90 



aquattr %itt 



three to four months old the youngsters 

 are able to breed, the males being distin- 

 guished by the fins, though they are not 

 fully developed until after the individual 

 has bred. The maximum size is two and 

 one-half to three inches. 



After the extrusion of the eggs the 

 adults should be removed to another 

 tank, as otherwise they will devour the 

 spawn. It is well to protect the eggs, 

 using the methods followed when breed- 

 ing Danio. The young require abundant 

 Infusoria, and later Daphne and the 

 other live foods. 



The Kitefish demands clear, clean 

 water, which should be frequently re- 

 newed, and a good-sized aquarium. It 

 should not be closely planted, or at least 

 a portion left free of vegetation. The 

 tank should be maintained at a tempera- 

 ture of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit — 

 above or below is detrimental to their 

 welfare. The temperature of the aver- 

 age living room is about right. During 

 ihe summer months it can be kept in out- 

 door ponds in localities where the proper 

 temperature pertains. 



Infusoria Culture 



The first food taken after the absorp- 

 tion of the yolk-sac by fry of egg-laying 

 fishes is termed, by the fish breeder, infu- 

 soria, his collective name for the proto- 

 zoans, which are the most primitive 

 forms of animal life and the smallest, all 

 being microscopic, and even the largest 

 scarcely discernable by the unaided eye. 

 Members of the group may be found in 

 any puddle of water, even in a transient 

 pool in the city gutter. How they have 

 appeared in such pools explains why it 

 is possible to produce them at will for 

 fish food. 



When a pond becomes dry the animal- 

 cules form resting bodies or spores, in 

 which condition they may be wafted 



about by the wind, and finally find a suit- 

 able environment for development in an- 

 other body of water. This character- 

 istic, called anabiosis, or state of lifeless- 

 ness, has been known for two hundred 

 years, and still awaits a satisfactory ex- 

 planation. The fish breeder takes ad- 

 vantage of the phenomenon when he 

 gathers submerged aquatic plants, dries 

 them in the sun, and stores them away to 

 produce the animalcules at will by merely 

 placing the powdered plant remains in 

 water. The resting bodies become active 

 and reproduce, meanwhile feeding upon 

 the vegetable matter. In view of the 

 slight cost of the prepared material, 

 which may be had from The Aquarium 

 Specialty Company, it scarcely pays the 

 average fancier to collect the plants and 

 make it himself. 



Just a Thought 



A gentleman fish fancier is a man who 

 is clean both inside and outside, who 

 neither looks up to the rich nor down to 

 the poor ; who can lose without squealing 

 and win without bragging ; who is con- 

 siderate of fellow fanciers ; who is too 

 brave to lie, too generous to cheat, and 

 who takes his share of the cups and rib- 

 bons awarded at the show, and lets other 

 people have theirs. — Aqua-pet. 



From the Land of the Dells, the state 

 made famous by its many products — 

 malted milk and the malt without the 

 milk — comes the gladsome tidings of the 

 launching of the Platteville Aquarium 

 Society, of Platteville, in Wisconsin. 

 Alfred B. Krog is president ; F. R. Web- 

 ber, secretary; Frank K. Burg, treasurer. 

 The society will meet in Platte-poecilia 

 Villa, and much will accrue to the advan- 

 tage of those who attend. 



Please send Aquatic Life for another 

 year. It is fine. — C. C. Gross. 



