FISH AS PETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 183, 4 August 1932, Page 6

FISH AS PETS.

The British Aquarists' Association held a wellattended fish show at the Surrey Hall. Camberwell (says "The Times"). An aquarium is a difficult thing to carry, and the competing aquarists, therefore, took their pets along in thermos flasks, jam jars with water-tight lids, and other convenient receptacles . The show committee had spent a tiring day at all the available tape filling tanks for the reception of the exhibits. Since most of the fish were tropical and delicate, the tap water was aired for them beforehand, and a due proportion of "old" water —which had stood for some, considerable time—was blended with it to make them comfortable. The competitors turned their fish into the tanks and the judging began. Fishes, like horses and dogs, have their characteristic "points." and a standards committee id charged with the determination and definition of the ideal qualities for each different species. It is nearly as important in a fish as in a foxhound that its tail should be of the right length and properly carried. The shape, the colouring, the fins, and the general condition of all the 2000 fish in the exhibition were measured by expert and careful eyes, and prizes were awarded for the best entries. Britain is growing more aquarium-minded thanks in large part to •the work of the British Aquarists' Association. The movement has also an international significance—an aspect emphasised by the presence yesterday of a distinguished German breeder, Herr Georg Bartmann, who came over specially to lecture at the show on the heating and aeration of aquaria, with demonstrations. There are numerous reasons for the increasing popularity of the aquarium. Fishes make quiet and—up to a point —intelligent pets. An officer of the association pointed out that they are cheap in first cost and upkeep and give very little trouble —less than canaries, he said. Small tropical varieties are the most sought after, and the smaller they are the greater the demand for them. As some are not more than an inch in length when fully grown, requiring only a pint of water to breed in, they are particularly fitted for life in a London flat, and most of them are, in fact, bred in that environment. The water is kept at the right temperature by electricity, or, more commonly, by oil-heating. The problem of feeding is comparatively simple. For most small fishes the ideal diet is small worms or other live provender, but since these are sometimes difficult to provide in London, various dried foods may be used successfully. So long as a certain minimum standard of living is assured them, these tropical fish will put up with a good deal. They have travelled from London to Faris in a thermos flask, and hav» survived.