Evening star., 1934-06-12
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEWELL.

Summer sees no end to the amateur
aquarist's heating troubles.
Such q temperamental season as the
present offers a problem to the home
aquarium keeper with q number Of
tanks of tropical fish.
These creatures are not delicate ex-
cept in one respect, that of tempera-
ture. 1t is best to keep most of them
between u to 78 degrees, the less
huctuation the better.
If a single fixed temperature of
water were to be selected it would
probably be rs degrees. Most aquarists
would agree that this, Is ideal II it
could be kept unswervingly.
When Summer temperatures soar,
however, it is impossible to keep the
tanks at such q perfect figure.
When cool spells arise the tempera-
ture will go down to a less degree.
upon occasion. If the spell lasts. even
to the danger point Of 70 degrees.
AS pointed out in the current issue
OF the Aquarium, tropical fishes can
not fairly be called delicate except
In regard to the temperature at which
they must be kept.
The abuse they must stand In
transportation before they ever see a
fancier's tank forever puts them out
OF the delicate class.
Any one who has ever collected our
wild native fishes knows that these
animals cannot stand one-half the
handling that the miniature tropical
fishes do.
What the latter cannot and will not
tolerate, however, is too low a tenn
perature. since most of them come
from tropical climes where the water
temperature Is constantly above a Ger
tain mark
1t is amazing how quickly a tank
OF water can lose Its heat, unless il
is very large one. We speak of
90 and 100 gallon tanks, which few
homes possess, not only on account of
their size and the difficulty of working
them into the decoration of average
rooms, but also on account of the
damage they would do in case of ac-
cidental breakage.
Most fanciers' tanks range from a
few gallons up to is, 20 and Is GAL
Ions. The most popular size is the
standard 1O-gallon affair. while many
o-galion tanks are used, as well as
smaller ones for special cases.
All OF these tanks lose heat readily
in a cool spell during the Summer.
Perhaps there is no real danger, at
least there would be none, If it we're
not due to the well known fact that
during such spells the interior of a
house becomes damp and clammy,
striking the average human being as
colder than outdoors"
This drop in room temperature
means that the tanks will 20 down in
about the same degree. since they keep
right along with the room temperature
In Summer. there being little real
cold to come in at the windows as
in Winter, when tanks will drop lower
than room heat upon occasion.
1t may come as matter OF sur
prise to some readers to know that
certain fish fans" of Washington
land no doubt of other cities) will put
on their furnaces in the middle of
Summer. during such cool spells. in
order TO keep their precious fishes
warm enough.
Comparatively little heat is needed !;
and ii does not feel at all uncom-
Portable to the human residents OF
the house. eitheri
The ardent fish fancier will not
mind the smiles Of his acquaintances,
If at the same time he Is keeping his
A. 80 49, a. fn1,
they have been accustomed.
One Of the common delusions Of the
amateur fish keeper. when he takes
up the tropicsls, Is that all this talk
about keeping them warm is bosh. that