Evening star., 1933-11-25
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES z. TRACEWELL.

Some time ago this column con-
tanned an article about the small pop
uly tropical fish, the guppy, which
some readers were so good as to say
contained more real information thar
they had ever found in SO limited 9
space.
There was one important point, how
ever, which We were forced to leave
out at that time, and that Is that these
small fishes are enjoyed the most In q
tank by themselves. that they do best
that way, seem completely contented
and get the most out Of life.
A small aquarium OF guppieS, and
nothing but guppies, is totally free from
that air of boredom seen in SO many
so-called community tanks where many
different species are herded together
When full grown the guppy makes a
Eood inmate inn OF such tank. but to
owner better show for his money, II
must be in tank given over to it.
The full beauty of the all-guppy
aquarium will not be seen until the
tank becomes old, and several genera
tions live together.
Then it takes on the very air Of ar
established community OF human be-
irgs, with creatures of all ages. from
old age to babyhood. and all the steps
in between. living their little lives in
peace unknown to humanity.
There is beauty ana completeness
to this spectacle that Is unsurpassed
in the pleasant hobby Of keeping small
aquariums in the home.
Those who do not know 1t have
a nf nm tfnr hi q
tanks they have filled with Bettas, sail
fms and the like.
X X \ X
Liking for the all-guppy tank Is q
growth, just as the tank itself Is, II II
is to be right.
When one starts with guppies, he Is
rot likely to value them at their true
worth
They are among the many fine things
of this world which must suffer because
they are common and therefore cheap
If there were only few guppies. they
would be rated at many dollars apiece
but. since there are millions OF them,
they sell at a few cents each.
Compared with goldfish, they are
not bright: with a Beta in fighting
trim, not very colorful with a full
grown specimen Of Jack Dempsey,
very small. indeed.
Whatever point of superiority in q
fish for home culture one may bring up
almost any fish fan" can name another
variety which far outshines the humble
guppy
What then. is its charm?
1t lies chiefly. we believe, in the COM
plete and happy fish life which these
small animals seem to live. when all
By themselves, with the resulting salts
faction and happiness which this brings
to the human observer.
Here. as in other matters there is a
difference between just looking, and
real observation.
To glance at guppies in q tank at q
store Is one thing
To look at them after one has studied
closely the habits Of other home aqua
rum fishes for many months is quite
another.
That is why We say that liking for the
all-guppy tank, as for the fish itself, /.
a growth.
The typical fish fancier Is a conser-
vationist. to the nth degree, and then
some more
There are many professional conser-
vationists Of many things, but when II
comes to one who wishes to save, and
never to destroy. the typical fish fan
cier is your man.
Such an enthusiast will spend more
time trying to save q sick fish than
many human being would attempting
to cure another human.
He will be as interested in watching
the progress of the disease as any pro-
fessional doctor; his happiness at recov-
cry will be large, and his dismay a,