CHAPTER XXII 



AQUARIUM FISHES 



The Goldfish 



The most popular aquarium fish is, of course, the Goldfish 

 (Carassius auratus). Small examples of the common vari- 

 ety may be had for as little as five cents each, but when 

 the more valuable sorts are reached it is possible to invest 

 many hundreds of dollars in a few specimens. The modern 

 goldfish was produced by careful selection of albinistic 

 individuals of a member of the carp group. Most of the 

 work of developing the many varieties has been done in 

 Japan and China, whence we have received some really 

 wonderful fishes. 



Goldfish of the better varieties are found in the usual 

 scaled condition, and also with the scales so thin and deli- 

 cate that they are almost invisible. Fishes of this type are 

 known as transparently scaled or " scaleless." They are 

 somewhat more sensitive to cold than the normally covered 

 breeds, but otherwise are equally hardy. 



The Shubunkin is a variety of the common goldfish, 

 at least in form. It is transparently scaled and very strik- 

 ingly colored — a mixture of black, blue, purple and reddish 

 blotches, usually on a whitish background. The Shubunkin 

 has only recently been brought to this country from Japan, 

 and just now is deservedly popular. 



The most simple modification in form is noticed in the 

 breed known as the Comet, which has the body of a com- 

 mon goldfish, somewhat elongated, and with all of the fins 

 and the tail greatly lengthened. It is pretty and graceful as 



338 



