FOOD AND FEEDING 



gle for food can only tend to the elimination of the finest fry and the sur- 

 vival of the better adapted but undesired long-bodied, single-tailed fishes. 



To achieve most certain results, a careful observation of the following 

 suggestions is advisable : — Experience has proven that it is best to take 

 the spawn and the plants to which it adheres from the spawning bed or tank 

 and place them into filtered water to hatch, thus largely avoiding the danger 

 of the presence of fungus spores and enemies; but it is well to introduce a few 

 pots of clean growing plants to supply the necessary oxygen and prevent 

 the asphyxiation of the hatching fry. Immediately after hatching, the 

 alevin is still attached to the umbilical sac and requires no other food than 

 is furnished by it and that present on the plants and in the water ; but 

 after its absorption young fishes may be fed on rice flour scattered on the 

 surface of the water, or a little of the broth of oat meal, but the best food is 

 the natural pond-life food, and this should be continued until it is ^ to i 

 inch long, when prepared foods may be fed, if natural food is no longer 

 to be obtained. 



Together with the plants a small dish containing clean soil should be 

 introduced,as it contains substances necessary for nutrition and will stimulate 

 the development and propagation of infusoria, the minute animal life which 

 is the natural first food of the newly hatched alevin. This is manifested 

 by the greenish color of the water, which is also in part due to the presence 

 of tiny vegetal life, the diatoms and other small algae. After the fry have 

 reached the age of a week, a half pint of water of pronouncedly green 

 color, taken from a tank in which a considerable growth of algae has col- 

 lected, should be added every few days, then after a week live food should 

 be fed. 



It should be here repeated that a low temperature of the water and 

 insufficient light will seriously affect the survival of the fry, as the gener- 

 ally accepted opinion that fishes do not feed freely when the weather is 

 cloudy and the water cold applies to young goldfishes; but strong sunlight 

 must be avoided, as that also is injurious. 



When the stage of feeding live food has been reached, it should be 

 given in liberal quantity about three or four times a day, carefully screened 

 that only the smallest entomostraca are introduced into the rearing tanks; 

 and though it has been observed that when very abundant the larger may 

 prey upon the young fishes, it is always the weaklings which are attacked 

 and these can be dispensed with; the healthy and vigorous young fishes 

 escape these attacks or but few succumb. 



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