[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r618/Parosphromenus/bettaspec10001.jpg[/IMG]
Although the article is about Betta it gives interesting notes about fish- keeping those days. For the international readers I try to give a little summary of some parts: The author gives an explanation why he prefers labyrinth fish. The reason is that the aquatic plants only in summer grow well and because of this reason in winter a lot of fish died in his small aquarium. The technology for oxygen ventilation was not invented or to expensive he says. Heating with a lamp reduces more oxygen and only labyrinth fish and those with intestine breathing survive. He wishes that imports of labyrith fish will increase in different shape and colour. He says that it is a pity that only a few Labyrinth fish that are nice looking, different or with new interesting brood care are imported. He says that he do not believe to get better looking Betta than Betta pugnax which he described as the colibri among the betta. Some would prefer Betta rubra that he calls a variety of B. pugnax.
This article shows, if he speaks for a big group of aquarists of the time, that the desire for new colourful and interesting labyrinth fish was immensely. On the next page he describes the visit of a commercial ornamental fish breeder and a new unknown betta. The way he describes the new imported fish makes me sure he would have loved Parosphromenus. 🙂 If this attitude was common it can explain the advertisement I posted on the first page.
Felix