94 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AND 
B2 GROUP 
THE BASS OR THE SUNFISH GROUP. Eggs are fertilized 
externally of the parent fish, deposited in a hollow excavated in a sandy 
bottom by the adults for this purpose and carefully guarded by the male 
until they hatch a few days later and also after the young fish first emerge 
and are defenceless from their enemies. Microscopic live food in the form 
of Infusoria must be adundantly provided for the young fish, who, even 
later, do not take kindly if at all to prepared dry foods. 
B3 GROUP 
THE CARP FAMILY, including all the varieties of the Goldfish. 
Spawning habits same as Group Bla, differing only in respect to the fact 
that the fish under B3 deposit their eggs all over the plants, mainly at 
the surface. Fish of Group Bla usually deposit their spawn near the 
bottom. See page 48. 
B4 GROUP 
THE CHARACIN FAMILY, mostly distinguishable by the small 
adipose or fat rayless fin situated on the back between the dorsal fin 
and tail. Spawn like Group Bla. 
B5 GROUP 
THE CICHLID GROUP. Fish of this family deposit adhesive 
eggs on stones or, in the aquarium, on the convex side of a large flower- 
pot, laid on its side. Eggs hatch in 3 or 4 days, during which period the 
parents take turns in swimming over the eggs and fanning fresh water 
over them all the time. When the young hatch out, the parents carry 
them in their mouths and deposit them in a depression previously made 
in the sand at the bottom, where they jealously guard them against all 
comers—human or aquatic—frequently removing dirt, etc., from the 
“nest” and transferring the baby fish to new nests three or four times a 
day. For the first ten days after hatching the young fish eat nothing but 
live in a swarm at the bottom, while they absorb the contents of the um- 
bilical sac or bag of yolk-of-egg-like fluid beneath the abdomen. At the 
end of this period they begin to look like fish and then they all get up 
off the bottom and swim around their parents who continue to guard 
them closely. From this time on they require “Baby” Fishfood—small 
cyclops, daphnia, etc., though they will eat dried fish food if finely 
powdered. Ten days after they begin to feed, the parents should be 
removed, each to a separate aquarium. The Cichlids dislike and destroy 
plants, so none should be provided but they require clean, pure water, so 
some should be changed (siphoning all dirt from the bottom )—daily, 
replacing it with hydrant water, blended hot and cold to same tempera- 
