The Inhabitants of the Aquarium 153 



sey to Maryland in sluggish waters with 

 dense vegetation. When fairly well grown, 

 its shape is almost disk-like. Dark, almost 

 black stripes run from the back down to- 

 wards the belly, growing lighter as they 



Fig. 74. Banded Sunfish, Mesogonistius chcctodon. 



near the latter. The fins are very prettily 

 marked. This is certainly one of the most 

 attractive of aquarium fishes and will live 

 very well if properly cared for. It needs a 

 rather dense vegetation. Any sudden 

 change in the temperature of the water is 

 to be avoided, as it favors the parasitic 

 fungi growths (Saprolegnies) which some- 



