TREATMENT FOR GOLDFISH— HUMANE EDUCATION 167 



How to Feed Goldfish.- — Often goldfish die from overfeeding. 

 They should be fed once a day in the morning at a regular hour; 

 be careful and feed only what the fish will eat since waste food 

 contaminates the water. The excreta of the fish should be dark 

 colored and brownish or greenish; if it is whitish or yellowish the 

 fish are being overfed and should not be fed again for two days. 



The food for goldfish is of two kinds, animal and vegetable ; there 

 are many good standard animal foods which should be fed in small 

 quantities. The goldfish are essentially vegetable feeders and 

 vermicelli, oatmeal or rice wafer should be given with the other. 

 Bread of any sort that has yeast in it should never be given to 

 goldfish. ' • 



Common pond snails, the young of water beetles, dragon flies, 

 water boatmen, crayfish, salamanders, newts and turtles should not 

 be kept in an aquarium with goldfish. Shiners, dace, and suckers 

 if not too large, are safe companions of the goldfish. 



If the colors of the goldfish fade and they lose appetite they are 

 probable suffering from suffocation. A fish showing these symp- 

 toms should be put into fresh water to which has been added a 

 teaspoonful of salt. It should be kept in a warm situation and 

 given no food for a few days. Small quantities of food should be 

 given when the feeding is commenced. 



Questions 



i. How can an aquarium be made so that the water will keep fresh 

 without changing it? 



2. What gas is it that plants give off that keeps the water fresh? 



3. Describe how to make a permanent aquarium. 



4. Why should the aquarium not be kept in strong sunlight? 



5. If a permanent aquarium is not used how often should the water 

 be changed? Why do the fish suffocate in stale water? 



6. Why are fish likely to suffocate in the ordinary fish-globe? How does 

 a goldfish look when it is suffering from suffocation? What do you do to save 

 a fish in this condition? 



7. In changing the water in an aquarium, why should the fresh water 

 be the same temperature as that from which the fish was taken? 



8. How often and how much should goldfish be fed? 



9. What other water creatures may be kept in the aquarium with gold- 

 fish without harm to them? What ones will surely harm the goldfish? 





