aquatic JUtt 



91 



Fundulus diaphanus 



GEORGE S. MYERS 



The common killifish, Fundulus dia- 

 phanus, is one of our native cyprinodonts 

 that deserves closer acquaintance. It is as 

 attractive as the several relatives which 

 are common to aquarian collections, and 

 it has the added advantage of being ex- 

 ceptionally hardy under the conditions 

 imposed by confinement in home aquaria. 

 As an experiment, I once placed a female 



This killy is olive-green in color, with 

 many vertical brown or black bars which 

 at times may not be apparent. The sides 

 are silvery and overlaid with iridescent 

 purple, a feature which the female lacks. 

 It reaches a length of five inches, but such 

 large specimens are scarcely suitable for 

 a tank of average size. Like its relations, 

 native and exotic, it deposits its eggs on 

 the leaves of floating plants. The pre- 

 ferred food is Daphnia, but it will take 



Fundulus diaphanus 



killy in a quart jar without plants, keep- 

 ing her there, without change of water, 

 for six months. She was fed once a 

 week. At the end of the period she was 

 just as robust and healthy as on the day 

 I captured her in a nearby stream. Such 

 treatment is not to be commended, nor is 

 its mention intended to induce others 

 to follow. To see the killy at its best one 

 should provide a properly equipped tank 

 of suitable size. 



Photograph by Dr. R. W. Shufeldt 



any sort of prepared food. 



For capturing wild killifish a twelve- 

 inch net, with a handle at least six feet 

 long, is necessary. When the fish are 

 seen, a quick overhead sweep of the 

 net should be made ; scooping up nearly 

 always results in failure. 



Wise is the woman who gives as much 

 thought to feathering her own nest as to 

 feathering her hat. 



