Evening star., 1934-12-17
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.

is Just another way Of leading Us
into doing what the creatures do IN
q more open and above-board way.
The animals don't know what they are
doing, mankind just pyetends to, that
is all.
The care of guppies is easy, but an
amazingly large number Of persons
do not seem to know how to handle
them.
In the first place, as to temperature.
While the guppies-the "u" Is pro-
nounced as in "cup"-can stand q
lower water temperature than most
tropical fishes, they cannot achieve
the impossible.
They come from lands where the
water seldom goes. lower than IS de-
grees. 1t may range 80 degrees higher
than that without undue discomfort
to the creatures, but lower tenn
perature soon ends their lives.
This must be remembered, especial
ly If one. two or three pairs happen
to be kept in tiny bowl, say pint
or quart container.
1t must be realized that such a
small amount OF water rapidly takes
on the temperature of the room,
whether high or low.
These, as any other tropical fish,
should not be kept In q room where
windows are opened at night. If
near a window, there should be some
covering at night.
If the bowl or tank Is very small,
particular care must be taken to
shield 1t from too much sun, as good
as sunshine is for the plants, because
the rays will heat up the water too
high.
1t will be necessary, then, for the
best care, to use thermometer, placed
in the bowl every now and then. to
see just what the water tempera-
ture is.
After a few tests and comparisons
of the results with room temperature,
some idea can be secured of the
suitability Of the location.
Just because guppies are common,
and cost little. is no reason why they
should not receive proper care. The
fact Is that the guppy is coming to
be more and more the flSh OF the
advanced fancier too.
An unbelievably large number OF
pairs have been sold for S. q pair
think OF that, all We who paid but 20
centsI These fancy specimens are
different, perhaps, but still nothing
but guppies."
No. the guppy is mighty fine little
fish
The first important item in their
care cannot be stressed too much for
the new owner. and that is that they
are not goldflshes, which like cool OF
cold water, but are truly tropical
fishes, and must have warmer water
Water at 10 degrees or rs degrees or
even 80 degrees is not really warm
1t just isn't cold.
The second big item to remember is
that another old goldfish superstition
is 'out." too, in regard to guppies.
This Is that the water ought to be
changed ever so often.
There is no need at all of changing
the water in the guppy bowl, il
proper feeding is INDUCED in, and II
the plant life in the bowl or tank
! really grows.
The great stumbling block comes in
putting too much food in, then the
residue pollutes the water. II the
fishes are fed only what they will eat
in 10 minutes, once a day, there will
be little to fall down, and even this
little will be eaten from the bottom.
Then the water will stay sweet and
clear, and win not need changing
Such water as is added from time tc
time must be tempered to the exact
temperature of that in the aquarium
If these few precautions are kept in
mind, guppies will live and thrive,
and be as lively and interesting as any
trODical fish under the sun