Evening star., 1949-03-24
This and That
By Charles z. Trdce1Dell
SEVENTEENTH STREET S.


Dear Sir:
When you have the time and the space.
would you mind devoting your column to us
who go in for goldfish in the small way, that
is. the 1-gallon aquarium?
II am interested in the number Of fish
(plain goldflsh) to be kept in this size bowl;
how often to feed: what grass. ETC.. to be
kept in the bowl; how often to change water,
and the type Of diet they require.
II am a constant reader of your column
and look forward to 1t each day. I think
your talks each evening are relaxing in these
days Of hustle and bustle.
Very truly yours, J. A. S."
An advice Of perfection would be inch
Of goldfish body to ! gallon Of water
Since this ideal is seldom attained. in
actual practice. the next best thing Is to keep
az small and as few fishes In ! gallon as
possible.
This will mean perhaps two and not
more than three. small fishes to a gallon.
Tails do not count in the goldfish bowl.
The goldfish requires great deal OF oxy-
gen. in the first place He needs plenty OF
room Don't fence me in," is his motto.
Instead Of crowding half dozen big ones
in tiny bowl. the keeper should be satisfied
with one or two in good condition.
The half dozen will start dying, one after
the other. whereas the one or two will thrive,
provided the care is correct.
Feeding may be done once a day, If just
q small amount IS given.
It Is because so many persons overestimate
what a small amount is. that the usual ad-
vice Is to feed once every other day. or once
every three days. But 1t may be supposed
that goldfish as well as other living things.
prefers to eat oftener than that. Who
wouldn't? The goldfish is. as matter OF
fact, something Of a pig. Given all 1t wants.
1t will eat itself to death. Therefore the
owner must guard against overfeeding.
A pinch of goldfish food-not the wafer
type-but the groundup manufactured food,
is put on the surface Of the water.
Give only as much as the fishes will clean
up in 10 minutes.
They will, of course, cry for more, but 1t
should not be given them at least for six
hours.
In this way. at least one feeding, prefer
ably in the morning. or two feelings Zone in
the morning and one in the afternoon) may
be given.
But to feed this often great care must be
used The food that falls to the bottom
should be taken up with dip tube.
If the owner feels all this Is too much
trouble, he should feed his charges but once
DAY, ana tnen only as mucn aS tney WILL
consume In 10 minutes.
Grasses to be used may be purchased at
any pet shop or tropical fish emporium.
Sand must be used on the bottom at least
inches deep; not only to make the fishes feel
at home but also to hold the plants.
Changing the water" should never be
done any more than necessary. II the man
agement is correct, If there are not too many
fishes. and enough air. the water will not
require changing often. That is the very
peak Of aquarium management. But because
this is also an advice Of perfection, 1t may
be admitted that in general practice 1t is
best, with goldfishes to draw off from the
bottom about one-third of the water once
Q week.
The old habit Of changing the water every
day simply showed complete ignorance OF
tank management. Fresh water put in
should be drawn the night before and per-
mitted to warm up to room temperature.
More to the point, standing for at least
eight hours gets the chlorine out Of the
water.
One active goldfish in good health is far
better than half dozen gasping at the sur
face for air all the time. This is the big
test Of tank management. II they gasp for
air, something is wrong-too much food, too
many fishes bad water not enough sunshine,
too much sunshine. Because ignorant people
may have kept goldf1shes successfully by
breaking all the rules does not mean that
you can do 1t. Some people have all the
breaks"
Goldfish are bright little creatures, inter-
esting and colorful; even people who prefer
tropical specimens will admit this. This
goldfish and the guppy are the two standard
aquarium fishes but their management is
different, and they cannot be kept together.
Here is secret: Some persons who have kept
both tropical and goldtishes prefer the latterl