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Read Ebook: Tropical Fish Handbook Tenth Edition 1953 by Schott Guenther Lothar
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Ebook has 337 lines and 23964 words, and 7 pages
TROPICAL FISH HANDBOOK
GOLDFISH AND 31 POPULAR TROPICALS ILLUSTRATED AND DESCRIBED
TROPICAL FISH HANDBOOK
For the beginner, the happy family collection is of most interest. Here in one large tank he can observe the interesting habits, shapes and colors of a great variety of fish. If he desires he may remove them to separate tanks during breeding periods. The danger of cross breeding in the community tank is practically eliminated by the presence of a pair of each species.
DORSAL CAUDAL PECTORAL ANAL VENTRAL
PREPARING THE BALANCED AQUARIUM
Much of the future enjoyment of your aquarium will depend upon the care with which it is selected, and its proper location.
The aquarium should be rectangular, and the depth should not exceed its width. The larger the tank the more satisfaction you will receive from it--it is easier to balance, maintains a more uniform temperature, and allows space to add to your collection.
The principles of the balanced aquarium are very simple. Fish breathe oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Thriving plants absorb the carbon from the carbon dioxide and liberate the oxygen. This maintains a high oxygen content in the water necessary to maintain healthy fish. No balanced aquarium can be maintained without scavengers to consume bits of decaying food and plants. Fish, plants and scavengers depend upon each other in the balanced aquarium.
Aquarium should be located where it will receive one or two hours of direct sunshine daily and plenty of strong light all day. When aquarium is located cover bottom with one or two inches of well washed coarse sand. Be sure that aquarium has been carefully washed before introducing sand. Sand and aquarium may be washed in strong solution of rock salt--RINSE THOROUGHLY.
Now fill aquarium about half full of water and set in plants. Be sure that over one half your plants are excellent oxygenators. Vallisneria and Sagittaria should not have crowns buried when planting. Plant tall plants in back or in corners and smaller ones in front. You cannot use too many plants--BUT ONLY GROWING AND HEALTHY PLANTS LIBERATE OXYGEN.
Fill tank, pouring water on piece of paper floating on top or into cup submerged in tank to avoid uprooting plants. Allow water to stand 24 hours. Be sure it is the right temperature for fish it will contain. Add snails and scavengers. PROVIDE GLASS COVER as tropicals are noted for their jumping ability. Some type of heater should be provided for the aquarium, in order to maintain a uniform temperature during the winter months.
Fish may now be introduced, care being taken not to place too many fish in a new tank until plants have had sufficient time to multiply. The dissolution of uneaten food, dead snails, plants, etc., frequently produces more food than can be consumed by the plant life present. At this point Algae frequently steps in and the tank becomes green or cloudy and foul smelling.
To avoid this condition, avoid too many fish in aquarium, siphon off dirt on bottom frequently, remove plants that are not thriving, cut down light when thread algae becomes a nuisance.
Water in a balanced aquarium will remain crystal clear for months.
Always keep glass cover on aquarium. It helps maintain a more uniform temperature, and keeps fish from jumping out. It may be raised slightly but this is not necessary.
Always use net in handling fish.
Do not use pebbles in aquarium--food gets into crevices where scavengers cannot reach it--causing water to foul.
Always keep a thermometer in aquarium.
Avoid metals in aquarium. Lead is safe as it does not dissolve.
Rooted plants should not have crowns buried when planting--Fig. 1.
KEEP BOTTOM OF AQUARIUM CLEAN--remove all sediment with dip tube--Fig. 2.
To remove water--use either automatic siphon--Fig. 3--or siphon with rubber hose.
ANACHARIS. LUDWIGIA. VALLISNERIA. SAGITTARIA. CABOMBA. DUCK WEED. HAIR GRASS. SOUTHERN VALLISNERIA. MYRIOPHYLLUM. SALVINIA. SPATTERDOCK.
PLANTS
Anacharis: Fair oxygenator--planted or floating--needs abundance of light.
Ludwigia: Fair oxygenator. Leaves--top green, underneath red.
Sagittaria: Excellent oxygenators, three varieties: NATANS--long narrow leaves; GIGANTEA--broad stocky 8? leaves; SUBULATA-- 4? to 6? narrow leaves.
Cabomba: Little value as oxygenator--fanlike green leaves.
Hair Grass: Fair oxygenator--rapidly covers floor with 4? grassy needles.
Southern Spatterdock: Ornamental--broad bright green leaves.
Vallisneria: Excellent oxygenator--15? long--multiplies rapidly by runners.
Myriophyllum: Ornamental--excellent for spawn of adhesive egg layers.
Salvinia: Floating-- 1/4 ? leaves covered with velvety hairs.
Duck Weed: Ornamental bright green floating plant.
Riccia: Very fine bright green floating plant--valuable in spawning bubble nest builders, especially Dwarf Gourami.
Cryptocoryne: Leaves top dark green, underside dark red. Needs some soil, slow grower. Very decorative and necessary in spawning some species.
WEATHER FISH BLACK RAMSHORN SNAIL POND SNAIL AMERICAN SALAMANDER CLAM or FRESH WATER MUSSEL AFRICAN SNAIL MELANTHO SNAIL
SCAVENGERS
Melantho Snail: Very active--multiplies rapidly--consumes algae.
Pond Snail: Very active and useful--a fast moving fellow.
Black Ramshorn Snail: Multiplies rapidly--excellent scavenger.
Coral Snail: Same as Ramshorn with coral red body, and shell.
African Snail: Good scavenger--light yellow brown--dark spots.
Australian Snail: Similar to Pond but bright scarlet in color--very active.
Catfish: most popular scavenger. Look for full description on page 26.
American Salamander: Brown with red and black spots--vest yellow and brown.
Clam or Fresh Water Mussel: Filters all floating matter from water leaving it crystal clear. Must have large tank or pool and several inches of sand in which to work.
Snails will eat eggs of egg-laying fish. To breed snails--place in separate tank and feed lettuce. Well fed snails lay an abundance of eggs, resembling a gelatin like mass attached to plants and glass. Fish will eat snail eggs. Salt will kill snails--when using salt treatment remove snails.
MOSQUITO FISH: HETERANDRIA FORMOSA
Color: Numerous black bands adorn gray sides--black horizontal line extends from eye to caudal. Red edged dark spot on dorsal.
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