| THE AQUARIUM. 
CONDUCTED BY HUGO MULERTT. 
(The Editor of this Department will cheerfully answer all queries relative to the conduct of Aquaria. ] 
The goldfish is a member of the carp family 
and a native of Asia. Its natural habitat is 
standing water. In China or Japan goldfish 
are found of all colors except green ; they also 
vary largely in shape and size—some species 
grow large enough for the table, while others 
never grow more than a few inches in size. 
The goldfish may well be counted as one of the 
domestic animals. It holds the same place 
among the finny tribe that pigeons hold among 
birds—they are prized for their shapes and 
colors. 
The first goldfish brought to Europe, from 
where this country received its earliest sup- 
plies, were of the poorest and commonest 
breed ; they were of a golden color, hence the 
~name for the entire genus ; and it will thus be 
understood why people speak of black, white, 
red or blue goldfish. The old-fashioned gold- 
fish lives now in a wild state in this country, 
and is in fact counted among the native fishes 
of North America. 
Goldfish are easily kept as pets, and most of 
those that die are killed through mistaken kind- 
ness rather than neglect. One ot the main 
troubles arises from the habit of some people to 
keep more than they can comfortably. A pair 
of two and one-half to three-inch goldfish should 
have one gallon of water to livein. Ifthey are 
larger, they need more in proportion. In buy- 
ing fish select such that were cultivated and 
kept in standing water. The sizes of these 
should be in proportion with the vessel for which 
they are intended. 
In fitting up the globe or tank for them see 
that it is cleaned without the use of soap ; cover 
the bottom one inch deep with coarse, sharp, 
sea or river sand; in this plant one or more 
kinds of water plants ; place several little rocks 
or pebbles about their roots to hold them in 
place until established, and then carefully fill 
the vessel to within two inches of the tap with 
pure water—whether this is spring, well, cis- 
tern or hydrant water, is immaterial. As long 
as it is fit to drink for yourself it is all right, but 
it should be clear. Now gently place your fish 
jn the water, together with a few water snails 
and one or two tadpoles, which will act as scav- 
engers ; then set the entire collection where it 
will have an abundance of pure air, good light, 
but no sun. Submerged water plants, when 
exposed to light, purify the water. 
Once a day goldfish should be fed with pre- 
pared goldfish food. A piece as large as a 
cent, crumpled up, is enough for two small 
fish each time. Ifyou feed more than they eat 
at once, it will spoil the water. To this, their 
regular meal, you may add, to good advantage, 
once a week some scraped raw beef or chopped 
up earth worms, in quantities to allow a small 
mouthful for each fish. 
The inner side of the glass of the vessel in 
which you keep your fish must be wiped off at 
least once a week, after which also the water 
lost by evaporation is replaced. If these in- 
structions be followed it will not be necessary 
to change the water of the globe oftener than 
every two or three months, while a square tank 
will keep six months and longer, but after six 
months it is best to clean and rearrange an 
aquarium. 
The best temperature for goldfish is between 
60° F. and go° F. They will stand it as low 
as 32° F. and as high as 110° F., but they are 
very sensitive to sudden changes—1Io° one or 
the other way may prove fatal. When goldfish 
gasp for air on the surface of the water it indi- 
cates that they are uncomfortable, Find out 
the cause. It may arise from a close atmos- 
phere before a thunderstorm, impure air in 
your room, or decomposing objects, such as 
minerals or sea shells, etc,, contained in the 
water; at any rate, when you see your fish in 
that condition attend to them at once, or they 
will die a fearful death by suffocation. 
These are the main points one has to observe 
to keep goldfish in a healthy state, and under 
such treatment goldfish may be kept in a thriv- 
ing condition for ten years and even longer. 
The important question, ‘‘ how often the water 
ought to be changed on goldfish,” is therefore 
thus answered: ‘‘As often as it becomes ne- 
cessary under the prevailing conditions,” 
