TROPICAL AQUARIUM FISHES 



81 



THE SOLE 



Achirus fasciatus 

 Among the interesting novelties in aquarium fishes is the Sole, often 

 known as the Freshwater Flounder. Aquarists popularly call it the Aero- 

 plane Fish on account of its easy, horizontal progress through the water, 

 the swimming being accomplished mainly by an undulating motion of the 

 fins at the edges of the body, as shown in the two upper figures of the 

 accompanying illustration. The third figure indicates the under side of 



Fig. 68. The Sole (Young) 

 the fish, while the lowest pictures the Sole as it lays half concealed in the 

 mud. In the aquarium these fishes frequently fasten themselves flat to the 

 sides of the glass by suction. They may be gathered from the muddy flats 

 of tidewater streams of the Atlantic Coast. Chopped worms make a 

 suitable diet for them. Sizes such as pictured are good aquarium in- 

 habitants. 



THE CARP 



The Carp is one of the most widely known of fishes. Its tenacity 

 of life is extraordinary considering that it is not an air-breather or laby- 

 rinth fish. When sold as a food fish it is kept alive for a day or two when 

 barely moistened with water. Common goldfishes well wrapped in wet 

 Anacharis or Myriophyllum and packed in a tight tin box can safely be 

 sent on a 12-hour journey or more. 



A number of varieties of carp are kept as ornamental pond and 

 large aquarium fishes. The principal ones are the Mirror, the Leather 

 and the Golden Carp. There are in this country at the present time some 



