16 



AQUARIUM MANAGEMENT 



ance. In their special occupation as scavengers they employ a method 

 which is both effectual and interesting. The dirt and top sand are 

 taken in the mouth and rapidly shot out through the gills. Any par- 



Fir;. 8. The \Vh.\therfish (Cohitis fussilis) 



tide of food considered edible is automatically separated from the bulk 

 of the dirt and swallowed. 



Another scavenger fish is the Saccoljranchus fossilis. This fish 

 has a head like a catlish and an elongated liody like an eel. Both of 

 these scavengers arc harmless to other fish, but should not be used 

 when over five inches long, as they stir up the water too much. 



Goldfish keep the sand loose and in good condition by picking it 

 up in their mouths, but most other aquarium fishes do not touch it, 

 which allows it to cake and become permanently dirty. The Weather- 

 fish is most excellent to introduce with such fishes, even a single small 

 one keeping the s;ind in a large aquarium loose on the top. 



Breeding Snails. rerh:ii)s here would be a good place to state 

 that no kmd of snails can be kept in the company of carnivorous 

 fishes, such fur instance as Sunfish (except Chaetodons) and most of 

 the tropicals — Paradise Fish, Chanchitos and the like. 



The breeding of snails is extremely simple, yet there are certain 

 conditions that are necessary to success. Among the ordinary and 

 really useful aquarium snails there are only two kinds whose breeding 

 requires any attention. These are the African and the Ramshorn, 

 especially the coral variety. Both these snails deposit eggs on plants 

 or glass in small, gelatinous masses. The young of the Japanese and 

 I'ond Snails are alile to take care of themselves among the gentler 

 fishes. 



The most important point is that the young hatch and spend the 

 first several weeks of their lives where there are no large fishes. 

 Naturall)- this will be done either by removing the plant leaves with 

 attached eggs to a s])ccial tank, or by removing the fishes from where 

 the eggs are laid. Snail spawn is often placed with newly-hatched 

 fishes, and they grow together. 



The second point has to do with feeding. If the tank is an old 

 one with green-covered sides and some decaying vegetation, no spe- 



