Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-02-07
THE CARE or GOLDFISH.
Suggestions as TO Their Food--Change of
Water Necessary.

Authorities differ greatly in regard
to the goldfish. There are those who
maintain that it can stand almost any
change of temperature: and instances
have been recorded in which a goldfish
found frozen in solid piece of ice has
so far recovered, on being gradually
thawed, as to swim about pond again
AS though nothing had happened. But
hardy as. in its natural state. one of
these little creatures may be, expert
ence has proved that once transplanted
to aquarium or globe. much of this
yigor is lost. 1t then becomes sesitiye
TO almost any change. Too much sun
Or heat of any kind will kill it. and
during thunderstorm a globe must
be removed from the window. and the
water changed almost Immediately.
Not only after a storm, but every
day as well. the water in the globe
should be changed. While doing this.
the fish should be carefully removed
with the hand and placed in basin of
water. a net being apt to injure the
scales, and so destroy their brilliancy
of color. While in the basin-and the
fish should remain there for half an
/ hour in order that the globe may be
thoroughly cleansed-they may be fed
with breadcrumbs or biscuit. In this
way the danger of having the water 10
the globe made impure by the bread be.
coming sour is avoided.
IL Is altogether wrong to suppose
that the water of the globe supplies all
the nourishment necessary to goldfish.
1t must have something to eat once
every day. II is quite satisfied with
bits of bread and biscuit-though it il
wise occasionally to vary this witt
duck-weed. lemma, aquatic plants, anC
small fry.
A branch of box ought to be placed
in every globe. against which a fist
may rub. and so rid itself of the slime
that collects and clogs its gills. The
globes should be large enough to ALLOW
free movement to the fish. In globe
of twelve inches in diameter only two
fish. each of four or five inches il
length. can live comfortably. Fo
three fish of that size the globe shoulC
be at least sixteen inches in diameter
A wide-mouthed globe is by all mean
best. and square or oblong tank
best of all. Efforts should be made t
introduce a small Jet of water into tn
globe or tank, thereby introducing
contant supply of fresh air, withou
which no fish can keep well; for waite
has the power to absorb a give
amount of atmospheric air. and a cul
rent of fresh water is in reality then
! current Of fresh air. Without this al
no fish can live. One that is health,
has power in its gills to extract this al
while under the surface of the water
A sure indication of disease in a fish
its constantly rising to the surface t
breathe.
l Another symptom Of disease is til
! languid undulating movement of th
; fish. the loss of brilliancy in color, an
the lying motionless at the bottom I
the globe. Such fish should be in
mediately removed from their fellow
and placed in basin of fresh runnin
water. Generally few days will e
feet a cure.
Keep the globe not more than fou
fifrhs filled with water. Let it stand
the coolest part of the ruom, near q
open window. Protect it from the su
OF all things have plenty of pure wat
and room.
In purchasing fish the greatest ca
should be taken. not only in regard
their being absolutely healthy, but all
that no fish from different localiti
should be compelled to live togethe
for fish. like almost all animals. di
like outsiders. The oldest inhabita
will always hunt stranger, sometim
even to death, just as one that is strcn
will destroy another that is sick.
In 1851 the first goldfish from Chi
arrived in England. Now they a
found everywhere; even in Porting
they abound so largely that yearly il
portations take place. When We
cared for, as at Hampton Court, tn
grow to an enormous size.-HarpeI