SOME FRESHWATER AQUARIUM FISHES 



THE CATFISH 



This fish is so well-known that little need be said in its description. 

 Several species are most generally distributed, the White CiLtfish, J meiur us 



FIG. 52-.-Stone-catfish or Little Mad Tom, Schilheodcs insignis 



catus, the Horned Pout or Common BuWhead ^meiur us nebulosus, and the 

 Little Mad Tom, Schilbeodes insignis. Fig. 52. They are very annoying 

 to goldfishes and should not be put into aquaria with them. Small parti- 

 cles of animal food, dessicated meat, mussels, etc.,togetherwith boiled cereals 

 are the best food. 



THE EEL 



Eels abound in all the waters of the temperate and torrid zones, but 

 it has been established that they always visit brackish and salt water to 

 spawn. They are very tenacious of life, a modification of their gills en- 

 abling them to go considerable distances overland in their Spring migra- 

 tions or in search of food. The Common American Eel, Anguilla 



<fcj*- .:-vs. «--■■ T^^^^i'^ »*■;-.. •. » . ■ 



f **^ifcx- i^ .*'* *^ ' 



FIG. 53 — Common Eel, Anguilla chryiypa 



chrysypa, Fig. 53, is of slow growth, rarely exceeding 12 inches during the 

 first year, but attaining a length of over 4 feet and a weight exceeding 5 

 pounds. Its food consists of all insect and animal life as well as putres- 

 cent vegetal and animal sybstanccs. They are good scavengers but de- 

 structive to the spawn of all fishes. In the aquarium they will nibble at 

 the fins of other fishes and should not be kept with goldfishes unless they 

 are of very small size. Eels will eat almost anything and everytliing fed 

 to them. 



