The Aquarium. 



A Sfrios of Articles on tlie Const ruction, F.ciuipnit'iit 



iuul Miiiiitoriance of Aiinaria, iuul llie 



Breeding of GoUltisli. 



C. G. B. SCHENK, Milwiiukee. 



/. The All-glass Aquarium. 



THE title selected for this series of 

 articles has been used many times 

 before, but as it seems to be the most 

 appropriate, 1 have decided to use it 

 again. In these articles my ambition is 

 to help the novice who has never tried 

 to keep fishes in an aquarium, but would 

 like to do so, and the one whose at- 

 tempts in this direction have not been 

 very satistactory. 



There are many books available in 

 the public libraries on the subject of the 

 aquarium; and most of them are worthy 

 of careful reading, but the majority of 

 the authors have failed to consider 

 sufficiently the little details which every 

 amateur must learn before he or she 

 will be successful in keeping aquatic 

 pets alive and in a healthy condition. In 

 these articles I will try to make every- 

 thing as clear and simple as I possibly 

 can, so the beginner can go ahead with 

 confidence in himself and success in his 

 effijrts. 



Before going further let me assure 

 every reader that there are no secrets to 

 this "hobby." Should you not fully 

 understand what is set forth in these 

 articles you are privileged to use the 

 "Comments and Queries" department of 

 the magazine to your heart's content. 

 This section is for the purpose of answer- 

 ing questions, so don't be backward in 

 sending in your questions on matters 

 you are in doubt about. 



To those who have passed the infant 

 class in the study of the aquarium, and 

 have graduated with honors, these arti- 

 cles are not written. They are intended 

 for the beginner. However, I hope even 

 the expert may find something "new" to 



him which will be at least interesting 

 and worth while. 



The first important step to consider is 

 the vessel in which we are going to keep 

 our fishes. This is generally called the 

 aquarium. Anything that will hold 

 water will house live fishes, provided, it 

 is chemically clean. By chemically clean, 

 I mean a vessel that will not throw off 

 poisonous substances. For instance, 

 galvanized pails, pans, etc., are not suit- 

 able on account of the galvanized iron 

 throwing off a poison which would be 

 fatal to your fishes. Fibre tubs are 

 excellent. 



The best aquarium is the oblong 

 metal frame with glass sides and ends. 

 The worst that I can at this moment 

 think of is the round glass globe which 

 we see so often in bird stores and every 

 other place where fishes and aquarium 

 supplies are sold. 



Three types of all-glass aquaria can 

 readily be purchased in the open market. 

 Of these three types, the round shape 

 most commonly seen is the worst; the 

 cylinder shape is next best; the oblong 

 shape best of all. Of the last mentioned 

 kind, those imported from Germany 

 seem to be the best made. They are 

 usually marked "Made in Germany", 

 blown into the side. 



If an all-glass aquarium is considered, 

 let me caution you that they are liable 

 to breakage Irom changes in tempera- 

 ture. Too, the all-glass oblong tank is 

 expensive in the larger sizes. If such 

 an aquarium is decided upon, be sure to 

 put a pad of one-half to one inch thick- 

 ness of felt underneath to prevent break- 

 age as much a possible. These pads can 

 be purchased from any one selling the 

 tanks. There are several advertisers in 

 this magazine who sell the imported all- 

 glass aquaria in all sizes. Price lists can 

 be had by writing for them. ( Please 

 mention The Aquarium when request- 

 ing catalogs or other information.) 



(I'o l)c continiicfl ) 



Tlie next artit-le will consider the \aiinus styles of 

 nietal-franieil acinaiia. 



