Do Not Overfeed—Never give fish more food than they can clean up in ten
minutes.
Vary the Diet—Have several kinds of food on hand at all times. Dried
Shrimp, Dried Daphnae, scrapings from raw beef, bits of canned salmon,
bits of boiled spinach, finely crumbed graham cracker, bits of yolk of
boiled egg, and most of the prepared foods are excellent but should be
supplemented with some form of live food. Once a week they should be fed
chopped earth worms or Enchytrae (White worms). Feed live bearer’s fry
small quantity of fine foods several times a day. Feed egg layer’s fry
Brine Shrimp twice a day the first couple weeks and then feed same as
live bearer’s fry.
Several Feedings a Day—Feeding a very small quantity of food several
times a day (what the fish will clean up in several minutes) is probably
more desirable than one feeding providing great care is taken not to
feed too much at one time.
Tropicals Will Not Overeat—Unlike goldfish, tropicals will eat only as
much as they need but great care must be exercised in order to allow no
uneaten food in the aquarium to foul the water and cause disease.
Tubifex worms are found in fresh water streams and rivers, close to
shore in soft loamy bottom. They are an excellent live food provided
they are fed to the fish with care. Keep in cool place in container
having large air surface with just enough water to cover them. Since
they bury themselves in the gravel, it is best to feed them to the fish
with a worm feeder. The best type of feeder has a quantity of small
holes through which the worms wriggle into the mouths of the fish
eagerly waiting below. For baby fish it is best to cut the worms into
small pieces.
Enchytrae (White Worms) multiply rapidly in a wooden box (about 10″
square) filled with about 5″ of rich loamy soil. Portion of worms is
placed in soil and whole mass kept fairly moist. Feed slice of bread
soaked in sweet or sour milk every 3 or 4 days. Be sure all food is
covered with at least 1″ of soil. Before feeding be sure all old food is
consumed. They may be fed cooked oatmeal or mashed potatoes WITHOUT
SALT. Stir soil once a week to aerate it and prevent souring. Cover soil
with piece of glass to keep moisture in. Keep in cool dark place.
BRINE SHRIMP—To raise Egglaying Fish, the use of Brine Shrimp (fig. 5)
replaces the old fashioned Infusoria method more and more. Brine Shrimp
Eggs are available in any good pet shop and are easily hatched.
Directions for hatching Brine Shrimp Eggs are found on package.