EXOTIC and BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL 
When You Buy Tricker's Fish You Buy 
Quality at Prices Which are no Higher 
Tricker makes it easy for you to know and enjoy these small, ac¬ 
tive, brilliantly colored fishes gathered from all parts of the world. 
If you have never seen a balanced aquarium with crystal clear water 
and a collection of tropical fishes a most pleasant experience and 
surprise awaits you. Beautiful and unusual, even bizarre, with the 
lure of jewel tones, the many forms of tropical fishes hold a never- 
ending fascination for the beholder. Not only in form and color, 
but even in habits of life are they an absorbing 6tudy. 
On pages 40 and 41 we illustrate in color about forty specimens 
of tropical fishes which are just a few of those comprising our list. 
So interesting are they all that tropical fishes are now the most pop¬ 
ular aquarium fishes and are much in demand. 
Note: All fish are shipped by express, charges collect 
^Mexican Swordtails 
MEXICAN SWORDTAILS 
(Xiphophorus helleri). See 
No. 19, page 40. 1 y 2 inches to 2 
inches long. $1 pair; $5 dozen. 
MEXICAN SWORDTAILS. This stock was recently imported from 
the streams of Mexico. The fish have not degenerated through 
cross breeding with other aquarium specimens of the same genus. 
They are strong and vigorous and offer something worthwhile to the 
advanced fancier interested in hybridizing. Large pairs, $5; young 
stock, $3 per pair. 
Varieties Good for Pools 
Many of the tropical fishes are desirable for pools. They are the 
natural enemies of mosquitoes and on page 42 we offer a special 
collection of mosquito killers for this purpose, or single varieties 
may be purchased separately. 
QUALITY. Except where young fish are specified, our prices are 
for average size adults. When available, extra large or select 
fish are quoted higher, as are mated pairs of some varieties whose 
sex is not easily determined. 
FREE—With every shipment of Tropical Fish we send a pamphlet, 
“How to Care for Tropical Fish.” 
*The varieties of fishes that live together peacefully are marked 
(*) in the listing below. 
Live-Bearing Fishes 
From Mexico and Central America 
NEW RED SWORDTAIL. A new hybrid of breath-taking interest. 
Unlike the old type of Red Helleri, this new fish is a deep rich 
red of the striking beauty that has long been sought after. The 
male develops the long brilliant sword that is so interesting and 
desirable. This fish is rated by many noted aquarists as the mo t 
colorful live bearer now known, and we predict for it a future as 
brilliant as its beauty. $5 per pair. Limited supply available. 
ORANGE SWORDTAILS. Same as Mexican, with orange colored 
tail. $1.25 pair; $5.50 dozen. 
CRESCENT SWORDTAILS (Xiphophorus rachovii). Black crescent 
at base of green tail. $1.50 pair; $6 dozen. 
RED HELLERI. See No. 36, page 41. Small: $2.50 pair; $10 dozen. 
Large: $3 pair; $12 dozen. 
GOLD HELLERI. Clear gold color. Males have swordtail. $2 pair; 
$8 dozen. 
BLACK HYBRID HELLERI. Black body, blue scales on head; 
yellow eye. $2 pair; $8 dozen. 
Unusually interesting in that they do not spawn but give birth to 
living young. 
RED HYBRID HELLERI. See No. 8, page 40. Black body, red and 
yellow scales ; yellow eye. $2 pair; $8 dozen. 
CARE AND FEEDING OF FISHES 
F ISHES in the pool will do 
better if fed three or four 
times a week with such 
foods as are suggested 
below. 
When fishes are kept 
in the aquarium proper 
feeding of both goldfishes 
and tropicals is impor¬ 
tant. The best foods to 
use are those we offer on 
page 46. Feed according 
to the following sugges¬ 
tions : 
Goldfishes should be fed about three times a week, vary¬ 
ing their diet with Tricker’s Dried Shrimp, In-nur-co, Fish 
Vim, Tonic Food, or angle worms when available. Do not 
feed goldfishes any more than they will clean up in ten to 
fifteen minutes, for they are soon killed by over-eating. The 
morning hours are the best for feeding goldfish. 
Tropical Fishes. While the danger of over-feeding is always 
imminent, it seldom occurs to those keeping tropical fish that 
a similar danger is present from under-feeding. The effect of 
over-feeding is usually sudden and disastrous, while under¬ 
feeding claims its victims by stealth. 
Good healthy tropical fish are possessed of ample appetites 
and should be fed as much as their appetites call for—three 
times a day if it is convenient, should be the rule of the fish 
fancier. 
Without the proper amount of food, fish cannot grow nor¬ 
mally, nor can they accumulate a sufficient reserve of nour¬ 
ishment to produce spawn and if the shortage of food is 
severe enough, they will eventually starve the same as any 
other creature. 
Adult tropical fishes should be fed with Tricker foods 
such as Lacto-Pep, Dried Shrimp. Dried Daphniae, Fish Vim, 
Tonic Food or occasional Enchytrae Worms. They will not 
over-eat but should not be fed more than they will clean up in 
fifteen minutes. Young tropica’s should be fed a small amount 
of Tricker’s Baby Hygiene Food, two or three times a day. 
Fish need extra oxygen to help digest their food and aid 
metabolism. Some oxygen is liberated by plants in the aqua¬ 
rium during daylight hours, but at night the process is 
reversed—the plants absorb the gases. Hence, artificial il¬ 
lumination lengthens the growing period and stimulates 
aeration. See page 45 for mechanical aeration. 
IMPORTANT—See that no food is left in the aquarium 
as it will spoil and pollute the water. Better feed the right 
amount or draw off all excess food. 
When Winter Comes 
Goldfish in outdoor natural ponds can be left there in 
winter. They may also be left in artificial pools if the pool 
is deep enough or sufficiently protected to keep the water 
from freezing solid. The ice must be broken frequently so 
that the water does not become foul. It is best, however, to 
move the fish indoors into a glass aquarium. 
Tropical fishes should be kept over winter in an aqua¬ 
rium. They should be removed from outside pools before 
temperature falls below 60 degrees. They will thrive in a 
room with a temperature of 70 degrees. An electric aquarium 
heater, as listed on page 44, will help keep your tropicals 
safely, when emergency heating is necessary. 
We Will Help You 
In case of unusual trouble with your fish ask us about it, 
telling all details. Our research department keeps posted on 
remedies for fish diseases, breeding methods, and proper 
feeding. We will be glad to help whenever needed. We send 
free pamphlets on the care and feeding of fishes. See page 
31 for list of helpful books. 
The Balanced Aquarium 
The aquarium should be large enough for growing plants 
in the water to balance the fish life. A well balanced aqua¬ 
rium has plant life to provide oxygen, and the water is never, 
or rarely, changed. Snails and clams will keep the aquarium 
clean and the only care needed is the daily feeding. For best 
results, aquarium plants should receive good strong light but 
not direct sunlight. The action of sunlight upon organic 
matter in the water forms a minute vegetable growth known 
as algae, which is a green slime-like substance that is often 
seen in aquariums. Besides forming this undesirable growth, 
sunlight warms the water and drives cut much of its free 
oxygen content which is so essential to vigorous fish life. 
The rule for gold fish is a gallon of water, or 20 sq. in. 
of water surface, for each inch of fish. If less, a part of the 
water should be changed when fish gasp at the top. In 
small aquariums change the water frequently according to 
the size and the number of fishes. 
Tropical fishes will stand small and even crowded quar¬ 
ters and will thrive in well planted aquariums perfectly at 
home, will set up family life, and raise young. 
We recommend the purchase of at least one hook on ornamental fishes. See Books, page 31. 
PAGE 38 
