88 GENKKAL MANAGEMENT OP 



fectly clean it. The bottom ami sides of the tank should 

 be scrubbed with a piece of flannel and soap ; and if the 

 bottom be stone, sand may also be used with advan- 

 tage. When the tank is perfectly clean, we can again 

 introduce our stock, arranging it as has been recom- 

 mended in former chapters. 



Grouping. — This is a point that is of very great impor- 

 tance, and, therefore, must not be neglected ; for, if we 

 throw in our stock indiscriminately, we shall find that many 

 of the stronger will prey on the weaker, and thus we shall 

 have constant warfare going on among those which should 

 form a " happy family." Thus our friend, the Tike, though 

 a very curious fish, and one whose habits it would be 

 interesting to watch, cannot be placed in company with 

 many other kinds of fish, as he will very soon make away 

 with them, and if we intend to keep him, it must lie alone, 

 where he will remain sulky at the bottom of the water, 

 until we deign to notice him by feeding. 



The same remark holds good concerning the stickleback, 

 who will attack other fish many times his own size. In a 

 tank of ordinary dimensions, that is to say, of eight gallons, 

 which is the capacity that I generally use, I would place as 

 vegetation, >S7 ratiot is, Ceratophylum, Calitr'uhe, Anacharis, 

 Cham and Lcmna. Then, for animals, we can have our uni- 

 versal inhabitants of the fresh-water Aquarium — the gold-fish 

 of about three inches in length, sun-fish of the same size or 

 larger, for I have kept large sun with small gold-fish, and 

 have never found them to disagree, although I have heard 

 some persons assert that they will. The sun-fish is a slow 

 and stupid fish in his actions, but makes a beautiful denizen 



