196 Fresh Water Aquarium 



small fish, not unlike our three-spined stickle- 

 back. In water of a low temperature the 

 color is a dull, grayish yellow, but in a higher 

 and more suitable temperature the coloring 

 is remarkably beautiful and can compare 

 favorably with that of almost any other 

 aquarium fish. 



The ground color of this fish is a warm 

 reddish brown, with blood red, dark blue and 

 green stripes running from the back to- 

 ward the light-colored belly. The rays in 

 the dorsal and caudal fins are greenish blue 

 with a red border. The operculum bears a 

 red and a deep blue spot. The ventral fins 

 are bluish white, the caudal fin is greenish 

 blue with an orange-red border, and the anal 

 fin red with silvery gray. The eyes are 

 mother of pearl colored. 



Hardly two inches long, this little fish is 

 a bold, fearless fighter, so much so that the 

 inhabitants of their native islands keep them 

 in vessels in order to observe their battles 

 at close range. If excited, the fish will 



