Evening star., 1933-09-30
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

| rardinus, and called Girardinus guppyi.
in honor of him who discovered" 1t.
The man in the street promptly dubbed
it "guppy."
A few years later live specimens were
introduced to the fish sancy" Of the
world. In those days (l908) a live
bearer was a seventh-day wonder.
Most persons thought that all fish
laid eggs. as perhaps most persons
think today.
The first "guppies" in America, there
fore, and especially the first guppy
babies, were a sensation.
Later 1t was discovered that the crea-
+, ture did not properly belong to the
Girardinus group at all, but to another
which ichthyologists termed "Lebistes." l"
So its name was made anew, this
time LebisteS reticulatus, the latter
Latin word referring to the netted ef-
feet Of the scales in certain light.
The world at large, however, went
right along calling the little fish
'guppy," and that Is its name today
among fanciers as well as among the
| laity.
| There can be little doubt that guppy
Is the permanent name, except among
specialists. there Is something so emf
| lleLLly ILLlIlS dUOUL IL, 81 kccHlIlk
with the animal itself.
It should be stated again that the
fancier will never see the guppy family
at its best except in sunny tank with
plenty of algae on the back end side
VIZ Is, and in old clear water.
| 1t can stand very low temperatures
for tropical fish, but it does better
with plenty of warmth, light and food
| Under such conditions the males en-
gage in their ceaselesS counting, curvet-
ting their bodies and dashing around
as II the influence of Hollywood had
permeated the watery world as well as
the mundane. 1t may be added that
neither sex appears to advantage In
photographs.
A local ichthyologist has set down
the maxim that guppies tend to
'standardize" themselves at per gal
lon and half Of water.
The truth is that they do nothing of
the kind-provided the tank in which
they are placed complies with the re-
QuirementS set forth above.
The writer here has at least so guppies
of all sizes in two-gallon rectangular
aquarium. There also are Brazilian
catfish and pair of Priscilla riddlei
This is happy family If you ever
saw one. The brown newborn babies
are so bold that they swim in all parts
of the tank, instead of sticking closely
to plant groups.
While such crowding cannot be rec
commended. 1t shows what can be done
with guppies If one is willing to con-
suit the fishes themselves as to what
they like in the way of food in variety
sunshine, clear old water and warmth
x :: = ::
The guppy is a fish which does better
by itself, and makes a prettier aquarium
that way rather than as a member OF
a so-called community tank" One
has to have a number OF gupples to-
gether before he sees this fish at Its
natural best.
The guppy is a clean little fish. II
does not dirty up its aquarium as does
the Medaka. or some of the Cichlids.
Once established. the guppy tank
goes right ahead presenting a colorful
interesting, really dashing picture to
! the world.
It will stand more abuse and neglect
than any other, and will show less dis
ease. Given sunshine and plants send
ing up oxygen, such disease as might
develop mostly cures itself. We had ar
old mother guppy getting film over
one eye during a rainy spell. but few
DAYS of sunshine cured her completely
B. all means. begin home fish culture
with the guppy. 1t is the standard. and
the best way, to start fascinating
hobby.