Ornamental Fisheries-2
The common goldfish is remarkably hardy, and it is the most commonly kept pet animal in the world. It ahs been kept as an ornamental fish for centuries, and graced the garden pools & aquariums of kings and emperors for a thousand years. The goldfish is renowned for its spectacular red-gold colour, can grow to about 20cm in length, and live upto 10 years or more. The body is protected by rows of overlapping scales that never increase in number, but increase in size as the fish grows. The circuli, or rings of growth, are well-spaced in summer when growth is rapid, but are laid down close together in winter and at other times of poor growth. The tightly-bunched circuli of winter tend to show up as distinct bands, or annuli, and it is these that indicate the years of a fish's life to a trained scale reader.
Barbs
Scientifically knows as Tetrazone, the tiger barb has clear cut markings, golden sheened body, slightly arched, all suggest clear waters, warm temperatures, nimble movements rather than long swims, bright light, and some definite plant shading.
Siamese Fighting Fish
This fish can safely be kept in a community tank, although not with another male of their own species, and also, not usually with a female lest they start protecting (or hating) her and causing trouble all round. In gorgeous color sheens; pure or mixed, with red, blue, green and albino predominating; but by no means being exhaustive. Growing to a sturdy 3 in., these dominating males are short-lived, thirty months or les, and ride roughshod over their terrified females who are shorter finned, paler, smaller, and no match whatsoever for their vigorous partners.
Black Widow
A good old oldie that every aquarist seems to have kept since the early part of this century. Its clear, neatly defined, contrasting black markings on a silver green sheened body, its bright, red rimmed eyes, all show its need for clear waters, well lit, with strongly growing foliage interspersed with open spaces. Its size is around 21/2 inch.
The Neon Tetra:
They came from more or less same types of rivulets as the Cardinals. They are hardy, peaceful, and beautiful; looking best in shoals of six or more, viewed by side lighting obliquely across a dark base.
Platies, Swordtails, Mollies
This is salt loving fish (1 tea spoon every 20 lts.) . One of the most loved of the live bearers; tough, pretty and adaptable they will spawn anywhere laying not eggs but giving birth direct to fully formed baby fish, anything upto several dozens at a time.
Swordtails
Fantastically beautiful fish, especially the males with their long trailing elongation of the lower part of the tail fin, earning the name of Swordtail.
Zebra
21/2" Another firm favourite right from the very early days. Graceful torpedo body, balanced and slim, nicely finned; obviously a very fast swimmer, with great manoeuvrablity and energy. Add the beautifully clear cut longitundinal stripes, entirely free of smudge, and sheening body-obviously we have a fish that loves open clean bright waters, free flowing if possible, with ample room to swim and play.
The Guppy
From the age of about three months the males develop increasingly brilliant colours coupled with a lengthening of the fins, the tail can be longer and deepar than the body. Unfortunatly, they are rather small and slow, and will often be attacked by bullies in a community aquarium, and so will rarely show themselves to best advantage.
The Platy
This has to be one of the finest community fish, peaceful and lively, and available in the widest variety of colours and markings. It is also one of the best subjects for breedings, though now-a-days the young will rarely match the appearance of either parent. The most common varieties have a red or yellow body colour, sometimes with solid black fins, and often with an assortment of dots all over the body.
Gold Fish - Lionhead (Oranda)
The Oranda, or so-called Dutch Lionhea, is one of the largest forms of this variey. It reaches a length of 30 cm, with the length of the tail equalling that of the head and body combined. All the fins are long. The Dutch Lionhead was apparently brought from China to Japan (Nagasaki) by Dutch merchants in the 17th century and bred further in that country.
