THE CARE OF HOME AQUARIA 



37 



SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE. 

 Upper side. 



It is well known that various forms of domestic animals, as well 

 as the wild species confined in zoological gardens, make the best 

 growth and keep in the most satisfactory condition when sup- 

 plied only with what food they will clean up at one feeding. This 

 applies with equal force to the inhabitants of the aquarium, but 

 besides the7-e is a real and grave clanger of coiitanfiinating the 

 ivater hij supplying more food thayi ivill be readily consumed. 



It is a well known fact that some aquarium animals will live 

 for a long time without feeding, especially when kept at lower 

 temperatures, but to maintain them in this condition results 

 eventually in death by starvation and is the worst form of cruelty 

 to which they can be subjected. The effects of starvation may 

 be readily observed on such an animal as the sea-anemone, 

 v/hich, if kept without food, may live for months, but will gradu- 

 ally shrink in size until only a small fraction of its original bulk 

 remains. Higher animals, such as salamanders and fishes, if 

 kept at a low temperature require but little or no food, since 

 many cold-blooded animals naturally spend the colder portion of 

 the year in hibernation, but at the temperature of the living 



