CHAPTER VI1T. 



GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE FRESH-WATER AQUARIUM. 



The Tank to be well Seasoned -Feeding Fish— Bread to he given to Gold-fish- 

 Taming Fish— Care to be taken not to introduce too much Food— Cheese for 

 Fish — Accumulation of Conferva* — Hemoval with a Sponge — Emptying the Tank- 

 Grouping— Sun-fish a Peaceful Inhabitant— Sun-fish nibbling .Minnows' Tails— The 

 Tailless Minnow— Varieties of Snails— Fish coming to the Surface to breathe a 

 Bad Sign— Aerating the Water— Definition of an Aquarium— Temperature of the 

 Water— Shading the Tank from the Sun — Air blowing on the Surface of the 

 Water advantageous— Dead and Sick Animals to be removed — Diseases of 

 Fish. 



It will be as well, on concluding the portion of this book 

 devoted to the fresh-water Aquarium, to give a few pages 

 that may be useful, not only to beginners, but which will, 1 

 hope, also aid others who have had tanks in operation for 

 some time in the keeping of them, and to whom some slight, 

 unforeseen accident may happen that, from having never oc- 

 curred before, may endanger the loss of the whole stock ; 

 for them, no less than for beginners, I have put together 

 the results of over two years' experience in the management 

 of Aquaria, especially as regards fresh- water. 



To begin at the beginning, first, be suro that your tank 

 is well seasoned, and that the cement used in its construc- 

 tion contains no lime or lead ; as the use of either of those 

 substances will endanger the lives of your pets. Be sure 



5 



