Evening star., 1932-10-19
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

| of sand, some plants, I'LL the tank with
water, and then put the animal life in
Immediately.
An advice of perfection. but one
which should be observed. Wait at least
week, or until such time as oxygen
bubbles arise naturally from the plant
life. Experts claim that water plants
give of oxygen only under the influence
Of light and none at all at night.
X X X
Impatience one of mans oldest faults,
will hurt his pet fish here.
These bright beggars need oxygen to
, breathe. If they cannot get 1t in the
water, they will have to get 1t out OF
air.
But If they stick their noses out OF
water too long, their gills would tend
to dry up, and so suffocate them.
Fortunately for them the fish refuse
to let this happen.
No matter how long a time they
stand on their tails, with their heads
at the surface Of the water-an atti-
tude all too common in fish bowls" and
other aquaria-they will 60 down again
in defense of the wetness Of their trusty
gills.
Our belief, from some personal ex-
perience, is that tub goldfish should be
permitted to stay outdoors until at least
a week, or even longer, after the indoor
aquarium is planted.
Unless this is done, the owner will
find himself forced to remove about
half the contents of the tank every day
preferably in the evening, in order to
give his charges sufficient oxygen.
Now this Is a nuisance, and besides
1t means constant interference with the
natural processes going on in the tank
II the change is deemed necessary, how
ever, the water used for replacement
should be placed in a vessel large
enough to hold 1t all, so that it may be
held therein until it has had time to
come to room temperature.
All the books discussing this matter
lay stress on this necessity. Some
claim that the addition of water much
colder than that in the tank tends to
cause fungus, among the worst enc mics
of the goldfish.
Lack Of light and insufficient plant
life are the other causes given for un-
healthy and therefore unhappy fish.
Men can see plainly, and admit, the
prime relationship between health and
happiness among the creatures.
1t would seem that the amateur
aquarium fan" had better make the
mistake of giving his tank too much
light, especially at first, since it is the
light which causes the plants to grow
and to give of oxygen.
1t is the light, too, which evidently
keeps down the growth OF fungus
Plenty Of light does not mean sun
shine. however, as most people know
who have ever peered at bowl of fish
oy, rIor 70
Somehow. fish bowls go better on
parlor tables than on living room
tables.
Keeping goldfish, however, is no Vic
torian sport. 1t is Just as modern as
catching fish
The big thing seems to be to get the
plants in sufficient numbers to give of
plenty Of oxygen.
II too many are put m. they can be
weeded out later. but particularly at
first plenty Of them viii be q help,
rather than hindrance.
There seems to be great deal of
confusion among writer's and experts"
on the placement of aquariums. (This
is the English plural, better for every
day usage than "aquaria." the Latin)
Some say not to give them too much
light, others stress the danger Of not
giving them enough. Some even de-
clare that shades should be made for
all sides. in order to permit them to
get light only from the Top, In the nat
ural way.
Evidently personal experimentation
is the way out. especially for the tub
gardener who wants to carry his gold
fish through until next year Too much
light, rather than too little, is our
motto. both for fish and for human
beings