Swamp -Plant Aquaria 



c j. HEEDE 



The swamp-plant aquarium, one with 

 plants growing above the water, should 

 find a more general place in the home of 

 the aquarist. It is particularly orna- 

 mental, and can be maintained success- 

 fully with comparatively little care. 

 While perhaps primarily a tank for 

 plants, it will make a suitable home for 

 fishes and other forms of water life. It 

 would be an ideal home for the paradise 

 fish, or it could be used for sticklebacks ; 

 for fry of many fishes; for crustaceans; 

 for insects which pass the early portion 

 of their lives in the water, and later 

 transform to winged inhabitants of the 

 air. Of crustaceans a collection of 

 fresh water shrimp would be interesting 

 indeed. Even Hydra would lend itself 

 to observation to an advantage, espe- 

 cially with regard to its foods and habits 

 of feeding. Some of the newts or sala- 

 manders, and diverse species of snails, 

 could profitably be given a home. Of 

 course, all the forms mentioned could 

 not be wisely associated in the same 

 tank ; judgment based on the habits 

 would have to be used. Much original 

 research work could be pursued in such 

 an aquarium, particularly among the in- 

 sects ; the life-histories of many are still 

 imperfectly understood. 



To arrange a tank for swamp plants, 

 a six-inch layer of leaf-mould, loam and 

 sand, mixed with some fertilizer, such 

 as dried and powdered blood, or sheep 

 manure, is necessary, as these plants 

 are gross feeders. To prevent the dis- 

 coloration of the water by the agitation 

 of the bottom by the moving life of the 



tank, an inch layer of gravel and sand 

 should be laid on top of it. The water 

 should be twelve inches deep if sub- 

 merged plants, as well as those with 

 aerial leaves are to be used. 



Plants should be selected from among 



A Swamp Aquarium 

 From "Stuekulturer" 



those that will grow and thrive through- 

 out the year — tropical species, or those 

 that do not require the winter rest of 

 those of the temperate zone. An attract- 

 ive colleation can be selected from the 

 following list: Sagittaria montevidensis, 

 white flowers, brown spotted; S. lanci- 

 folia, lance-shaped leaves, white flowers ; 

 S. graminae, grass-leaved, white flow- 

 ers; 5\ japonica, white flowers; Sauru- 

 rus lucidus, bush-like, heart-shaped 

 leaves ; Cy perns gracilis, low growth ; 



