Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-27
This and That
BIZ Charles z. Tyaceueu

Biggest little hsh In the world Is the guppy.
At this time Of the year he is likely to show
up in many gift aquariuns.
What to do with him? The guppy Is Pc
culiarly the beginners fish because he is so
hardy and will survive much wrong manage
ment. Like a great many other things which
are SO good that they have become common and
cheap, this little fish suffers in the popular
mind because Of his good points Some at
tempts were made several years ago to use his
odd name to mean q man who Is not popular
with the ladies, but this effort failed, as 1t
deserved to fail.
The word "guppy'' still means the little fish
about an inch long originally found in Hon
duras. The male is q colorful and gtddy one,
the female q slightly larger silvery 1sh which
attends strictly to its duties Of living.
1t must be admitted that the male Puppy
attracts the most attention. He Is always SWIM
ming around, almost always in pursuit of the
ladies. and he Is quite colorful, in q mild sort
Of way. He Is little wolf" of the water. But
after one has kept and watched these creatures
for time. the female Of the species often
stands out in the mind as the better of the two.
Teen-age guppies are as fine little creatures as
the aquarium minded person will want to see.
They are pure silver Their eyes are peculiarly
bright and look as II they understood what is
going on inside their world as well as outside.
The young female guppy seems to know who is
out there, her keeper and protector. There is
no parallel for this as far aS mankind Is con-
cerned. Man talks about his God and bows to
Him, but Is denied the gertrude Of the guppy
In its bowl
for the beginner.
During the war, when houses were not 80
warm guppies were among the few tropicals
that managed to survive without the use Of
electrical heaters.
They still are the best for people who do not
IN md $1Sie a1y1lA a1n{ll
They are really much easier to keep than gold
fish and can get along in a much smaller
aquarium.
Many persons who take on the aquarium
hobby at last find themselves tired of it. They
may like to keep guppy tank, however. This
little fish gives you about all any fish can. 1t
Is easily fed. There is not so much danger
that they will overeat (the common goldfish
falling, and If they do there is where spinach
comes in. A leaf Of spinach boiled for q minute
and then cooled of makes excellent guppy
medicine. Suspended at one corner Of the
aquarium and allowed to trail in the water, 1t
is the object Of all eyes.
Although the guppy can stand water tenn
peratures from 40 to 80 degrees, these extremes
are not recommended. The nearer any home
aquarium is kept at practically the same tenn
perature day and night, the better 1t is for all
concerned. An average Of SO or 70 degrees is
enough for guppies, and If 1t can be held within
reasonable limits the creatures should thrive,
If the rest of their care is correct. This means
proper balance between plants, food and fish.
Most people who get an aquarium for the first
time want to put too many fish in it. Well, 1t
can be done with the guppies. At least go can
be kept in two-gallon tank. Not only kept,
but kept well, provided the sand is clean and
the plants thriving. Excess food must be
cleaned up along with other debris
Do not bother too much about the green
algas that grow on the inside of the glass. They
do nd harm, and the guppies like them. Like
scraped off the front panel, however This type
of algae will not make the water green. Algae
which make the water green are other types
and are caused by too much sunlight and too
much fish food. The remedy is plain.
A few guppies to start of with soon result
in scores Of little guppies, since this fish Is
what Is called Give bearer" bringing forth
its young perfectly formed and able to swim.
The first time any one. whether old or young,
sees this sight in an aquarium, 1t is almost un-
believable. This is where the plants come In.
If there are no plants, the parents will eat up
all the babies. With plants, practically all
survive.
The guppy bowl furnishes an interesting
object lesson in nature and is picturesque
ornament 1t should be stressed that 1t Is not
just something for children. The mature per-
son, with more than just an interest in his job,
would be benefited by taking on the care Of q
few of these little strangers in our lander,
water.
II YOU are dissatisfied with the world. the
Russians worry you, If some people talk too
much TO suit. you and others do not talk enough,
then take refuge in bowl Of guppies.