THE CARE OF HOME AQUARIA 



29 



YOQNG CATFISH. 



The local species of catfishes are hai^dy and interesting. 



excellent for the beginner. 



They are 



as young sunfishes, basses, etc., which can be collected with the 

 aid of a small dip net, can be kept readily. The local species 

 should be studied much more commonly than they are at present. 

 Why so many people are satisfied to keep ordinary goldfishes 

 when there is at hand an abundance of attractive native fishes of 

 more lively habits and graceful form, is only to be explained by 

 the fact that the former give so little trouble and can be bought 

 of a dealer instead of collected at a brook. Of course one can 

 easily understand the attitude of the fish fancier who makes a 

 specialty of breeding various strains of goldfishes or of keeping 

 rare exotic forms of bizarre appearance or unusual habits. 



Overstocki7ig is the most serious error into ivhich the begin- 

 ner is likely to fall. In his enthusiasm for the fishes and his love 

 for their attractive colors and movements, he places more speci- 

 mens in his tank than can be readily provided with oxygen. 

 Often, when they are not all affected in a short time, the result 

 may be that they are gradually enervated until the loss of some 

 of them establishes a proper balance of the animal and vegetable 

 life. Until the management of the aquarium is thoroughly mas- 

 tered, the rule should be to keep well under the limit of animal 

 life. 



