124 GOLDFISH VARIETIES A^D 



An aqua-terrarium constructed for pictorial effect is made in the 

 form of an ordinary aquarium with terrestrial plants arranged in the rear 

 corners, thus giving the effect of a complete bit of landscape. The great 

 possibilities of this treatment are shown in the illustration on page 122. 

 This has the earth in slate containers reaching all the way to the bottom, 

 but in a form devised later the soil is in cement pans 6 inches deep which 

 are hung by hooks on the top edge of the aquarium proper, thus giving 

 more light at the bottom of the aquarium. 



Swamp aquaria have received little attention, although they can be 

 made very picturesque, as will be seen in Fig. 82. 



Plants. Most of the plants flourishing in greenhouses will prosper 

 in the moist terrarium, so that the selection is very large. The dry ter- 

 rarium is much more limited in this respect, the possibilities being con- 

 fined practically to cacti, agaves, aloes, houseleeks and certain hardy 

 ferns which have come from dry situations. 



Planting. The main point in planting the terrarium is to procure 

 proper drainage by the use of pebbles. Plants can be set either directly 

 in soil above the pebbles or in pots. Fertilizer may be used in the lower 

 part of soil but very sparingly in moist terraria. In planting it is well to 

 keep in mind the natural surroundings of the animals and to provide, so 

 far as possible, those conditions which are agreeable to their natures. 

 For instance, the reptiles like to sun themselves in open, dry spots and in 

 planting for them this can easily be arranged. Amphibious animals like 

 to secrete themselves and hide from the light at times in thick vegetation, 

 a provision easily made in the moist terrarium. These same considera- 

 tions will present themselves when it comes to selecting a place for the 

 terrarium. The snakes delight to sun themselves for hours, so in plant- 

 ing it is well to use only such plants that will stand plenty of direct sun- 

 light. Terraria have one important advantage over aquaria in that at 

 least the smaller sizes may be shifted from one place to another with very 

 little effort, so that light conditions may be changed at will and hours of 

 sunshine increased as opportunity offers. 



Occupants for Terraria. The large majority of cold-blooded ani- 

 mals of suitable sizes may be introduced. In the moist terrarium the 

 principal animals used are young alligators, newts, salamanders, tad- 

 poles, frogs, water snakes, turtles, aquatic insects and their larvae. For 

 the dry terrarium we have tree toads, hop toads, horned toads, beetles, 

 spiders, lizards, chameleons, tortoises, snakes, butterflies, moths and other 

 insects. 



