Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-04-07
OUR AQUARIUM.

y
globe filled with water aud the brilliant
gold fish swimming about in it. While
some may call that an aquarium and
feel content Herewith, you must not
count me among the number. The water
in the globe must lbe changed, or the fish
will speedily die, but in the true aquari-
um, constructed on the grand principles
in accordance with which the lakes and
ponds are ever filled with living creatures,
this is not necessary.
The water with which we commence,
may remain in the tank rs long as it
suits our convenience, be it year, or
longer, our only need being to replace,
from time, the water which has passed off
into the atmosphere as vapor, just as the
spring on the lake margin supplies with
its bubblng water that which the sun
has drawn off to form the clouds.
Our aquarium must be true lake in
miniature; the water must be as sweet
and clear as that of the crystal lake; the
plants must grow as luxuriantly as in
their native ponds; and the fish, whose
active forms we shall never tire of watch
ing, must feel-in the broadest meaning
of the phrase-dt home
limo one had travelled over the same
path we propose to try, the attainment
OF the above conditions might prove diff
cult but thanks to those who have lived
before us and given us hints from their
experiences, we are soon able to start
out feeling assured of success.
Fish, like men, must have air,-good,
pure, fresh air, rich in DEMONSTRATING
oxygen. You know how badly you feel
ifyou are shut up long in a very close
room, when the fire and the lights are
adding their poisonous yapors to the bad
air you are continually breathing out OF
your lungs. Every breath YOU take con-
tains less of the oxygen, and unless fresh
air is brought into the room, your head
will ache, and you may finally die, like
the men who were shut up in the small
dungeon in Calcutta, about which you
have doubtless heard. Just so it is with
the fish. The water must be kept rs pure
and full ofoXygen for their use Is the air
is for ours. | cannot say whether the fish
feel head ache when the water becomes
foul, but know they Immediately show
they think something is wrong They
come up to the surface in frantic sort OF
wriggling way, and take in little grlp
of air; then they seem to feel little better
like fainting persons when they taste the
cool water and feel the refreshing fam
breeze.
If the water is very foul, even repeated
excursions TO the surface and gulps of
air, will not keep our inny iavorites
alive, and they will be seen to grow
weaker and weaker, until they can no
longer keep their true position in the
water, but will stagger and roll, and
finally turn on their backs and float dead
upon the water.
| will tell you what happened to me
last summer. had been to beautiful
little brook well stocked with wonders
for the aquarium, and had procured a
number of fine fish, from one to three
inches long. Reaching home they were
placed in large jar Of water,a the aqua
rum was not yet ready to receive them.
The water in the jar was changed several
times, but, Notwithstanding, the second
morning when | came down stairs
and looked at the jar,I saw TO my dismay
twelve fish floating dead on the sur
face-only one small one remained alive.
knew the law, but had not been partic-
ular enough in my observance OF ii. The
dead fish were speedily removed. and the
living orfe which showed evident signs OF
distress, as described above, was placed
in vessel of fresh water, when he al
most instantly recovered all his activity
and he is now swimming as happily as in
his moss-banked brook, although the
water has not been changed since he en-
tered it.
The air needed by the fish must be
supplied by plants, and therefore you
will see the necessity of procuring the
most suitable kinds, namely, those which
will give out the most air to the water
| shall not give the names of those plant:
but only the general principle that mus
guide you in your selection.
You will notice, on looking into a pond
certain very green plants growing en-
tirely beneath the surface. At first sigh
you may think they have been grow
ing on the edge Of the pond and The
water has riser so as to submerge them
but another examination will convince
you that they are entirely different
from the plants growing on the bank
Some seem to grow in tufts like threads
around slender rising stem, and if yol
push them gently you will notice bub