38 



Aquatic ILitt 



the parents after the manner of the cich- 

 lids. The latter habit is scarcely what 

 one would expect in a fish of this sort. 



The favored foods seem to be Daphne, 

 white worms, tubifex worms and similar 

 small forms of life. An average water 

 temperature of 75 degrees, Fahrenheit, 

 should be maintained. 



The London Society 



A meeting of the London Aquarium 

 Society was held on Friday evening, 

 February 6, the president in the chair. 

 Nineteen new members, ordinary, asso- 

 ciate, honorary, and ex-officio, were 

 elected. One of our members, Mr. D. 

 F. Leney, of Oxford University, exhibit- 

 ed a pair of Ambly stoma tigrinum which 

 had completed their metamorphosis by 

 special feeding from the axolotl state 

 and become land animals ; also an axolotl 

 in process of turning by the evaporation 

 method ; and salamander and newt larvae 

 in process of metamorphosis by iodine 

 treatment. Probably such a varied dis- 

 play has never before ' been witnessed, 

 and Mr. Leney's exhibits attracted con- 

 siderable attention and discussion. 



Mr. Cura showed nine varieties of 

 tropical fishes, including two species of 

 gurami, and the Siamese fighting-fish. 

 Mr. B. T. Child exhibited the lamprey. 

 Mr. P. W. Horn exhibited winter buds 

 of various aquatic plants, and the con- 

 tents of the stomach of a heron showing 

 remains of rats, water-beetles, and their 

 larvae. The president had on view un- 

 der a microscope a specimen of Trombi- 

 dium (the harvest-mite) so troublesome 

 to anglers. 



The meeting considered the generous 

 proposal of the British Sea Anglers So- 

 ciety offering them their room as a meet- 

 ing place. This was much appreciated, 

 and it was unanimously agreed that it 

 be accepted. — Hon. Sec. 



A New Treatment 

 To Eliminate Ichthyophthirius 



C. L. HAUTHAWAY 



In the collection of the writer is a fifty- 

 gallon tropical community tank contain- 

 ing twenty-one species of fishes. In this 

 was unwittingly placed eight or ten pairs 

 of new fishes immediately they arrived, 

 which almost at once gave evidence of 

 being infested with Ichthyophthirius, 

 whereupon they were removed. 



The fishes were then placed in two- 

 quart jars, partially filled with pure 

 water, which were floated in the large 

 aquarium. A similar number of jars 

 were filled likewise with pure water and 

 also floated. To those containing the 

 fishes a generous portion of Daphne was 

 added, and more from time to time as it 

 was consumed. Night and morning, 

 until cured, the fishes were transferred 

 to the reserve jars of pure water, and 

 Daphne supplied as before, the used jars 

 being sterilized and then replaced in 

 readiness. 



The purpose of the Daphne is two- 

 fold. My theory is that the parasite is 

 devoured by the Daphne when it leaves 

 the host, and others eliminated when the 

 fishes are transferred. On the other hand 

 there is no better nor more invigorating 

 food for fishes than Daphne, and being 

 consumed during the treatment, enable 

 the patients to maintain strength to re- 

 sist the enervating influence of the para- 

 site. I may wrongfully state the "why" 

 of the method, but fishes so treated, both 

 my own and those belonging to friends, 

 have invariably been cured. The large 

 tank mentioned is heated by electricity 

 and maintained at a uniform warm tem- 

 perature by means of a thermostat. Un- 

 der these conditions Daphne will not 

 live long, dying and polluting the water 

 to the detriment of the patients if trans- 

 fers are not made as often or more often 

 than stated. 



