Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-17
FISH THAT BE ODD
PecuIiarities Of Recent Impor-
tatlons From Japan.
CARE OF STRANGE FISH
TIE Paradise Fiza, It's Growth and
Habits-cznnibaiisre Tendencies
Of the Mother Fish.

Recently some very curious nest
building flslies have been imported 70
this country from Japan, where they
have been dozaestieatcd for many cen
tsiries- The people OF the Tnikaao's en-
pire seem always % have been addicted
O. keeping fnny creatures asp pets. says
an exchange. They may be said 20
have created the goldfish and the silver
fish By propagating carefully selected
freaks from common carp. In this way
not only did they originally produce
the brilliant hues which now adorn
these fishes. but by breeding for such
points they have obtained the varieties
with triple tails, exaggerated fins and
other peeuliarities OF high value in the
market Left 70 themselves the gold
fish and the silverfsh revert within a
few generations 70 their pristine dull
ness OF tint and commonplace form.
and because they have been cared for
80 long they are no more able 20 look
out for themselves when liberated than
canary birds are.
Unlike goldfish. says the Chicago
News. the newly imported paradise
Ash" breeds IN confinement, 10 (Which il
seerns 70 be much better adapted. being
very tame, surprisingly intelligent and
requiring no change OF water in the
globe or aquarium, save sufficient al
lowance to make up for evaporation.
However, it is chiefly remarkable for
its nest-bnilding habit. At the time of
mating. the male, which is ordinarily
OF dGlEsllver hue, exhibits brilliant
stripes OF red. blue and green, its ven
tral ms showing strealzs OF bright
est orange. When the female is about
lay her eggs, he makes nest at the
bottom Of the water, composed entirely
Of air bubbles. For this purpose he
swallows air and elects il in the shape
OF bubbles, which are held and made
permanent BY glutinous capsules from
a SECRETION in the mouth of the fish.
Thus a mass of them IS got together.
When the female lays her eggs she
would devour them immediately, but
the male viii not permit her TO do so.
He takes them in his mouth, and, going
bs-neath the nest, elects them, when
they rise and find a resting place among
the bubbles. Or. sometimes, he will
conduct his mate under the nest, 80 that
the eggs as she lays them viii ascend
and lodge in the nest The laying be-
1ng concluded and all the eggs disposed
OF in this manner he keeps guard at the
nest. not allowing the female to APP
proach il and even attacking her fierce
" IL she attempts to do 50. At the same
time be occupies himself continually in
making fresh bubbles 20 take the place
Of those which burst, and at intervals he
sDouts streams Of air around the nest
apparently for the purpose of keeping
SC thoroughly serated-
After about five days, during which
this performance is kept up, the young
arc Matched out They cannot swim
but cling Ike little tadpoles 10 the
Bubbles II one falls TO the bottom, a:
happens every now and then. the papa
fish darts after it. takes il in his mouth
and conveys it beneath the nest, an6
then disgorges il among the bubbles
again. Thus he continues TO take care
Of his offspring for several weeks. until
they are able to look out for themselves
They grow fast in a globe and attain a
length Of about three or four inches. Care
must &c taken that the paradise fish be
not exposed 70 cold. which readily kills
them. whereas the goldfish Is said 70 be
30 hardy IN this respect that il viii re
cover health and animation after hav
ing been frozen in ice. These fnny
ncst-builders seem 20 be exclusively
earnivorous, chopped angleworms being
the most suitable diet for them. or. i
they arsnot obtainable. raw beef cut
finc. Any fancier can procure 4 pair &c
.--ecdcr. IL he has them not in stock. anc
they viii breed rapidly, producing hal
q dozen broods year.