COPE I A 19 



After its completion he tries to induce the female 

 to come under the nest. In many cases he can get 

 her there only after a wild chase around the tank, 

 but very often the female after watching the male 

 finish his task in building the nest comes without 

 urging to deliver her eggs. Now the male, resplend- 

 ent in his most gorgeous colors, all atremble, after 

 circling around her a few times, folds or bends him- 

 self around her body, at the same time turning her on 

 her back, and then the hardly visible eggs are ex- 

 purged, fertilized, and rise into and between the bub- 

 bles of the nest. 



Hatching takes place, according to the tempera- 

 ture, in from 12 to 40 hours. The newly hatched 

 fish are hardly visible. They are only discernible 

 when they move, their eyes being practically the only 

 things noticeable, as their bodies are perfectly clear 

 and not distinguishable from the water. It is always 

 advisable to remove the female immediately after the 

 eggs are safely in the nest, as she is liable to dart 

 up and eat them before her watchful mate can pre- 

 vent her. As with all Labyrinth fish the male takes 

 care of the eggs and young until the latter are able 

 to leave the nest, and then he, too, should be taken 

 out of the tank. 



In order to be successful in raising the young 

 ones, an even temperature of the water of at least 

 70° is absolutely necessary. It should not be more 

 than three inches deep and there should be plenty 

 of algae and plants such as Salvinia, Riccia, where 

 the youngsters can find their food and a place to hide. 

 In artificial feeding great care has to be taken not 

 to feed too much, as any food left to decay will cause 

 untold trouble. In giving live food such as small 

 Dapknia or Cyclops, it is imperative to strain these 

 through a very fine hair sieve, as the most minute 

 only are fit for the young fish. Should any of the big 

 ones get into the tank, they will in a few days time 

 destrov and eat the fish. One of the worst enemies 



