48 



aquatic %itt 



■ In size gularis is a large aquarium 

 fish, males four inches and females three 

 inches in length, being not uncommon 

 among imported specimens. Fish bred 

 in the aquarium will be much smaller 

 than those whose growth was attained 

 under wild and unrestricted surround- 

 ings. In coloration the male and female 

 differ. The female is for the most part 

 warm brown, inclining to yellow below, 

 and darker on the back ; scales on 

 shoulders more or less spotted with 



Haplochilus calliurus 



dark reddish brown, with spots of same 

 color on the large dorsal fin. The fins 

 in general are bluish gray, those be- 

 neath and also the tail inclining to yel- 

 low. The anal fin is large and elongat- 

 ed ; tail with three lobes instead of two 

 as with most fishes. This last charac- 

 teristic is most pronounced in the male. 

 The prevalent color of the male is blu- 

 ish gray ; chocolate mottling and marb- 

 ling over the head and shoulders, de- 

 veloping into narrow, irregular, verti- 

 cal cross-bars of the same color along 

 the sides. The anal fin is forked and 

 equally divided horizontally by a choco- 

 late line, the upper portion yellowish. 

 Chocolate spots and curved streaks ap- 

 pear on all fins and tail. The middle 

 lobe of the tail is bright yellow — a mag- 

 nificent contrast to the blue and choco- 

 late of the upper and lower lobes. The 



body of both sexes is quite cylindrical 

 in shape, being suggestive of our more 

 familiar friend, Haplochilus cameron- 

 eusis, not only in form, however, but 

 also in marking and coloration, except 

 that blue dominates as the ground color. 

 In habits too F. gularis recalls Haplo- 

 chilus, particularly in its tendency to 

 lurk among dense growths of plants. 



Propagation is quite difficult in the 

 aquarium as far as raising a large pro- 

 portion of youngsters to maturity is 

 concerned. The tank must be thickly 

 planted to afford the female shelter 

 from the stormy onslaughts of the male. 

 The larger it is the better the chances 

 of success. Minimum size, 10 gallons ; 

 twenty-five gallons if possible. It should 

 be so located that plenty of sunlight will 

 penetrate it, though for but a short time 

 daily. The eggs adhere to threads of 

 algea or lay upon the sandy bottom. 

 Those that float upon the surface of the 

 water invariably become infested with 

 fungus and perish. They hatch in from 

 three to four weeks at a temperature of 

 75 to 80 degrees, Fahrenheit, and at no 

 time should the parent fish be subjected 

 to a temperature less than 70 degrees. 

 The spawning operation lasts five or 

 six days, after which the parent fish 

 must be removed. Spawning may oc- 

 cur again after an interval of some 

 weeks' inactivity. Some aquarists re- 

 move the eggs and float them in saucers 

 on the surface of the water in the aquar- 

 ium, shielding them from too much di- 

 rect light. 



The care of the young and their feed- 

 ing is like most other aquarium fishes. 

 They first require infusoria, and as soon 

 as the)' are able to overcome them, 

 small cyclops and daphne should be 

 given. The addition of sea-water, 1 part 

 to 40 parts fresh water, or table or sea 

 salt in the same proportion is neces- 

 C onclu.de d on page 54 



