SELECTION OF FISHES
31
mental fishes they have the advantage of being small,
but not much is known about them as an aquarium
fish. It is likely that they would reproduce in captivity.
The grass pike (Esox americana) occurs in streams
and lakes of both the Mississippi and east coast drainages. The greater part of its diet is fishes. It is a good
choice as a representative of the pike since it reaches
maturity at 8 to 10 inches. It is questionable if this fish
will reproduce under aquarium conditions. However,
it could very likely be spawned by use of pituitary
preparations.
Cyprinids
The characins are small fishes of South America,
Central America and Africa. They are widely available in the United States inasmuch as they are both
imported and raised as ornamental fishes. A great
variety is available, but perhaps the most popular and
the one about which most is written is the neon tetra,
Hyphessobrycon innesi. One may find considerable
literature on the care and culture of this group of
fishes in books and periodicals deahng with "tropical" fishes. The reader is especially referred to Exotic
Aquarium Fishes (Innes, 1938) and the Aquarium
Magazine, The Aquarium Pubhshing Co., Norristown,
Perm.
Characins favor a temperature of 75° to 80° F. They
do quite well on a balanced ration in dry, powdered
form, but an occasional meal of hve food is beneficial.
Characins can be fairly easily spawned in captivity.
Higher temperatm-es (80° to 85°) and good food are
conducive to spawning. As is the case with most of the
31
mental fishes they have the advantage of being small,
but not much is known about them as an aquarium
fish. It is likely that they would reproduce in captivity.
The grass pike (Esox americana) occurs in streams
and lakes of both the Mississippi and east coast drainages. The greater part of its diet is fishes. It is a good
choice as a representative of the pike since it reaches
maturity at 8 to 10 inches. It is questionable if this fish
will reproduce under aquarium conditions. However,
it could very likely be spawned by use of pituitary
preparations.
Cyprinids
The characins are small fishes of South America,
Central America and Africa. They are widely available in the United States inasmuch as they are both
imported and raised as ornamental fishes. A great
variety is available, but perhaps the most popular and
the one about which most is written is the neon tetra,
Hyphessobrycon innesi. One may find considerable
literature on the care and culture of this group of
fishes in books and periodicals deahng with "tropical" fishes. The reader is especially referred to Exotic
Aquarium Fishes (Innes, 1938) and the Aquarium
Magazine, The Aquarium Pubhshing Co., Norristown,
Perm.
Characins favor a temperature of 75° to 80° F. They
do quite well on a balanced ration in dry, powdered
form, but an occasional meal of hve food is beneficial.
Characins can be fairly easily spawned in captivity.
Higher temperatm-es (80° to 85°) and good food are
conducive to spawning. As is the case with most of the