334 Fresh Water Aquarium 



stance, such as stones or ornaments within 

 its reach, it is time for an investigation. 

 This will usually result in the discovery 

 of small dots or spots of a grayish white 

 color. As time passes these spots will in- 

 crease in size and numher until they form 

 hlotches, the latter being covered with a 

 slimy coating. The fins contract and show 

 discolorations of a reddish or grayish color. 

 These are the never deceiving symptoms of 

 parasitic infection. While we do not intend 

 to go too much into details, a few of these 

 parasites may be mentioned here. 



The Trematodes contain several species 

 dangerous and often fatal to the gold fish 

 and other fishes related to the carps. The 

 most frequently observed and best known 

 are Dactylogyrus fallax, D. auriculatus and 

 G\rodact\lus clcgans. All three live on 

 the surface of the fish, and while Dae- 

 tvlogvnts fallax makes its habitat mostly on 

 the Q-ills, the others do not discriminate and 

 infect all parts of the fish. These sucking 



