Evening star., 1949-02-04
This and That
By Charles Z. TraceUell
81 STREET.

s.+ss-. 81 STREET
Il noticed in your paper the other day
short article about 9-month-old tadpole of
Aberdeen Scotland, which refused to turn into
frog, had died, and naturalists say it did not
grow up because 1t had glandular trouble
caused by deficiency Of iodine.
What do you think Of that'
The tadpole probably was q green frog, which
requires two years for 1t to lose its typical
taddy construction. Bull frogs also take two
years.
Toad tadpoles take only Q few months TO
"turn," and most Of those in small aquariums
are toads, although their owners think they are
frogs
1t will be realized then. that the now famous
Aberdeen taddy just died before 1t had .
chance to grow up.
"Glandular trouble caused by q deficiency
Of iodine" was simply some fast-thinking per-
sons explanation" to questioner.
Care Of the home aquarium and terrarium
does not need knowledge Of iodine, fortu-
nately.
While various elements will be needed by
the creatures. the water mostly supplies all
that are necessary.
Purity Of the water, that Is, freedom from
obnoxious things. such as chlorine, are vastly
more important than any theoretical knowledge
Of minerals in the water.
Indeed, no one setting up an aquarium or
terrarium need worry about iodine.
That Is probably the last element In the
world he need worry about
Even iron, that basic element in human
metabolism, need not worry the fish or tad
pole collector in his aquarium, or terrarium.
(The latter Is something Of q mystery to some
people, but really it is nothing but a dry
aquarium, mainly for creatures that must have
some air to breathe)
The main point about the water in an
aquarium Tor in the dish placed in ter
rariumD is that it be pure.
Not chemically pure, of course for that would
be impossible in everyday practice but at least
free from dangerous chemicals, most OF them
put in by man in an effort to make the water
drinkable for humans.
1t must be remembered that some Of these
chemicals, in the amounts usually used do
not harm people, but are dangerous to other
living creatures
Salt, for instance, in concentrations not
harmful to humans, will kill tadpoles
Chlorine. SO much used for water purifica-
ton, is one of the most dangerous additions to
water If 1t Is used in an aquarium.
Since it is largely used everywhere most
persons interested in what some people call
toy fish would do well to allow the water to
stand overnight
This not only allows the chlorine to evapo-
rate, but 1t warns the water up to the exact
temperature OI Lle WaCer 10 De REPLACED, pTO.
vided it stands in the same room
This cardinal rule, to allow city water to
stand overnight before using it in an aquarium,
is regarded as "too much trouble" by many, so
that the result is sick and dying fishes.
The relative acidity or alkalinity Of
aquarium water is of much more Importance
than whether it has certain chemical In it
or not.
Usually. for tropical specimens, q slightly
acid water Is best. This usually is taken care
OF by nature in q well-managed tank
If proper foods are used, food which pro-
vides the essential proteins, the needed chem
ical clements and also the vitamins, will be
provided.
Glandular troubles of aquarium inmates
need not be studied by the average owner.
There are enough fish diseases without drag
ging in something that need be nothing but
the experts concern.
Iodine Is not one Of the elements the
aquarium owner need worry about His con-
Germ properly should be whether the water is
clean, whether 1t has enough oxygen in it,
whether food is all eaten up. not allowed to
decay, whether the tank has the proper kind
and amount of plants and whether the sun.
shine is enough but not too much.
Tadpoles, while amusing enough, should be
returned to dealer when they get their legs,
because few homes have any proper way of
caring for them when they turn into either
toads or frogs.