Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-15

CHAT WITH A FANCIER.
"Have you seen the latest society pets?''
asked well-known breeder of pet animals Of
STAR reporter few days ago. "Come inside,
I'll show them to you"
In one corner Of the room between monkey
on one side and cage Of South Carolina
hooking birds, TIE STAR man found large
tank filed with beautiful fish. There were
gold fish, silver fish, pearl fish, black fish,
white fish, in fact nearly every color of the
rainbow was represented.
Yes" said the fancier, ''these are the latest
society pets. People are looking once more
| with favor upon the beautiful little creatures
and it Is safe to say that before long they will
be found In most Of the fashionable drawing.
inhabitants OF . different element than that in
which the most familiar of our domestic ami.
mails live, IL sufficient to surround them with
interest. 1t is principally their great hold on
life and. the little care necessary to their we'll
being that makes them such desirable pets,
Can the gold Ash be tamedY'
.".Oh, yes; they soon learn their friends and
will come readily to the surface when called by
tapping on the globe"
Are there many varieties Of gold fsh?''
being the Telescope very odd-Iooking,
with a spherical body resembling a tadpole.
and covered with scales. The ewes are the
funniest thing about them" continued the
fsncier, 'they project forward and have the
appearance Of a telescope: 1t is from this the
cuturists who resort to peculiar means to make
the telescope larger. They place the fish in a
small dark glass vessel, which obliges the fish
to look constantly in one direction This is
one OF the rarest species of gold fish that
know Of.
BEAUTIFUL SPECIMEN.
Here is beautiful specimen" said the
fancier, directing the reporters attention to a
peculiar looking fish with a long flowing tail
This IL the fringe tail" he said, by way of ex-
PLANTATION. The little fellow was cutting through
the water without effort, and seemed to realize
that his means Of propulsion were greater than
any Of his fellow-beings. The body of the fish
Is short and egg-shaped, with long flowing
fringe-like tail. "A great many culturists con-
tend that the fringe tail is an offspring Of the
fan-tail," continued the fancier, -but dou't
think such IL the case. Here is a fan-tail."
Looking in another globe number of small
fish. with tails not unlike the fan-tail pigeon
vantage" said the fancier, ''they can't jump out
of the water, their tails are too big"
A Comet fish, near by, was being greatly adj
mired by . crowd Of curious ladies', while the
Hog-nose, the Ramnose. the Nymph, the Small
Blue, the Superb, the Moor, the Piebald, the
Ruby, the Elegant, and numerous other varie-
ties, were commented upon in turn.
THE AouARrUM.
'How large should an aquarium be for gold
fish to thrive2'
THAT depends upon the size of the fish, as
large ones necessarily require more space than
small ones. When the vessel in which you in
tend to keep the pets has been selected layer
Of well-washed river sand IL placed in it
and several varieties Of aquatic plants
selecting Che kind Of plants, and only
the best oxygenators should find place
in the aquarium. The vessel 10 then filed with
pure drinking water and fish introduced. A
couple Of tadpoles and snails should be put in,
as they destroy the decayed vegetable matter
fish should be gently placed in the aquarium
az sudden plunge often frightens
them and makes them sick. One fish
should have about q gallon of water in
the amount Of water number Of fish require.
Great care should be exercised in feeding.
Many people in their anxiety to give their pets
enough overfeed them. The feeding time
should be but once day and the food should
consist Of prepared fish food. A little beef or
an angle worm once in while improves them"
How often should the water in an aquarium
be changed?" asked the reporter.
when you notice the fish coming to the
surface to breathe 1t IL q sure indication that
soS VAy8V8 - oxuaubtSO anu u IIcou supply
necessary. Stirring the water 10 good plan,
but strongly advise fresh water. When there
are no plants in the aquarium the water should
be changed once week.
"You wouldn't believe It," continued the
fancier, but Ash are e. subject to disease as
people are"
"How can one tell when fish IL sick?" asked
TIE SrA1 man
when gold fish IL in perfect health the top
or dorsal I'm u carried fully expanded and
erect. The color Of the fish il clear, but when
the color seems dead and bloody streaks APP
pear through the body, or the Ans appear TO
have . coating, the health Of the fish il bad,
and, unless corrected, it will die. Most Of the
diseases Of the goldfish, however, are the re-
suit of ill-ttestmsnt Fish are subject TO con-
sumption" continued the fancier, aand when
one h 20 Affected II never survives. The dis
ease u catching, and when Q Ash IL 20 AZ
fectsd II should Be removed at once. Fish are
also subject TO dropsy, erysipelas and other
What ID the remedy for such cases?"
"When you discover Q sick 6sh take it out
and place Il IN Q tank which Il exposed TO the
sunlight and the temperature Of the water kept
ct about 10 degrees. Leave Of feeding for
:ome tine. Place several tadpoles and Snails
u With The Gick 6sh 10 destroy dead matter,
ana u httls while they win b. Ill right"