The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-01-19
SOME STRANGH FISHES.
Pssufiaxitiss Of Recent fmporta-
lions nom Japsm.



building fishes have been import ed to
this country from Japan. where they
have been domesticated for many cen-
turiea The people of tho mixado's' en-
pirs seem always to have been addic led
70 keeping finny creatures ~ pets, says
N exchange. They may be said 10
have created the goldfish and the silver
Ash by propsgating carefully selected
freaks from common carp. In this way
not only did they originally produce
me brilliant hues which new adorn
these fishes. but BY breeding for such
points they have obtained the varieties
With triple teils. exaggerated fns and
Sther peculiarities Of high value In the
market Left TO themselves the gold
ash and the silverhsh revert within
3sw generations 10 their pristine dull
ness Of tint and commonplace form,
and because they have been cared for
20 long they are no more able to look
cut for themselves when liberated than
s6nary birds are
Unlike goldfish, says tho Chicago
News, the newly imported paradise
fab" breeds in confinement, to which it
seems to be much better adapted, being
very tame. surprisingly intelligent and
requiring no change of water in the
globe or aquarium, save q sufficient al
lowance to make up for evaporation.
However, 1t is chiefly remarkable for
It's nest building habit. At the time OF
mating, tho male. which is ordinarily
Of . dull-silvcr hue, exhibits brilliant
stripes Of red, blue and green, it's ven
trsl fins showing streaks of bright
est orange. When the female ia about
lay her eggs, he makes . nest at tho
bottom of the water. composed entirely
Of air bubbles. For this purpose he
swallows sir and elects ~ in the shape
Of bubbles, which are held and made
permanent by giutinous sspsulss from
q secretion IN the mouth Of the fish.
Thus q mass Of them is got together.
When tho female hays her eggs sic
would devour them immedistely. but
tho male will not permit her 10 do So
He tnkcs them in his mouth, and, going
beneath the nest. elects them, whom
they rise and f1nd resting place among
the bubbles. Or, sometimes, he VIII
conduct his mate under the nest, so that
the eggs a. she lsys them win ascend
and lodge in tho nest. The laying be-
ing concluded and all the sgRs disposed
Of in this manner he keeps guard at the
nest, not allowing the female TO ep-
proach It and even attacking her fierce
ly II shc attempts to do 20. At the Same
time he occupies himself continually In
making fresh bubbles TO tal<e the place
Of those which burst, and at intervals he
spouts streams Of air around the nest,
apparently for tho purpose Of keeping
J. It thoroughly aeneted.
After about Ave days, during which
this performance 10 kept up, the young
arc Matched out. They cannot swim,
but cling like little sadpoles 10 the
bubbles. II ono falls TO the bottom, a
happens every now and then. the psps
: hsh darts after IT, takes IL in his mouth
and conveys IL beneath the nest, end
then disgorges II among the bubbles
again. Thus he continues 10 take care
Of his offspring Tor several weeks, until
they are able to look out for themselves
They grow FAST in globe and attain {
length Of about three or four inches. Carr
must be taken that tho paradise fish b.
not exposed to cold. which readily kill
them, whereas tho goldfish is.ssid to b,
20 hardy In this respect that il will re
cover health and animation after hsv
ing been froeen In ice. These fnnJ
nest-bui1der seem TO be exclusively
ssrnivsrous. chopped angleworms being
the most suitable diet. for them, or, i
they sse not obtainable. raw beef Gu
hns. Any fsnoier can procure . pair x
! order. II he has them not in sSool.. ans
they will breed rapidly, producing hal
l AogOa beoode q year. @