
THE FRESHWATER AQUARIUM:AND ITS MAINTENANCE 
The use of feeding dishes is an unsettled question. Some expert 
fanciers claim that it 1s best to have the fishes hunt their food among the 
pebbles; but for the novice they have the advantage of showing whether 
the quantity given is correct and all the food consumed after each feeding, 
an important observation, as all excess should be removed. 
STOCKING THE AQuartumM. The number of fishes and scavengers 
which may be safely introduced depends upon the size of the fishes, the 
conditions under which they have been reared, the quantity of light, the 
temperature of water, the plant growth, and other circumstances ; but over- 
stocking should be avoided. A generally accepted rule for the perma- 
nent aquarium, under the most favorable conditions, is not more than one 
2 or 3 inch fish per 2% to 3 gallons of water, with a tadpole and two 
snails to each three fishes. Care should also be exercised that the water is 
of like temperature to that to which the fishes have been accustomed, as 
any sudden excessive changes are injurious. If they have been kept in 
cold water, that of the aquarium should be of the same temperature, and 
assume that of the room after the fishes have been put into it. This is 
usually between 50° and 80° F. In the aquarium, indoors, in the winter, 
it is easily maintained between 50° and 60° F., and in summer between 
65° and 80° F. In the open air the fishes survive almost every tempera- 
ture, even freezing cold, if the ice is broken to prevent suffocation ; while 
100° F. is not injurious if sufficient oxygen is contained in the water and 
no sudden changes in temperature take place. A moderate equable tem- 
perature, between 50° and 70° F., is best for the household aquarium, and 
is easily attained. 
It has been ascertained that for each 16 degrees of lower temperature 
water will absorb or hold in suspension double the volume of oxygen 
liberated by plants; and, inversely, a corresponding diminution will take 
place for each 16 degrees of rise in temperature; or that water at say 44° 
F, will sustain nearly twice as many fishes in comfort as will the same vol- 
ume at 60° F., or three times as many as at the summer heat of 76° to 
80° F.; and their number should therefore be diminished as soon as they 
persist in remaining on the surface sucking in the air and taking the re- 
quired oxygen directly from the air itself. 
In changing the fishes to the aquarium they should be gently handled, 
floated from one vessel to the other, if possible, avoiding violence or need- 
less fright, as considerate treatment soon makes them less timid and more 
fully domesticated. 
Success with goldfishes depends upon cleanliness, a vigorous plant 
growth to furnish abundant oxygen, intelligent treatment and proper food, 
sparingly fed. 
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