temperature of 76 

 degrees. 



Fig. 291. Malapterurus electricus (Electric Cattish) 



This most curious aquarium fish, when taken in hand, gives an electric shock which 

 may clearly be felt as high as the elbow. How this is accomplished is not clearly under- 

 stood, as it is supposed to be necessary to touch two electric poles to receive a current. 

 If the head and tail of the fish were the poles, the current would only pass from one part 

 of the hand to the other, instead of up the arm. The fish i9 able to cause the shock either 

 in or out of the water. This is doubtless a means of self-defense, as the current is 

 scarcely strong enough to kill a victim intended for food. Breeding habits unknown. 



282 



