Evening star., 1948-10-23
This and That
CharlessE. Trace,peH q


Bringing tie guppies indoors from the garden
pool is a.job that should have been done long
ago.
It means that the householder Is going to
have bright source of interest all during the
cold months.
1t depends upon him. however, more than
upon the tiny fish.
Good tank management, in other words.
Though guppies are the hardest Of all aqua
rum inmates not even excepting the humble
goldfish, they need the aid Of human brains
when they are crammed two deep in o little
water.
As many as hundred may be kept in two
gallons or even less, provided the management
is adequate.
cleaner looking than glass OF freshly drawn
water, and the fish will be happy and active.
**&
Management does it.
1t is not so much something to talk about
as to do.
The fine man who said, "Do something right.
or do something wrong, but for Gods sake, do
something" was not talking about aquarium
management.
He was thinking about soldiers and men in
action.
In aquarium management it is much better
to do nothing at all than to do something
wrong.
Doing the right thing, at the proper time. Is
essential.
It is the only way to get that bright look in
the tank, the look which means the inmates
are healthy, the look which makes guests
exclaim, How beautiful"
1t always amazes people who have not had
the personal experience to find that tank
may run for months without changing the
water
Water changes used to be everyday routine
with goldfish.
That was because no one, in the old days,
except q few persons here and there, realized
that by the aid Of plants. tank may be made
into a little slice Of the universe.
Sand, water, fish and plant life, and oxygen
These are the elements that must be kept
balanced. They add up to life and health, or
suffering and death, just as they are controlled.
Human living has exactly the same problem.
but in no such limited scope, and often without
such drastic results.
Human beings often are q long time sue
cumbing, whereas mismanagement in an
aquarium will result in cloudy water, sick plants
and dying fish.
Too much food, too much light, too many
| fishes
| These are some of the troubles met with,
| plus water too cold.
A constant temperature of SO degrees Is best
| for guppies.
Too much swing, up and down, tends to cause
| fungus and other troubles.
A small replacement of water, now and then,
as it evaporates, Is all that is needed in the
| good tank
Too much food is easy to give, since 1t is
| very small, and because the guppies are very
| greedy.
| Balance air, food, light, plants, water and
animals, one against the other.
Get this mental idea into the head, as a
| necessity, and the physical management of the
| guppy tank becomes comparatively easy and
| pleasurable.
Plenty of plants will give the baby guppies a
! chance to hide from their parents during the
| all-important first two weeks
There are larger aquarium fishes, but few
that give as much interest as the little guppies.
They may be calledthe standard tropical aqua
RUM fish. They do best by.themselves, although
| a few other species may be kept with them, il
one desires. Just guppies, however, is enough.
One will soon find that no two are exactly alike
either In appearance or character. It is always
amazing to many people to discover that fish
can have personality.