DESCRIPTIVE KEY TO PAGES U-i TO 252 253 



DESCRIPTIVE KEY 



to the 



BREEDING AND OTHER HABITS 



of the Foregoing List of Aquarium Fishes 



For all practical purposes the breeding habits of known aquarium 

 fishes may be classed under 18 headings. Instead of needless repeti- 

 tion, each of these is described but once. By matching the following 

 key letters and figures with those in the preceding Alphabetical List, 

 sufficient information regarding any of the listed fishes may be had. 



EXPLANATION: The letter B stands for "Breeding," and the 

 number accompanying this letter in preceding list of fishes indicates to 

 which breeding group each fish belongs. 



The letter N stands for "Nature" or disposition of the fish, particu- 

 larly with reference to zvhether it ina\ be kept with other fishes, and if 

 so, under zvhat conditions. 



Bl GROUP 



DANIO GROUP. All fishes of this group drop their eggs freely 

 in the water, while actively swimming alongside their mates, fre- 

 quently more than one male participating in the (external) fructifica- 

 tion of the eggs as extruded. This group of fishes have a tendency to 

 devour their eggs as soon as dropped, and under aquarium conditions 

 this should be guarded against by providing shelter for the eggs to fall 

 amongst, such as small stones, densely-growing vegetation, etc. The 

 eggs are non-adhesive and can be moved by the action of the water or 

 otherwise at any period during development, which lasts only from 3 

 to 5 days, according to the temperature of the water. The young fish 

 hang like "commas" against the glass sides of the aquarium in which 

 they hatch (the parent fishes having been removed immediately after 

 spawning was completed), and after a couple of days they adopt the 

 position of normal adult fish, swimming horizontally in search of food, 

 such as infusoria, etc., and later small daphnia and cyclops. Young 

 fishes of this group take kindly to finely powdered dry fish foods and 

 do well on it. Temperature of the water should be maintained at the 

 maximum given herein or slightly higher and so kept until at least two 

 months of age. 



Bla GROUP 



BARBEL GROUP. Same as the preceding, except that the eggs 

 are adhesive to the plants, stones or glass aquarium sides. 



