1 8 Fresh Water Aquarium 



fishes and other inmates of the aquarium 

 take advantage of these shelters, how they 

 dart in and out through the passages, chas- 

 ing each other in endless play. Often too, 

 smaller and weaker fishes seek and find pro- 

 tection from the attacks of their stronger 

 and more aggressive companions by hiding 

 in the small openings of the rock. Should 

 the amateur prefer to construct his own lit- 

 tle rockery, he must not forget to let it soak 

 in water for a few days before he places it 

 in position, so that all soluble mineral sub- 

 stances may be thoroughly extracted; sub- 

 stances which might otherwise be harmful to 

 the living inmates of the aquarium. It is 

 not advisable to introduce sea-shells into the 

 aquarium. Being without life they are 

 meaningless and by their slow decomposition 

 the water may receive ingredients detrimen- 

 tal to the health of its animal life. 



THE PLANTING OF THE AQUARIUM. 



Having prepared the aquarium according 

 to the directions given in the preceding 



