The plants should be planted in good soil, in saucers or similarly low
dishes, then procure some coarse gravel, sand, fine sand, white gravel
or pebble stones, a few common rough stones, and three or four larger
ones, with which to construct a miniature arch, placing the closed
ends of the arch toward the ends of the tank, in order that the fish may
not hide themselves beneath, as they will be sure to do. Place a layer
of the coarse sand over the bottom, then the saucers containing the
plants upon the sand ; construct the arch firmly by the use of a little
cement, and so arrange the balance of material that when finished the
bottom will be one of apparent sand and gravel, with mounds, ridges,
etc. A few small shells of the most ordinary kind will add to its pic-
turesqueness.
The tank is now ready for the water. Fill about one-quarter full and
let it stand for a day, then dip out a part of the water and replace with
fresh. This treatment must be continued from day to day until the
SUITABLE FISH FOR WATER LIFE. 3
water in the tank shall be clear and clean ; ordinary soft water — brook,
spring or pure cistern — required. Fill the tank within about two inches
of the top, and it is ready for the fish. The smaller they are the larger
the number that may be put together.
SUITABLE FISH FOR WATER LIFE.
After the plants and rocks are arranged the former must have time
to become accustomed to their new home before the fish are put in. A
fortnight is none too long for the aquarium to remain tenantless. If a
green film overspreads the glass it shows there are too many plants for
the water, and they have had too much light, It is a good plan to paste
thin green paper on all sides of the glass up to the water-line, excepting
in front, even when the fish are put in, because it subdues the light, and
gives the fish a more natural home, and makes it more healthful.
In selecting fishes for the aquarium, gold and silver fish will of course
have the first choice, and after that the minnows. The beauty of these
fish, their habits and the management they require are too well known
for an extended notice in a necessarily brief article. The perch is a
suitable fish for a fresh water aquarium, for a reason that may not be
well known. It is one of the few fishes that may be trained, and made
to show its docility by taking food from the fingers. The pike, which
is the shark of fresh water, may be put into an aquarium with gold
fish and perch, but not with other fishes. Even with the gold fish it is
not fully to be trusted, as when hungry it has been known to eat its own
species.
The trout is a handsome fish, with its crimson, spotted sides, but, like
the pike, it must be well fed and kept away from smaller fishes. The
eel may be used with safety — a small one, and frogs may be kept with
larger fish.
Page 8
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The plants should be planted in good soil, in saucers or similarly low dishes, then procure some coarse gravel, sand, fine sand, white gravel or pebble stones, a few common rough stones, and three or four larger ones, with which to construct a miniature arch, placing the closed ends of the arch toward the ends of the tank, in order that the fish may not hide themselves beneath, as they will be sure to do. Place a layer of the coarse sand over the bottom, then the saucers containing the plants upon the sand ; construct the arch firmly by the use of a little cement, and so arrange the balance of material that when finished the bottom will be one of apparent sand and gravel, with mounds, ridges, etc. A few small shells of the most ordinary kind will add to its picturesqueness.
The tank is now ready for the water. Fill about one-quarter full and let it stand for a day, then dip out a part of the water and replace with fresh. This treatment must be continued from day to day until the
SUITABLE FISH FOR WATER LIFE. 3
water in the tank shall be clear and clean ; ordinary soft water — brook, spring or pure cistern — required. Fill the tank within about two inches of the top, and it is ready for the fish. The smaller they are the larger the number that may be put together.
SUITABLE FISH FOR WATER LIFE.
After the plants and rocks are arranged the former must have time to become accustomed to their new home before the fish are put in. A fortnight is none too long for the aquarium to remain tenantless. If a green film overspreads the glass it shows there are too many plants for the water, and they have had too much light, It is a good plan to paste thin green paper on all sides of the glass up to the water-line, excepting in front, even when the fish are put in, because it subdues the light, and gives the fish a more natural home, and makes it more healthful.
In selecting fishes for the aquarium, gold and silver fish will of course have the first choice, and after that the minnows. The beauty of these fish, their habits and the management they require are too well known for an extended notice in a necessarily brief article. The perch is a suitable fish for a fresh water aquarium, for a reason that may not be well known. It is one of the few fishes that may be trained, and made to show its docility by taking food from the fingers. The pike, which is the shark of fresh water, may be put into an aquarium with gold fish and perch, but not with other fishes. Even with the gold fish it is not fully to be trusted, as when hungry it has been known to eat its own species.
The trout is a handsome fish, with its crimson, spotted sides, but, like the pike, it must be well fed and kept away from smaller fishes. The eel may be used with safety — a small one, and frogs may be kept with larger fish.