Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-01-04
(
OUR BOYS 5
w" 9
and GIRLS 5
81 to4o+o+c4 o+O+o+ CfC,
HOME AQUARlUhS

When selectna an aquarium for
home use. Il is well to heed the ad-
vice of nr { H. Townsend, director
OF the New York aquarium, Who rs
supplied practically every public
school in the city with balanced aquar-
inms.
Globes are wor. HESS" declare. nr
Townsend, Good results cannot be
expected from them. because tha
amount OF water surface exposed 10
lie air IS TOO small, In a balanced
aquarium the more water surface TX.
posed % the air the better
The aquarium should ts placed
where the amount OF light reaching II
can be well controlled \ north win.
dow is beat, an east window will Go
Sunlight should not often De alIowt j
~ fall directly on it.
In balanced aquarium the water
should not be changed at all In fact.
il 10 better nIthouf any addit,Ca Other
nan what is required to replace what
IL lost by evaporation. Water should
in the room with the aquarium long
enough to acquire The same teInpera.
tare.
The temperature OF balanced
aquarium should be kept steady. not
Using above 70 nor falling below 40
A temperature Of from 50 to 50 de
srees il best and should not be allow.
ed to vary.
There should not be too many ami
mails in ar aquarium. Two or three
ANAL gold iishes 10 each gallon of Wa
ter IL Bats rule to 90 by,
"AQuariu s ms e Wholly ~ cla
have the advantage Of n ta20lu y
~ water tight while they remain in
sound condition, whereas the Joints o.
metal framed aquariums often leak,
THE plants NAV Ae anchored -
packing their roots in The sand or by
having small piece Of soft lead wraG
red just above the roots. The plants
should he thic,dr placed ~ they tend
to mass nj tine top Of the aquarium,
!eaviar fire. space below for She Fishes
The beginner viii do we'll 10 select
more than ONE variety OF these plants.
say he decides to begin with tTo
Kinds, tapegraes and rondwccd The
first viii thrive entirely submerged,
2hiie The other has broad leaves that
float on the surface. Besides those
there are many native species that
nay he secured in almost any pond
when it comes 70 stocking an aqua.
rum he beginner should start as SiNl-
ply as oszble with only the cowmot-
er and harder fish. Carp and the or
binary gold fish known as commons
are undoubtedly the best for the he
sinner who is within reach o. deala'.
Almost any of the native fish may
ha easily kept Catfish are perhaps toN
hardest. Our local fishes should b.
studied much more than they are. 1t
does seem strange that so many peo'
PIE are satisfied to keep ordinary gold
fish when there is at hand an abun-
lance of attractive native fish ri more
lively habits and graceful form.
There are many animals besides
fish adapted TO the home aquarium.
.adpoles in addition to their interest
ing habits are useful. Both the mue
puppy and the common spotted water
newt are interesting as well as grace
full.
young turtles are favori;cs with
children. or these the soft shclled or
fresh water leather turtle is perhap-
tie most desirable, though 1t must
have loose sand In which 1t occasion.
ally burics itself. When other yariet-
les OF turtles are used float should
be provided for them to climb cut on.
"Fish, like other animals in captiv-
ity, should be given only as much foot
az they will clean up. It is necessary
to take steps TO prevent an accumu,
iation of waste. The usual method is
hy the introduction Of some animal
that will act as scavenger. A tadpois
or fresh water snail is generally used
for this purpose Either Of these under
ordinary circumstances, will clean Up
all particles of waste food and decay
&c vegetation. New York Sun.