The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-25
SOME STRANGE FISHES.
Peculiarities of Recent Importes
tions from Japan.
The Paradise Fish Its, Growth and
HRbits-CARnibaIlstic Tendencies Of
the Mother rIsh-How IL should
BE Cared For.

Recently some very curious nest
building fishes have been import ell To
this country from japan, where they
have been dOmesticated for many cen
turies The people of the miltado's en-
pire seem always 10 have been addicted
70 keeping fnpy creatures as pets. says
an exchange. They may be said to
have created the goldfish and the silver
fish by propagatiug 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 fms and
other Peculiaritics of high value in the
market. Left TO themselves the gold
fish and the silvcrfish revert within
few generations 70 their pristine dull
ness of tint and commonplace form,
and because they have been cared for
SO long they are no moro able 70 look
out for themselves when liberated than
canary birds are
Unlike goldfish, says the Chicago
News, the newly imported paradise
fish" breeds in confinement. 30 which ii
seems TO be much better adapted being
very tame, surprisingly intelligent and
requiring no change Of water IN the
globe or aquarium, save a sufficient a.
lowance 60 make up for evaporation.
However, 10 Is chiefly remarkable for
it's nest-building habit At the time OF
mating, the male, which Is ordinarily
- Irrfl ell
stripes Of red, blue and green, its ven
trial fms showing streaks 81 bright
est orange. When the female - about
lay her eggs, he makes a nest at tho
bottom Of the water, composed entirely
of air bubbles. For this purpose he
swallows air and ejsctA II IN ths shape
OF bubbles, which are held and made
permanent by glutiRous capsules from
a secretion In the mouth of the fsh.
Thus n mass Of them Is got together.
When the female hays hsr eggs she
would devour them Immediately. but
the male will not permit her 70 do 20.
He takes them IN his mouth, and, going
beneath the nest, elects them, when
they rise and hnd a resting place among
the bubbles. Or. HomRtineA, he viii
conduct his mate under the nest, 50 that
the eggs as She lays them viii ascend
and lodge in the neat The laying be
ing concluded and ali the eRgB disposed
Of in this manner be keeps guard At the
nest. not allowing the female 70 sp-
proach Il and even attacking her fierce
II If she attempts % do 40. Al the same
time be occupies himself continually ia
making fresh bubbles 10 take the place
Of those which burst. and st intervals hs
spouts streams q air around the nest,
apparently ,or the purpose of keeping
il thoroughly aerateo-
After about Eve DAYS, during which
this performance IS kept up. the young
are hatched out They cannot swim,
but cling like litt.e tadpoiss 70 the
bubbles. II one falls % the bottom. "a
happens every now and thsn.ths papa
fish darts after Il. takes - IN his mouth
and conveys 10 benrath The nest, and
then disgorges it among The bubbles
again Thus ha continues 20 take car-
Of h!s offspring for several weeks, until
they are able - iDok cot 'or Themselves.
They grow fat Ia a glDDe sud attain
length q about three or four inches Care
uaus. Be taken that the parable fisk -
not exposed - cold, which readily kills
them. where's the goldfish - I'D - -
20 hardy iu 'hls respect tuzt it ~tli -
cover health and animation Aft~r hav-
ing been frezen IN ic@ Thee anuY
neat bal l1rrs seeEH - - ~zcitsiysly
caruiyoro1s. clipped angi%-orrns tsing
a
they are not oDtaiuab.-, raw be~f cut
fine Any taue.er can procure a pair 20
order i ar has them uot iu stock. auf
taeT wall breed rsPid ?. Pro12-lnz hat
q dozen bT0,1a ye4T.