ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BL'LLETIX 



S:; 



unfdrtunati- iTcaturcs arc sudii handled and 

 washed U) death. 



"There are fresh-water aquaria at the New 

 York Aejuariuni in which tlie water has not 

 i)een chans^cd for more than three years, and 

 arc at tlie present time in excellent condition. 

 The loss by evaporation nuist necessarily he 

 suj)plicd by adding fresh water once or twice 

 a week. 



"Round glass aquaria (with perpendicular 

 sides) which will hold from two to twenty 

 gallons of water, can be bought at very rea- 

 sonable prices, and for home use those hold- 

 ing from three to eight gallons are conven- 

 ient sizes. Aquaria, rectangular in shape, 

 with iron frames and glass sides and ends, 

 are preferred by many. Glass globes are not 

 at all desirable, as they are not easily kept 

 clean and fishes do not thrive in them. 



"For the bottom of the aquarium use clean 

 washed "bird gravel," although a little 

 coarser gravel is preferable. The gravel 

 looks well, the plants which are necessary to 

 maintain the balance root well in it, and it is 

 easily kept clean. About two inches of 

 gravel will be necessary to hold the plants 

 down. 



There are several species of waterplants 

 which are good aerators, one of the best be- 

 ing a grass-like plant known as Sagitlaria. It 

 roots firmly in the gravel, and sends ofif 

 shoots in different directions, from which 

 new plants soon grow. I'aUisncria is an- 

 other grass-like plant suitable for aquaria. 

 It is found in the streams in the vicinity of 

 Passaic, N. J. Other useful species are mil- 

 foil, parrot's feather, Potamogcton — a com- 

 mon pond weed, Anacharis or water thyme 

 — a profuse grower, and I'oiitiualis — a moss- 

 like i)lant. Cabuiiiba is a good plant for the 

 a([uarium, and can generally be procured 

 through the year. Of floating plants there 

 are several species, which are very pretty 

 and are all more or less useful either to aid 

 aeration or as a home for the propagation 

 of myriads of minute animal forms which 

 arc food for some of the occupants of the 

 a(|uariuni. Xifclhi is very pretty, growing in 

 masses, very fine and hairlike. Riccia is in 

 quite general use, and thrives well. There 

 are several species of what are commonly 

 known as duck-weeds, which are easily pro- 

 cured. The ponds and brooks of the coun- 

 try furnish a large majority of the plants 

 named, and there are other species of water- 

 plants which can be found in various locali- 

 ties that iwight be good aerators, but care 

 must be taken lest some .of them make 

 trouble in the balanced aquarium. Risks 

 should not be taken, and it is not necessarv 



to n>e more than three or four species of 

 l)lants at one time. I'lants well rooted will 

 stay down when buried in the gravel, if not, 

 it will be necessary to wind a strip of sheet- 

 lead loosely around the bottom of each small 

 cluster of stalks before placing them in the 

 gravel. 



"A little rockwork will add to the beaut\ 

 of the aquarium. 



"It is well to exercise care when putting in 

 the water that the plants may not be dis- 

 turbed. The ac|uarium should stand for a 

 day or two at least before adding the animal 

 life, that the plants may have time to perform 

 their work of sup|)lying air to the water. 



"There are many forms of animal life w Inch 

 can be collected from waters in the vicinity of 

 Xew York or they can be purchased from 

 dealers in stock for a(|uaria. Some of the 

 connnon varities of goldfishes are found in 

 most balanced aquaria, and are easily kept. 

 There are several species of the sunfish family, 

 all of which are attractive and thrive wejl. 

 The fresh-water stickleback is fairly hardy, 

 and if well cared for will build a nest and 

 produce young. Tadpoles are easilv pro- 

 cured and are interesting, but the odd-acting 

 acrobatic little newts will afford more pleas- 

 ure by their comical actions than all the 

 other inhabitants of the aquarium. Snails 

 are desirable in the collection, as they will 

 eat some of the small particles of food which 

 the fishes leave. The best kind is the PItysa, 

 which is common and will breed in the aqua- 

 rium. Another species, the Planorbis, does 

 fairly well. There are other members of the 

 snail family which may be used, but it is best 

 to be cautious at first and not try to keep 

 too great a variety of animals until one has 

 had considerable experience. Never over- 

 stock the aquarium with animal life. Always 

 have an abundance of thrifty growing plants 

 to furnish a supply of oxygen, and the ani- 

 mal life will not suflfer for lack of air in the 

 water. In feeding the animal life care should 

 be taken not to overfeed. Take time and see 

 that the food is being eaten. If not, stop 

 feeding, for if the water is to be kept in a 

 healthy condition all dead matter must be 

 removed a few hours after feeding or fouling 

 will take place and the collection will be 

 lost. Refuse may be removed by means of 

 a glass tube with a hole three-eighths of an 

 inch in diameter. Place the thumb tightly 

 over the upper end, insert the lower end of 

 the tube in the water over the substance to 

 be removed, raise the thuml) slightly, and the 

 waste matter will instantly rise in the tube, 

 when the top may be closed and the tube re- 

 mijvcd. If it is not desired to waste the wa- 



