74 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 



obtained from the dealers. The quantity administered ought not to 

 exceed what they will immediately consume. Once a week they may 

 be given finely chopped fishing-worms, or raw beef scraped from the 

 piece, but only in such quantities as to allow each fish a small mouthful. 

 If any remnants of the last meal are found in the water, they should be 

 removed at once, and the feeding entirely suspended for one or two 

 days following. In cold weather the goldfish has but little or no 

 appetite, while on the other hand, they eat voraciously in the sum- 

 mer. The best temperature for the water is somewhere between 

 60 F. and 90 F., though the fish can stand it as low as 32 F. and 

 as high as 110 F. without injury, if the change is not suddenly 

 made, and a corresponding supply of oxygen present. Cold water 

 retains the most oxygen, and also has the power of absorbing more 

 of it from the atmosphere than warm water does. The warm water, 

 however, is most favorable to the growth of plants, so that the 

 quantity they furnish fully makes up the difference. It is poor 

 philosophy to put ice into the aquarium to reduce its temperature, 

 and it is equally foolish to wrap an aquarium in a bag and allow ice- 

 water to drip upon it, as this is hardly the thing to do if the person 

 cares anything for the parlor carpet. 



When the fish come to the surface of the water to breathe, it is a 

 sure indication that the oxygen has become exhausted. A fresh 

 supply is easily introduced by simply stirring the water with the hand 

 or dipping it up with a cup and pouring it back again, it is much 

 better to do this than to put in a lump of ice. 



The frequency with which an aquarium is to be cleansed depends 

 altogether upon circumstances and the individual taste of the owner. 

 An aquarium kept in the parlor of a suburban residence, and in a 

 locality surrounded by flourishing shrubbery, needs re-arranging 

 twice a year only, viz : in the spring and fall. On the other hand, 

 an aquarium located in a smoky city and kept in a close, badly 



