
SOME FRESHWATER AQUARIUM FISHES 

Red-bellied Bream and Crappie. All will survive in the aquarium, and 
those enumerated occur in the Delaware River. "The Chetodon is an 
especial favorite with aquariists on account of its beautiful markings and 
lively habits. The sunfish should be occasionally fed with live food, flies, 
worms, etc. 
THE AMERICAN DACE 
The Black-nosed Dace, Rhinichthys cataracta, Fig. 39, is a native of 
all swift-running streams, preferably those of cold water. There are two 
varieties most generally distributed which usually inhabit the same streams 
and rivulets. ‘he Black-nosed Dace, the most abundant form in the valley 
of the Delaware, is easily distinguished by the black line extending from the 










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FIG. 39—Black-nosed Dace, Rhinichthys cataractae 
snout along the sidestothe tail. [tis most remarkably rapid inits movements 
and in the aquarium isa veritable finny jester. Its movements are so rapid 
and erratic that it appears like a silvery streak as it darts about in bewilder- 
ing confusion. In every way it is entirely harmless and may be kept 
with goldfishes, especially with the fine breeds of sluggish habits, to whom 
it is of direct benefit in agitating the water. 
The spawning season begins early in June, when both the male and 
the female take to nest-making in some rapid running brook or trout stream, 
the clearing sometimes being over two feet in diameter. All waste-materials 
are carefully removed and when the spawn has been deposited it 1s cover- 
ed with clean pebbles which the fishes bring down stream in their mouths, 
the alternate deposits of spawn and pebbles often forming mounds eight 
inches high. This is done not only to protect the young from enemies, 
but also to prevent the eggs from washing away in the rapid flowing streams. 
The dace will thrive on the usual goldfish foods. Live food should 
be occasionally fed. 
THE CHUB 
That species of the Chub popularly known as the Fall-fish, Silver- 
chub, Wind-fish and Corporal, Semotilus corporalis, is a most interesting 
aquarium fish but thrives best in larger tanks, as it often grows to be 15 
inches in length. It has the habit of building nests for the spawn and 
75 
