Evening star., 1947-10-03
This and That
By Charles E. Tracewelz
SIXTEENTH STREET.

SIXTEENTH STREET.
Dear Sir:
would you advise me to get a bowl of
guppies for my children?
Il have heard that these make excellent
pets and are able to stand winter weather.
Our family has never had anything in this
line except goldfish, all of whom died Quickly,
Perhaps we didn't know enough to raise them.
Let me know if the future holds anything
for us in the guppy line. I have always had
hankering for fish, but always imagined the
warmth problem was beyond me.
"Au that business of keeping them warm
sounded rather difficult and more trouble than
I wished to assume in wartime, but now that
fuel is more plentiful perhaps can do better.
Sincerely, M. L. S."
The guppy makes an excellent household pet.
Not only does it instill lessons in biology, but
1t has way of its own of being interesting
Some persons find it difficult to believe that
any fish can be interesting
They are willing to admit that dog, or even
cat, might win friends and influence people.
but that poor fish" can do likewise they
refuse to believe
They have much to learn. A fish has a
personality, too. It is a redblooded creature
and where you find red blood you find some
thing to interest human being.
In fact, the miniature world of the household
aquarium has many personalities.
Not only are entire tribes of creatures able
to win affection, but certain members of these
tribes can come to play an individual part in
the lives of sympathetic people.
For instance, there was big cichlid in a
local tank who so won the liking of the
members of the human family that kept him,
that tears were shed when, by reason of the
impossibility of handling him further, owing
to his size and strength, he had to be given
away.
jrIi fe1a
JACK dempsey, was lugged from one SUPER
large aquarium TO another and never failed
to leave deep impression on those who knew
him.
He was intelligent, above everything else.
After knowing him, no one could ever think
again that all fish were exactly alike or were
unworthy of serious consideration
Other cichlids, notable the angel fish, So
called, the fiat one with the feelers, prove to
be fish personalities.
The little guppy will stand more cold than
most tropical specimens
Because of his littleness, he will require only
small bowl of water.
Even a fruit jar will do at least for time
provided good aquarium management is used
AS rule, however nothing less than quart
of water should be used. The smaller, the
quicker the change in temperature overnight
Unless heat is kept up at night, some form
OF artificial heating must be used. An old
sweater may be draped over the aquarium, or
a small bulb left burning close to one end of
the tank.
This is no real trouble and prevents too
sudden change. The guppy stands much
but not too much; he comes from Trinidad,
where the nights are cool, the days hot; he
is used to change but no natural stream
cools off much overnight, whereas a few quarts
of water will.
Guppies stand much crowding and those
persons who have had difficulty with goldfish
probably will have success with guppies.
The goldfish needs at least one gallon of
water to one inch of fish, for the best results;
the guppy will stand to be crowded so to two
gallons, provided care is taken to keep out
excess food.
A leaf of spinach boiled for. one minute,
cooled and then suspended in the aquarium
by a string, makes an excellent salad for the
guppies
: These are adaptable little creatures and no
one should have any difficulty in giving them
fairly suitable substitute for their natural
habitat.