320 Fresh Water Aquarium 



male will approach the eggs and eject a 

 milky fluid over them to effect the fertiliza- 

 tion. If this is successful the spawn will 

 have a clear, glassy appearance. If not, 

 the eggs will become opaque and whitish. 

 As the fishes like to feed on their own 

 spawn, it is advisable to cut off all branches 

 of water plants, on which the irregular 

 glassy masses of spawn appear, and transfer 

 them to another aquarium, which is ex- 

 posed to the sun. According to the tem- 

 perature of the water, the young fishes will 

 appear after from three to six days. 



During the first ten to fourteen days after 

 the hatching of the fishes, no food is neces- 

 sary, as provision for their nourishment has 

 been made by nature in the very prominent 

 and plainly Ausible abdominal yolk-bag, which 

 has the appearance of a bladder, from which 

 the head and tail of the young fish protrude 

 and which decreases in size as its contents 

 are absorbed through the development of its 

 minute bearer. The first food outside of 



