GOLDFISH; THEIR CARE IN SMALL AQUARIA J 



By E. C. Fearnow, 

 Superintendent of Fish Distribution, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

 Food 5 



Diseases and their treatment 7 



How to distinguish sex 9 



Conclusion 9 



Bibliography 9 



Page. 



Introduction 1 



Suitable form of aquarium 1 



Suitable aquarial plants 2 



Balanced aquarium 2 



Light 4 



Water 5 



Temperature 5 



Replacement of minerals 5 



Prevention of acid condition 5 



INTRODUCTION. 



Although the Bureau of Fisheries neither propagates nor distributes 

 ornamental fish, the need of a pubUcation for use in answering the 

 numerous inquiries concerning the care of goldfish has been apparent 

 for some time. It is the aim of this article to set forth briefly such 

 practical advice as appears necessary for the amateur aquarist. 



Since the bureau is concerned in the propagation of the food and 

 game fishes only it has no literature on the methods of goldfish 

 breeding. Excellent advice on this subject may be obtained by 

 consulting the current pubhcations on goldfish. Neither does the 

 bureau serve as a medium for advertising goldfish or aquarium 

 accessories. Publications devoted to aquariimi fishes and related 

 subjects contain advertisements of dealers in goldfish, aquatic plants, 

 and in fact everything that is needed by the aquarist. 



In the preparation of this publication the following authorities 

 have been freely consulted: WoK, Mulertt, Innes, and Aquatic Life. 

 (See Bibliography.) 



SUITABLE FORM OF AQUARIUM. 



Because of its narrow neck the so-called fish globe is not adapted 

 to keeping goldfish in a comfortable and healthy state, its small 

 amount of water surface not permitting the process of absorption of 

 air on a scale sufficient for the well-being of the fish. Another 

 objectionable feature of the globe lies in its reflection and refraction 

 of light rays, which tends to make the fish nervous and uneasy. 



An aquarium with straight sides is the only suitable form. It 

 should be of rectangular shape and of equal width at the top and 

 bottom. The rectangular battery j ar, which may be purchased m the 

 5-gallon size, will give good results. The depth of water should be 

 about the same as the width of the aquarium, and the bottom should 

 be covered with clean sand and gravel to the depth of 1^ inches. 

 Ordinary sand and pebbles are best for this purpose, as the more 

 desirable aquarial plants draw most of their nourishment from the 

 water and require merely an anchorage. In order to insure an 

 abundant air supply, plants of high oxygenating powers should be 

 selected for the aquarium. 



» Appendix XII to the Report of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries for 1922. B. F. Doc. 935. 

 32007°— 23 X 



