GOLDFISH. 



feeding the granules are steeped in lukewarm water, or they may be 

 forced through a colander or other device to produce a vermicellilike 

 form. It is the opinion of a good authority on goldfish that this food 

 contains too much animal substance to produce entirely satisfactory 

 results. 



Prepared foods containing many of the ingredients mentioned are 

 for sale in the market and their use can be recommended to the ama- 

 teur aquarist. The main thing to 

 guard against is the giving of more 

 than the fish will consume at one 

 feeding, as any excess allowed to 

 remain in the water will eventually 

 pollute it and produce diseased 

 conditions. 



Daphnia, popularly known as 

 "ditch fleas," are an excellent live 

 food for goldfish. The same may 

 be said with reference to the larv^ 

 of the mosquito, which can be had 

 in large quantities during the sum- 

 mer months and may be found in 

 rain barrels or stagnant pools, the 

 common name being "^vrigglers." 



DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



Illness among goldfish becomes 

 apparent in many ways, but as a 

 usual thing the fins are blood- 

 shot, the dorsal fin droops, and the 

 affected fish is inclined to rest on the 

 floor of the aquarium, with little 

 or no desire for food. Where only 

 one fish is diseased the cause may 

 be attributed to overfeeding or con- 

 stipation, but if a number are ill it 

 is an indication that something is 

 radically wrong, either with the 

 food, the water, the oxygen supply, 

 or the temperature conditions. 



The excrement in health is dark, 

 cither a brownish green or black. 

 If white or yellow it indicates over- 

 feeding. When a fish becomes dis- 

 eased, it should be immediately re- 

 moved from the aquarium. 



Goldfish must be handled gently 

 and as little as possible, to avoid injury to their scales, fins, or tails. 

 The dip net used for their transfer to and from the aquarium should 

 be round and somewhat deep, rather than funnel-shaped. If it can 

 be avoided, fish should never be grasped by the hands. 



Sudden changes in temperature produce the diseases known as 

 ''white fungus" and " tail rot. " When a whitish coating or split- 

 ting of the fins is noted the affected fish should be placed m another 



Fig. 6. — L,iid'^\igia, (Liidicigia glandulosa) . Nat- 

 ural size. 1 'rizedfor it.s beauty in the aquarium; 

 grows from cuttings. 



