THE CARE OF HOME AQUARIA 39 



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YOUNG GEOGRAPHIC TURTLES. 



Young- turtles are very attractive aquarium pets, but sliould be provided 



witli a float so that they may climb out of the water. 



Some turtles will take food only under water, so it is neces- 

 sary to provide them with a sufficient depth of water to cover 

 them at least during feeding time. This of course does not apply 

 to the tortoise or land turtle. The majority of the water turtles 

 are carnivorous and will take a variety of animal foods, fish, 

 crayfish, frogs and earthworms, living or dead, and fresh beef or 

 hard-boiled eggs. As the diflferent species vary somewhat in 

 their diet this should be studied. Unless they are kept warm 

 they will take no food. 



Young alligators usually take readily to almost any sort of 

 meat diet, living or dead, and may be given the same foods as the 

 carnivorous turtles. They will not take food unless kept very 

 warm. 



Tadpoles will usually find sufficient food in the debris left 

 after the fishes have taken what they wish, and in the minute 

 plant life of the aquarium, which they assist in keeping under 

 control. Sometimes, however, more tadpoles are introduced into 

 the aquarium than can obtain food in this manner, especially if 

 the aquarium is not sufficiently lighted to encourage the growth 

 of the minute plants, and the tadpoles grow thin from lack of 

 food. There are several ways of meeting this problem: (1) 

 the tank may be placed in better light to encourage plant growth ; 

 (2) a larger supply of vegetable food may be introduced so that 



