SOME FRESHWATER AQUARIUM FISHES 



Red-bellied Bream and Crappie. All will survive in the aquarium, and 

 those enumerated occur in the Delaware River. The Chastodon is an 

 especial favorite with aquariists on account of its beautiful markings and 

 lively habits. The sunfish should be occasionally fed with live food, flies, 

 worms, etc. 



THE AMERICAN DACE 

 . The Black-nosed Dace, Rhinichthys cataracts. Fig. 39, is a native of 

 all swift-running streams, preferably those of cold water. There are two 

 varieties most generally distributed which usually inhabit the same streams 

 and rivulets. The Black-nosed Dace, the most abundant form in the valley 

 of the Delaware, is easily distinguished by the black line extending from the 



FIG. 39 — Black-nosed Dace, Rhinichthys cataracta 



snout along the sides to the tail. It is most remarkably rapid in its movements 

 and in the aquarium is a veritable finny jester. Its movements are so rapid 

 and erratic that it appears like a silvery streak as it darts about in bewilder- 

 ing confusion. In every way it is entirely harmless and may be kept 

 with goldfishes, especially with the fine breeds of sluggish habits, to whom 

 it is of direct benefit in agitating the water. 



The spawning season begins early in June, when both the male and 

 the female take to nest-making in some rapid running brook or trout stream, 

 the clearing sometimes being over two feet in diameter. All waste-materials 

 are carefully removed and when the spawn has been deposited it is cover- 

 ed with clean pebbles which the fishes bring down stream in their mouths, 

 the alternate deposits of spawn and pebbles often forming mounds eight 

 inches high. This is done not only to protect the young from enemies, 

 but also to prevent the eggs from washing away in the rapid flowing streams. 



The dace will thrive on the usual goldfish foods. Live food should 

 be occasionally fed. 



THE CHUB 



That species of the Chub popularly known as the Fall-fish, Silver- 

 chub, Wind-fish and Corporal, Semotilus corporalis, is a most interesting 

 aquarium fish but thrives best in larger tanks, as it often grows to be 15 

 inches in length. It has the habit of building nests for the spawn and 



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