The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
T4RIy1 cane or III" FISHES.
Patience Often Required to Keep Them IN
Condition.

A subject Of constant thought, to those having
the care Of the Aquarium stock, like the
Aquarium IN New York is as TO the manner in
which the fishes and other creatures are feed.
ing hs a general proposition Ash with good
appetite is in better health than one that Is shy
Of food Every effort is made TO keep up the fishes
Gppetites, and To give them what they want 10
eat This often involves personal attention
10 individual fishes. such Is fishes in good health
but blind. Ailing, sensitive or languid fishes
are induced II possible to cat suitable food in
sufficient quantity 10 keep up their strength and
bring them into a state Of health and content
ment II might not be that the men who had tho
welfare Of the fishes at heart would feel toward
them as 10 their feeding, as a mother does to-
ward her children. but their feeling would in
respects resemble it,
So far as the fishes are concerned there are
some al oas; that sc, about the same care that
children would Take for instance, at the Aqua
rum, that ugly creature, the green moray. com.
monty called the sea serpent The green moray
is seven ice, long plenty big enough to keep ITSELF
which. however. 1t practically never does Tho
big baby has had its food pu, into its mouth for it,
since the dav 1t came into the Aquarium now
more than four months ago But nobody objects
TO feeding 1t in that way; in fact they are mighty
glad to feed II So II that's the way the
serpent wants 10 he fed, All they ask
Of the serpent is, that II will ga! in some
way. I he green moray ~ fed mostly on cod
fish and herring this food being cut into strips
OF convenient size for II to take into its mouth
and to swallow. \ piece 81 this fish Is implacd
loosely on the pointed end Of a slender wooden rod.
which is then thrust down under the surface, tho
tip with the food upon H. being moved gently
about in the water. II the serpent is hungry II
Tcnrs its hcal and raises. like a name, it's long
dnrsal FIN. which extends tire length of its body.
II il is hungry II Tcars its head and rises To the
food with It's bis deep iawri mouth open, and
into the open mouth the tOod Is put, being gently
discngngcd from the end Of the stick upon which
II was carried down tolt The strip may be- placed
crCSSwiSc ui the murnv'S Jaws, and extending a
little either side that II will be less likely to
spill il out and sometimes II is pla cod fairly within
the mouth, resting lcngthwiSe IN tho cavity ~ tho
lower jaw. II is always placed in tho mouth in
some WAY.
Then the serpent may swallow II. and eat in
succession. two three. half dozen pieces: IL may
ba that he doesn't cat any: that he Just holds
that first piece in his mouth, a few second OF
on the bottom ~ the tank, While he eats more
on some DAYS than on others. some days he
eats nothing NJ all Sometimes when he won't
eat at one hour he will at another. On DAYS when
nothing, tho last thing done nj night always.
nv the man under whose sr-"tal care the seas.
prnt falls, II is To go around and hand him down
the best piece 81 goldfish in the aquarium, and tn
give him chance OF getting bite oi something
10 cat II he wants II.
The green moray Just now Is eating very we'll
The siIc Of the pieces fed 10 him has been grad
ually Increased unit those now fod twice
big hs the pcc"s fed originally. ! he serpent
does not apparently note the difference but now,
in That much nutrr,ent as no formerly took
in eating two pieces This might Fccm 70 some
folks like rlavirg IL on the sea serpent just o
little bit, but il is done for the serpent's good