Evening star., 1936-07-15

relationship between plants, water and
fishes, and determine to give each fish
plenty of room"
This simple determination, If carried
out with intelligence, will solve many
of the problems which arise in fish
keeping.
No one is forced to keep EN-. Those
who do ought to resolve that they will
allow each goldfish kept at least one
gallon of water, and each tropical fish
at least half gallon of water.
This means that tank rated at five
gallons, but actually holding no more
than four gallons of water when the
sand and plants are in, will hold not
more than four average small goldfshes,
and not more than eight tropical Speci-
mems, if the latter are approximately an
inch long.
These standards are especially neces-
sary in Summer
The best temperature for goldfish is
between so and 10 degrees; for tropical
specimens, between IA and 78 degrees,
with some latitude allowed, depending
upon species.
1t will be realized at once that during
such periods as that of last week, in the
weather line, the water in tanks will 60
to at least 85 degrees.
This temperature is not harmful, even
to goldfiSheS, If they are not overcrowded,
and if other conditions are right.
These are rather large Ifs" of course
They mean, in average practice, that
the growing plants are enough, but not
too many; that these plants have enough,
but not too much, light; that the fishes
have a little bit more food than usual,
since the heat increases their metabol-
ism, but not enough left over to spoil
the water, the heat being what it is.
~ x
These are theories.
1t must be recognized that in practice
our tanks all too often are overcrowded.
If they are, what may be done to
help the fishes through the hot
weather?
The first thing is artificial aeration,
supplied through an electric or hand
operated air pump. The latter is the
cheapest and has many more uses than
usually realized. 1t also requires elbow
grease" or the compression of small
bulb by the hand.
1t will be found that this little device
is excellent for goldfish, which should
be given at least 100 puffs of the appa-
ratus per gallon of water after daylight,
when they suffer most from carbon
dioxide gas.
The overcrowded tropical fish tank
usually requires an electric pump of some
type. and bit of porous stone, through
which the air is blown, being thereby
broken into millions of fine bubbles.
These literally air-condition the water.
Cover glasses, universally used on
tropical fish tanks should be replaced
with screens during the Summer. Do
not use copper in any form. At least
the glass lids should be elevated on
small felt pads for the duration of the
heat.
Above all, care should be taken in
such hot weather to keep the rays of
the sun from striking the aquarium. Pull
down the shade!
A small bowl of goldflshes can reach
l20 degrees easily, if kept in the sun in
Summer. Especially people who must be
away all day should be sure the family
pet fish are not cooked before they get
home.
Playing the air from a small electric
fan across the surface of the water for
a time has been advocated in tropical
fish circles.
All these devices, however, would be
needless # home aquarium keepers
would stick to the theoretical rules re-
garding the amount of fish life per
gallon of water.