178 Fresh Water Aquarium 



low on the belly. The sides are marked 

 with several longitudinal rows of dark spots, 

 and four black cross bars, while a black spot 

 marks the base of the caudal fin, which is 

 yellowish in color. The dorsal and anal 

 fins each have a black cross bar on light 

 ground. The eyes are golden yellow. 



Most remarkable is the process of mating 

 of the Mailed Catfish. By approaching the 

 ventral fins towards each other the female 

 forms a kind of a pocket into which the male 

 ejects the fertilizing fluid. After this is 

 done the eggs enter the same pocket, to be 

 placed a little later on stones, leaves or other 

 bodies of a suitable shape and substance. 

 This fish will thrive well in the aquarium 

 and, as it is one of the less voracious of the 

 tribe, may be kept with other weaker fishes, 

 if a sufficient amount of food is provided. 



The Blue Mottled Catfish (Pimclodus mar- 

 ginatus) is one of the most brilliantly col- 

 ored of the family, dark blue on the back, 

 changing to a lighter color on the sides and 



