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The Aquarium 



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Volume I 



JANUARY, 1913 



Number 8 



J 



Danio Rerio 



FLOVD S. YOUNG, Chicago. 



THE Blauband Barbe, as this Danio 

 is sometimes called, is a native of 

 East India. It is said to haunt the small 

 brooks in countless numbers. While 

 short lived, it is very prolific, and has 

 gained a warm spot in the heart of the 

 aquarist, not solely because of beautiful 

 coloration as with some other species, 

 but on account of its incessant activity. 



It is a wonder- 

 ful sight to see 

 thirty or forty, 

 playful as pup- 

 pies, in an a- 

 quarium given 

 to them alone. 

 Never still for 

 a moment, they 

 remind one 

 of the prover- 

 bial gamboling 

 lambs. Striped 

 length - wise 

 with orange- 

 yellow lines 

 on an i r i d e s- 

 cent ground 

 of blue, they 



seem to be animated streaks of light. 

 This species seems to spawn most 

 freely when abovit a year old. When 

 ripe, the sexes may be distinguished 

 most readily, the female having a greatly 

 distended abdomen, while that of the 

 male is tinged with yellow. As the 

 Danio is very fond of spawn it is neces- 

 sary to take measures to prevent its loss. 

 A small square all - glass aquarium of 



about two gallons capacity is excellent. 

 In it should be placed chips of granite 

 set vertically. It is well to select pieces 

 about two inches long. Limestone, or 

 other rock containing matter soluble in 

 water should be avoided. A few sprigs 

 of Anacharis (Elodea) may be intro- 

 duced to give a home-like touch. The 

 fish may now be placed in the breeding 

 receptacle, great care being exercised 

 that the temperature is the same as in 

 the tank from 

 which they are 

 to be taken. This 

 fish cannot be 

 successfully kept 

 at a temperature 

 less than 65" 

 Fahrenheit, and 

 when breeding 

 should be much 

 higher. 



The eggs after 

 protrusion and 

 fertilization fall 

 into the intersti- 

 ces between the 

 rocks, beyond 

 DANIO RERIO (Ham. Buch.) reach of the 



Drawing from life by E. S. YoUNG. fishcS. As 1 am 



not at home during the day to observe, 

 1 remove the fish after two or three 

 days, and carefully take out the plants 

 and stones, one by one, agitating each 

 to shake off any eggs that may be ad- 

 hering. The water should be allowed 

 to settle, then slowly poured out until 

 but a little remains. If one is lucky 

 and the fish have spawned, the eggs 

 being non-adhesive may be found in the 



