50 AMPHIBIANS AND FISHES. 



CHAPTER V. 



AMPHIBIANS AND FISHES OF THE FRESH-WATER 

 AQUARIUM. 



IT needs little scientific knowledge to perceive that 

 an aquarium keeper is likely to be far more successful 

 if he attempt to keep a few animals, than if he over- 

 crowd his tank with many. It cannot be too strongly 

 insisted upon, that more than half the misfortunes and 

 so-called " bad luck" which are ordinarily experienced 

 in the keeping of aquaria, are due to over-stocking. 

 When a few objects only are kept it is surprising how 

 healthy and vigorous they appear. Moreover, they 

 sooner get tame, or rather accustomed to their keeper, 

 than when they are numerous. It is always best to 

 keep more than one individual of the same species if 

 the tank be large enough, otherwise there is a sense of 

 loneliness suggested which detracts from the pleasure 

 of preserving animals ; and before long one sees that 

 the solitary pets feel this themselves. Two small 

 fishes or newts are always preferable to one. 



Nearly all our native species of animals can be thus 

 kept in captivity. Recently such amphibians as the 

 pretty yellow-spotted salamanders, and those still more 

 curious creatures the Mexican axolotls have been in- 



