Mechanical Helps in Aquarium 

 Work 



The Spawning Net 



Wji. T. Innes, Jh. 

 Philadelphia 



In selecting topics for this series of arti- 

 cles, efforts Avill be made to have them 

 ajipropriate to the season as far as possible. 



The most important thing in the calen- 

 dar of the average aquarinm enthusiast 

 just now is the spawning of goldfish, and 

 we are taking up in this issue a very in- 

 genious and useful device to be used in 

 this connection — the spawning net. 



This is the idea of ]\Ir. A. T. Coles, of 

 Glenside, Pa., and is designed principally 

 for the use of those not having an abun- 

 dance of spawning tubs or other vessels. 

 It is simply a cheesecloth bag, open at the 



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of spawning has started. Daybreak or 

 earlier is the fishes' favorite time. 



At this season have plenty of water 

 Iiyaeintlis or myriophyllum on hand. 

 ^Mien the fish are found to be spawning, 

 sink the net in the water, allowing the 

 wooden frame to be supported on the edges 

 of the aquarium. Put ])lants in ))lentifullv 

 and then introduce the female and such 

 males as are selected. Here they will con- 

 tinue to spawn. As fast as the plants are 

 somewhat covered with eggs they should 

 be removed to water of equal temperature, 

 allowing, of course, a few minutes for 

 them to become fertilized. 



When the fish cease to drive and spawn- 

 ing is complete, which is usually about 

 eleven in the morning, remove fish from 

 net. ]vjt ])Iants with eggs in hatching pans, 



SPAWNING NET 



top and sus]H'nded by a frame in the aqua- 

 rium. The bag is tied to the frame by 

 bow knots and the four lower corners 

 weighted clown. For this ])urpose I use 

 lead skirt weights which may Ix; had at 

 department stores, but any weight of about 

 half an ounce will do. The suspending 

 frame may be m/ule very simply of any 

 light sticks, either nailed or tied together. 

 When goldfish are prejiaring to spawn 

 they usually give fair notice of that occur- 

 rence. The male as a rule drives" 

 the female occ-asionally for several days 

 and ahnost always increases the driv- 

 ing the evening before spawning takes 

 place. At this time it behooves the inter 

 ested fancier to go to bed early, for he 

 can hardlv arise before the real business 



untie Uft from frame and if there are eggs 

 adhering to that, turn it inside out and 

 place it into the hatching j^an also. 



It is well to have other nets in readiness, 

 as otiier spawnings may occur before the 

 first lot of eggs are hatched out. 



Some of the advantages of this method 

 besides saving s])ace are these: 



There is wo risk of changing teuipera- 

 ture on the breeding fish. 



'I'lie usual dirt stirred u]) by spawning 

 fish and which settles on the eggs is elimi- 

 nated. 



Xo idle females are about to eat the 

 s])awn. 



X{) eggs arc lost by (lr(>p])ing to the bot- 

 tom. Those falling to the bottom of the 

 net are as good as those on the jilants. 



