Evening star., 1933-01-19
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

| fishes which like to feed OF the bottom,
these fallen grains swell up, and In
some instances send forth a crop Of
small white hair-like processes, giving
them the appearance Of white heads Of
dandelion seed.
The question Is. then, how much food
to feed?
The truth Is that no matter how little
one puts in, a certain amount will fall
to the bottom. It Is amusing to read
the directions on the various cans and
containers Of the various tropical fish
| foods.
One says feed the fishes a "trifie."
The next recommends pinch" An
other says "mouthful." whatever that
may be.
Once a day, in the morning, after
daylight, is enough. It Is felt by some
observing fanciers that all the tropical
fishes feed with more gusto in full
t, light. Darkness cuts down their ability
to handle their food, they say, believe
1t or not.
Personally, we have never noticed any
difference; the fishes seem as greedy
one time Of day as another, and it Is
right here that the main warning to all
newcomers in this pleasant hobby Is to
be given:
Feed 'em so little daily that you are
| ashamed OF yourself.
The temptation to increase their ra-
tions Is almost irresistible.
Every one taking up this indoor rec
reation is fond Of animals, that goes
without saying. What some of the fish
culturists do in the interest Of their
pets Is almost beyond belief. They
wade In icy pools in order to get for
them certain types Of minute insects
They sit up with their sick fish and
count no labor too strenuous If 1t helps
their friends Of the tanks.
Perhaps many lobbyists will not 20 to
this extent; they will feel that their
fishes must get along on dry food the
best they can.
We have not made up our mind yet
whether they can get along Indefinitely
on dry food, but, If they can, 1t will
not be one, but several, and one and
all must be fed with perfect niggard-
liness.
All types Of manufactured fish foods
are concentrated. Indeed. they ap-
proach the "rations" which mankind
has attempted to evolve for itself in
times of war. whereby man might be
fed on . tablet, and yet be properly
nourished.
Foods are so concentrated that little
of them will 60 long way with fish,
especially II It can nibble off plants in
the tank. and perhaps eat some of the
algae adhering to the inner sides Of
the glass.
1t has been said often enough that
| it is better to feed too little than too
much. and most amateurs are willing
to believe this, but too many Of them
never stop to find out for themselves
what "too little" and too much" mean.
| Each phrase. in any case, will mean
SO little food that the feeder will be-
come ashamed of himself, and feel that
he is starving the helpless creatures
under his charge.
The temptation Is great to give them
a nibble here, a nibble there. but it
should be resisted. both for the sake of
the fish and Of the water, co-existing
one depending upon the other for its
| condition, at least in part.
Just how much Is too little" and
how much too much" and especially
how much is "just right" will have to
be left, in the last analysis, to the dis
cretion of each individual fancier.
One thing he may be certain Of Is
that 1t will be great deal less than he
thought. TOO little" will be about
nothing at all, "too much" quite tiny,
and lust right" Just right.