GENERAL CARE 319 



sufficient to provide them with oxygen, may remain un- 

 touched for years, except for the occasional removal of 

 sediment and the addition of water to replace that which 

 has evaporated. This evaporation has a decidedly beneficial 

 effect upon the air of the room in which the aquarium is 

 placed, especially in modern steam-heated apartments, which 

 invariably are lacking in moisture. 



Besides the goldfish there are many interesting denizens of 

 our own ponds and streams which will live well in the aqua- 

 rium, and a great number of foreign fishes, mostly tropical, 

 which represent an amazing range of variation in form, color 

 and habit. These last are more difficult to care for than 

 the common varieties of the goldfish, but a very little ex- 

 perience suffices, and their much greater attraction more 

 than compensates for the slightly increased effort necessary 

 to keep them in health. While some of these fishes will be 

 referred to later on, space forbids mention of them all, but 

 the reader is assured that a pursuit of great scope and fas- 

 cination awaits him who cares to specialize in these forms. 



The Aquarium and Its Care 



The globe above referred to, aside from its small size and 

 improper equipment, is an abomination from its shape as 

 well. No matter how large, a vessel of this sort, because of 

 the small surface of water exposed, is never properly 

 aerated; and, moreover, so distorts the fishes that their 

 true size and proportions remain entirely unknown to the 

 observer. Cylindrical tanks are much better, if not more 

 than two-thirds full of water, and aside from a certain 

 amount of distortion, are perfectly satisfactory. The most 

 suitable shape, however, is the square or rectangular. Tanks 

 of this sort may be had made entirely of glass, but while 

 these are attractive, they are expensive and easily broken. 



