94 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AXD 



B2 GROUP 



THE BASS OR THE SUNFISH GROUP. Eggs are fertilized 

 externally of the parent fish, deposited in a hollow excavated in a sandy 

 bottom by the adults for this purpose and carefully guarded by the male 

 until they hatch a few days later and also after the young fish first emerge 

 and are defenceless from their enemies. Microscopic live food in the form 

 of Infusoria must be adundantly provided for the young fish, who, even 

 later, do not take kindly if at all to prepared dry foods. 



B3 GROUP 



THE CARP FAMILY, including all the varieties of the Goldfish. 

 Spawning habits same as Group Bla, differing only in respect to the fact 

 that the fish under B3 deposit their eggs all over the plants, mainly at 

 the surface. Fish of Group Bla usually deposit their spawn near the 

 bottom. See page 48. 



B4 GROUP 



THE CHARACIN FAMILY, mostly distinguishable by the small 

 adipose or fat rayless fin situated on the back between the dorsal fin 

 and tail. Spawn like Group Bla. 



B5 GROUP 



THE CICHLID GROUP. Fish of this family deposit adhesive 

 eggs on stones or, in the aquarium, on the convex side of a large flower- 

 pot, laid on its side. Eggs hatch in 3 or 4 days, during which period the 

 parents take turns in swimming over the eggs and fanning fresh water 

 over them all the time. When the young hatch out, the parents carry 

 them in their mouths and deposit them in a depression previously made 

 in the sand at the bottom, where they jealously guard them against all 

 comers — human or aquatic — frequently removing dirt, etc., from the 

 "nest" and transferring the baby fish to new nests three or four times a 

 day. For the first ten days after hatching the young fish eat nothing but 

 live in a swarm at the bottom, while they absorb the contents of the um- 

 bilical sac or bag of yolk-of-egg-like fluid beneath the abdomen. At the 

 end of this period they begin to look like fish and then they all get up 

 off the bottom and swim around their parents who continue to guard 

 them closely. From this time on they require "Baby" Fishfood — small 

 Cyclops, daphnia, etc., though they will eat dried fish food if finely 

 powdered. Ten days after they begin to feed, the parents should be 

 removed, each to a separate aquarium. The Cichlids dislike and destroy 

 plants, so none should be provided but they require clean, pure water, so 

 some should be changed (siphoning all dirt from the bottom) — daily, 

 replacing it with hydrant water, blended hot and cold to same tempera- 



