MARINE AQUARIA 



then be covered with a considerable quantity of moist weeds. Some of the 

 fishes and other forms will survive for hours, if carefully packed as 

 suggested. The illustration, Fig. 237, is the Buckland collecting 

 can, which has a perforated false bottom connected by a pipe, pet-cock 

 and hose, D. and B., with the air bulb, A. The funnel C. aids in 

 aerating and siphoning the water. This may be set under the car seat 

 and the bulb operated with the foot. Modifications of this device are 

 easily made, and are in general use. 



Receiving Consignments. Upon arrival, a number of shallow 

 receptacles filled with seawater should be at hand, to separate the animals 

 and to quarantine them Until assured that they are in healthy condition. 

 The marine plants also should be cleaned with saltwater and quarantined 

 a day or two before introduction into the established aquarium. The 

 anemones may not at once adhere in the desired positions, may attach 

 themselves to the glass or roll on the bottom; or they may, by expanding 

 their discs on the surface, float about for days in reversed position. Pour- 

 ing water into the hollow depression of the disc will cause them to sink, 

 as they then lose their buoyancy. It will be found that most of them will 

 expand more freely on bright days, though some forms, which prefer dark- 

 ness, will seek these localities, when oflfered. When considerably fed they 

 will not open for some days, but if it is desired to have them do this, a 

 very small particle of food given an hour before will excite the appetite 

 and cause them to open very widely in expectation of a further meal. 



Aquarium Tools. These should consist of straight and bent dip- 

 ping tubes, a siphoning tube and hose, a shallow net with a straight front, 

 a sponge or piece of felt on a stick to clean the glass, a glass syringe for 

 aeration and feeding the mussels and other low forms; a filter, as already 

 described, long scissors, tweezers and feeding sticks. Pieces of charcoal 

 behind and under the rockwork will serve as antiseptics and aid in keeping 

 the water clear. With larger aquaria some efficient method of aeration is 

 imperatively necessary. 



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