10 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 



They may sometimes have a divided tail, giving to them, if viewed 

 from behind, the shape of a reversed letter " Y." 



The size of the goldfish varies according to the locality in which 

 they are raised, and the circumstances surrounding them, it being 

 possible for them to attain a length of eighteen inches and a height 

 of six inches. It is said that they may live to be a hundred years 

 old, but this may be an exaggeration. 



Goldfish enjoy a warm temperature, in bodies of water without 

 a current; just such water as ponds afford suit them best, though 

 they will make themselves at home in streams and multiply exceed- 

 ingly. They are very hardy, and thrive well under circumstances 

 that would be fatal to many other fish, this quality particularly 

 adapting them for life in the aquarium, specimens having been 

 successfully kept in this way, in good condition and health, from ten 

 to sixteen years. So far as food is concerned, the goldfish will feed 

 upon almost all kinds of vegetable matter, insects, worms, etc., even 

 preying upon small fish, and devouring its own spawn and young. 

 The food is taken in by a sucking motion of the lips ; the mouth 

 being toothless, as in all carps, the mastication is accomplished by a 

 few bony tubercles situated in the throat. 



In the spring or summer following the one in which they were 

 hatched, goldfish attain their maturity. The size of the fish has 

 nothing whatever to do with the ability to spawn, though a large fish 

 will deposit more eggs than a small one. As an instance, goldfish 

 one inch in length, nine months old, spawned in an aquarium kept 

 in a parlor; all the eggs hatched and the young grew up. In the 

 spring of that year, when the temperature of the water rises above 

 60 F., they become lively and vivacious, losing all timidity and 

 precaution, so that they easily fall a prey to their many enemies. 



Two, three or more male fish follow a female, chasing her to 

 some shallow place where there is an abundance of water-plants. 



