136 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AXD 



which are large enough to be of real use. Further information on this 

 point is contained on page 140. Other infusoria are shown in Fig. 96. 



Enchytrae. These are thread-like small white worms usually bred in 

 winter as a substitute for daphnia for feeding to tropical fishes. Gold- 

 fishes are also very fond of them, but it is a difficult matter to cultivate a 

 sufficiently large quantity to satisfy the appetite of several goldfish. For 

 some of the smaller fishes requiring living food they are almost indispen- 

 sable in winter. 



The culture of these worms is quite easy and requires very little 

 attention after the start is made. Many of the dealers and fanciers in 

 New York and vicinity have a stock of enchytrae, from whom a stock 

 can be procured. These are placed in ordinary garden soil from which 

 all worms and larvae have been carefully removed. Wooden or earthen- 

 ware boxes about 15 inches long, 7 inches wide and six inches deep may 

 be filled with the earth to a depth of 4 inches. A cover glass must be 

 provided, this setting directly on the soil. Proper feeding is the principal 

 keynote to success. They like milk, white bread, boiled potato, cheese 

 rinds, etc. In a box of this size, four or five small holes are dug out 

 with a spoon, the food placed therein and the earth replaced. This is 

 done as often as the food is consumed and in three or four weeks the 

 harv'est of worms will be ready. Care should be taken not to overfeed, 

 as this will sour the soil. The soil should be removed from the box about 

 every two weeks, broken up, loosened and returned. This is considerably 

 facilitated if about half the soil is composed of leaf mold. The breeding 

 box does best in an average temperature of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 



The worms are separated from the earth in a number of ways. If 

 but a few are desired the simplest way is to remove two or three spoons 

 full of soil and place same in water just deep enough to cover. In a very 

 short time the worms will come out of the soil and entangle themselves 

 in a bunch near the surface of the w^ater, when they may easily be 

 collected. 



Another much quicker method is to take a piece of cardboard (the 

 cover of a shoe-box answers nicely) spreading a quantity of soil thereon 

 and holding over a heat ; this soon causes the worms to crawl to the top 

 of the earth, from which they are removed. However, great care must 

 be exercised that they are not injured by the heat, which would destroy 

 them, for the fish prefer the live worms at all times. As soon as they 

 appear and bunch on the surface of the earth, the heat should be removed. 



Another method of separating the worms from soil is to place a por- 

 tion of the earth in an enameled dish, pouring sufficient water over same 

 to cover and placing thereupon a sheet of glass, which should rest above 

 and free from the moist earth. Because this will prevent sufficient 



