,.. MACDONALD'S AQUARIUM, Inc. 2206-08 West Madison St., Chicago, m. Open Daily, 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. Wednesdays, 9 A.M. to 7 P.M. Sundays and Holidays, 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. CHICAGO'S TROPICAL FISH HEADQUARTERS . ' CATALOGUE NUMBER FIVE • .. Copyright 1933 MACDONALD'S AQUARIUM, INC. 2206-08 W. MADISON STREET CHICAGO I Scanned by richsfishroom.com A BALANCED AQUARIA IN THE HOME The water in this aquarium need never be changed, because it is properly "balanced" with plant life, scavengers, etc. This beautiful 10 gal. aquarium and stand specially priced at . ........ $6.9 5 (Packed for shipment $1.00 additional.) Scanned by richsfishroom.com CHICAGO'S TROPICAL FISH HEADQUARTERS ~- THIS is a name rightly deserved, for the fish fans in Chicago and surrounding towns and suburbs have found a place they consider their "headquarters" at all times for getting the many rare and choice varieties, and at prices they can afford to pay. They always find welcome on the mat at Macdonald's and a feeling of good fellowship where one fish fan can meet another and discuss the many phases of their hobby. We have a beautiful display of over 100 illuminated aquariums, well stocked at all times with a minimum of 6000 :fish, and you and your friends are always welcome to inspect them, whether you buy or not. We have contracts with some of the largest hatcheries in the country as well as abroad to keep us well supplied with the best stock available throughout the year. Remember, Macdonald's Aquarium, Inc., is one of the pioneers in the crusade for fair prices. We do not quote prices on half-grown stock, but prices quoted, unless otherwise specified, are for the choicest full grown, breeding size fish-fish that are full of color and will delight you and your friends. You are always welcome at MACDONALD'S. MACDONALD'S AQUARIUM, INC. R. E. MACDONALD, General Mgr. Scanned by richsfishroom.com WHY TROPICAL FISH ARE IN SUCH DEMAND TODAY I11-I the closing of the World's Fair, the safe return of the W Italian Armada to its homeland and the approach of King Boris and his limitation of outdoor activities-then we turn to the hobby which not only offers decided enjoyment to ourselves, but is also attractive and entertaining to our friends. There are definite reasons why Tropical Fish have gained such popularity and aroused so much interest in recent years. There is no finer ornament for any room· in the home or office than a well stocked, well balanced aquarium of Tropical Fish. These fish come from every Tropical Country of the earth and offer such a wide selection of color, form and habits that a small collection will furnish an unending source of pleasure and entertain­ ment, to say nothing of the educational phase of it. By planting the aquarium properly, Aquatic Nature can be closely reproduced in the home or office, and the fish will soon set up their home and start "housekeeping." And now follows the real thrill of the Tropical Fish fancier. As soon as the fish feel quite at home in the aquarium, the family life is definitely established and vigorously pursued. Now comes courting, breeding and the raising,.Qf the young. What greater pleasure and interest than to watch a new generation of fish growing up in an aquarium right in your own home! Time was when, because of the exorbitant prices asked for Tropical Fish, this pleasure was possible only for the exclusive or elite, or the Aquarium Societies. Today, however, anyone may enjoy this hobby for a comparatively small outlay of money. Remember Our employes are definitely instructed to fill all orders conscien­ tiously; pick out females ready to breed so the customer may have the benefit of the increase of stock; to pick well balanced pairs as to size, coloring and general characteristics. We Jo not use compressed air in any of our stock tanks. The use of compressed air in a tank weakens the fish and makes them more sensitive. In order .to keep our stock in the best possible condition, our aquaria are heavily planted with oxygenating plants and kept where they receive plenty of health-producing.. light. Scanned by richsfishroom.com The first rule in buying tropical fish should be--don't buy fish from an artificially aerated tank, for unless the new aquarium is also supplied with compressed air, the fish will not do so well, and often­ times will die over-night. When changing the water or transferring a fish from one tank to another, do not give it a sudden change of temperature; or when receiving a new fish for your aquarium, do not place it immediately in the aquarium, unless the temperature of the water is about the same as the temperature in the container the new fish is in. It is advisable to use the water the new arrival comes in so that the chemical content change will not be too great. Do not overfeed your fish or allow food to remain in the tank until it spoils the water. Use plenty of good oxygenating plants, feed sparingly, avoid sudden changes of temperature and clean the tanks every day or so by the use of a dip tube, and you will not only have healthy fish, but will have many hours of pleasure with them. If at any time we can be of assistance to you in any problem you may have with your aquatic family, do. not hesitate to call on us-­ we are always at your service. If you did not have the opportunity to visit our beautiful exhibit at the World's Fair, come in and see our store display. Talk over that new aquarium with us. Our expert advice costs you nothing. MACDONALD'S AQUARIUM, INC. Scanned by richsfishroom.com A FEW HINTS IN SETTING UP A BALANCED TROPICAL FISH AQUARIUM N selecting your aquarium, it is advisable to have it large enough to take I care of the number of fish you intend to put into it and to provide ample space for their natural increase; otherwise you will find yourself confronted with the necessity of buying an additional aquarium later. Place your aquarium where it will receive an hour or two of sunshine each day. (Too much sunshine will turn the water green (green algea), and no sunshine will turn the water brown (brown algea). Now, wash the gravel, putting it in several changes of water, until the water poured off is clear. Put in the gravel, leaving a place in front free from all gravel for your feeding pen ( see Feeding Pens) and slope the gravel from the sides and back down to the feeding pen. This will allow all debris to flow towards ·pen where it can be removed with dip tube when necessary. Gravel bed should be at least two inches deep for the proper rooting of the plants. Pour the water in slowly to the desired height. Your aquarium is now ready for your plants. Place your plants around the sides and back of aquarium, leaving a space in front for your swimming pool, as they call it. An artistic arrangement of the plants will make your aquarium a beautiful piece of furniture in your home-something your friends will delight in looking at and a source of delight and interest to yourself. Now place in your aquarium a "FISH Life SA VER." When the temperature of the water reaches 70° to 75° you are then ready to place the fish into it. If the temperature of the water is not going to remain around 70° it is advisable to get an electric heater to protect the life of the fish. Then place your glass feeding ring over the space occupied by the feeding pen. This ring will prevent the food from spreading all over the water and in time prevent it from getting sour. Feed your fish a small amount of food each morning, not more than they will consume in a few minutes. Fish enjoy a variety of diet, so alternate with a different food each day, with a good feeding of enchytrae (white worms) each week. LiYe Bearers __,, ,..,_ fuh actually give birth to their young and within three to fifteen minutes a ter · fish are swimming around. From eight to as many as one hundred fish may be born at one time. The baby fish are fully developed, look like fem ales and it is not until the 1ish is a month or so older that the sex can be determined and the fish take on the full colors. The cross breeding of these live bearers has resulted in many beautiful hybrids. These C'-- •• breeds can also reproduce their own kind. 6 Scanned by richsfishroom.com When the females of your live bearing varieties begin to look more dis­ tended on the side than usual and the space where they carry their young looks black and full, she is ready to give birth to young, so take her out of the community tank and place her in another aquarium by herself. If you are not using a fish trap to place her in, make sure that the aquarium you do place her in is well filled with plants so that baby fish when born can hide from their cannibalistic mother. We suggest, however, in order to save the greatest number of young that any one of the several good traps on the market be used. Note: Following prices are quoted per pair (male and female).