5 comments about The Professional's Book of Koi.

1. I was excited by the title of this book because as a koi enthusiast since I was a little boy, I know how hard it can be to get something beyond the introductory level text on these beautiful fish.
   
   When I got this, book, I was disappointed since, as soon as I opened it, I recognized both pictures and the information. I turned to my bookshelf to see if I could find this book already there, but with a little digging I realized I didn't have this book but much of it is RECYCLED MATERIALS from "Koi and Garden Pools: A Complete Introduction" by Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod (Jan 1, 1987) and "Koi of the World by Dr. Axelrod" (Jun 1973) (both from TFH Publications). Some of the text is almost word for word, and Ms. Barrie liberally used photographs from both of these texts. I was extremely saddened to see that TFH Publications would even print such a similar text.
   
   This is definitely not a book for professionals, not by any leap of the imagination, and the information is no more contemporary than the aforementioned books by Dr. Axelrod (those books are both very nice, though, and Dr. Axelrod is THE authority on koi in my opinion). If you already own those books, don't make the mistake that I made by purchasing this one. However, if you are looking for an introduction (a quite uninformative one, however), this book might suit your needs.



2. ...from any of this author's books...Ms. Barrie was just the publisher's secretary...the publisher is Herb Axelrod and under cross-examination during litigation against him Ms. Barrie said whenever Axelrod assigned her to do a book she just went to the library for references and then spent a week writing each one...Axelrod ultimately was sentenced to 18 months in prison for tax evasion and Ms. Barrie is now working as a dental hygienist...Axelrod carries some weight among fish fans but I'd be cautious about taking advice from any of Ms. Barrie's books.



3. This book does not appear to be good for beginners or professionals. It does have details on constructing ponds, but it is seriously lacking in the `care and feeding' of koi. This area is covered conversationally and although the important topics are mentioned, it does not provide details. So it is not a practical beginner's guild. Nor does it provide technical details such as chemistry or anatomy that you might expect in a professional's guide.
   
   I liked the photography. However, if you are looking for a book on pond building or koi photos, there are better books than this one on either subject.



4. This is more of a book geared toward beginners and enthusiasts. Too often the comments are very general in character -- under anatomy, for instance, the author tells us that koi have all the usual internal organs one would expect -- and the author frequently refers the reader to other publications. There are numerous very nice color photographs and the book is easy to read. It just scratches the surface, however, and so is perhaps not aptly named.



5. I love reading this book, for the tons of photos of different strains of koi. It also has a surprising amount of information on designing and building koi ponds, pond plants, anatomy/physiology, history, breeding, etc. But it does lack detailed information on some topics such as diseases and water chemistry. Statements such as "koi thrive between a pH of 6.5 and 8.0" are a good start, but a bit simplistic for the serious koi keeper.

5 comments about The Marine Aquarium Problem Solver: Practical & Expert Advice on Keeping Fish & Invertebrates.

1. It's a good book if your not looking for specific info on a specific fish or invert. This book generalize a family of fish or inverts. It has very indepth info on equipment, but has no recommend setup. This book also include some nice ideas about ridding deritus.



2. This book has the same contents as "The Questions & Answers Manual of the Marine Aquarium: Practical and Expert Advice on Keeping Fish and Invertebrates" by the same author but published by Salamander Books Limited (ISBN: 0-86101-861-3).

   It covers a good introduction of the various gadgets (filters, protein skimmers, ozonizers, etc.) and explains the purpose of such devices. Tank set-up and care are also covered. Common fishes and invertebrates are covered, each in two or three pages with colorful, good quality photos of the creatures.

   Q & A approach makes reading a breeze. Highly recommended for beginners




3. This book does a wonderful job of explaining all the basics of marine fish, and reef keeping. If you want to know what all the gagets are, and what they do, this is the book for you. It gives a good general description of all the equipment and how each item is used. It does not support any one tank set up method. It throws all the information out there and lets the reader sort it out for themselves. It's also a nice quick reference for fish/invert compatibility, tank, and feeding requirements. Great for the beginner!



4. this book has to be one of the most informative, accurate, and comprehensive book on BOTH corals and fish I could find. There were numerous occasions where we had opportunities to verify firsthand the advice contained herein, and much to our astonishment, the author was truly on point.



5. Easy to understand and utilize, sound information all presented in a clear and articulate manner. Those starting in the hobby will find this a useful tool before graduating to more complex reference books. Well presented photographs are also a added treat. The expert reef keeper however, maybe left wanting something a little more profound.

1 comments about McClane's Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of North America.

1. This book is very useful in every facet of fresh water fishing, from fish physiology and habits to tackle selection. A must for every fresh water fisherman.
   
   This book is equally as good as "McClane's Field Guide to Saltwater Fishes of North America."

3 comments about The Cult of the Koi.

1. Great book! Equally helpful for the novice and experienced Koi lover alike! Great pictures and detailed descriptions.I highly recommend this book.



2. I don't think this is the best book on Koi. Although it covers all the standard topics (Koi identification, pond building, filtration system, diseasees, etc.), it does not give enough details in each topic. The "Tretra Encyclopedia Book of Koi" is by far the best . I know, it is not available for sale any more, but try to find it in a library. It is well worth the effort and you can save money as well.



3. The book is an excellent reference for beginners and experts as well. It gives a great overview of the history of Japanese, Domestic and German Koi. It gives an excellent review of the different types of Koi that have help me a great deal in identification.

   My local Dianichi and Sankaye Koi dealer also says that their consensus is that Cult of the Koi is by far the best they have ever seen.

5 comments about Pocketprofessional Guide to Cichlids (Pocketprofessional).

1. This is a great book for people who are starting out and also for those of you that already know about these amazing fish. I learned so much that I decided to buy 6 fish--so far all is great.
   
   I would say this book is very useful!



2. I have many other books on cichlids published by tfh and I discovered that this book contained many pictures reproduced from earlier and old tfh publications. I was hoping to see some pretty interesting new pictures and information.
   
   The information on individual fishes are rather basic stuff, most of it I was able to obtain from other literatures. I really do not think much effort was taken to produce this book. Being a diehard cichlidophile, this book merely adds up to my large collection of cichlid books.



3. I like the book but honestly it should be more on common names and not the latin ones. I guess its mean those whostudy NOT buy cichlids.



4. The Pocket Professional Guide to Cichlids is an excellent book for the care and identification of the gambit of cichlids from around the world. My only disapointment was the lack of some of the very rare cichlids in the hobby. However The Guide does cover most of the cichlids commonly and uncommonly kept in the hobby. A very good buy.



5. Good reference book on looking up cichlids. Even my teen-agers who are getting into our new tank are spending some time reading through this book.
   
   It has useful information on most species such as maximum size, water conditions, food needs, temperament & compatibility. With some species with color variations or closely related species, it uses common descriptions applicable to all of them, and shows photos of the variations.
   
   But it is missing a common-name index which it sorely needs. Hence, only 4 stars.

3 comments about Basslets, Dottybacks and Hawkfishes: Plus Seven More Aqarium Fish Families with Expert Captive Care Advice for the Marine Aquarist.

1. An in-depth book on the compatibility, care and behaviour on these selected species (only). Some of these species are so scares however that I doubt it if they will ever be found in a pet shop. If you are interested in keeping these species, this book is perfect.



2. Another great book on Reef Fishes by Scott Michael. He covers common as well as rarely seen fishes and tells all that is know about these guys including foods, reproduction, habitat and aquarium care. This is a must have for Marine Aquarists!! Great Book!!



3. Scott Michael continues his Reef Fishes series with this excellent book. The gorgeous photographs allow easy identification, often including multiple photos for color variations due to location, sex, etc. It also includes information on maximum length, distribution, and biology useful to both divers and aquarists, as well as captive care and aquarium suitability ratings. This volume along with the others in the series are a must have for any serious marine aquarist, as well as any diver interested in ID'ing and learning about coral reef fishes. Highly recommended!

   By the way, the initial Amazon pricing on this book is erroneously high. I have this information directly from the publisher, so you may want to wait for it to be corrected before purchasing.

1 comments about Discus (Aquaguide S.).

1. THIS BOOK HAS GREAT COLOR PICTURES ABOUT DISCUS BUT NOT MUCH INFORMATION ON HOW TO KEEP THEM.

3 comments about Aquarium Fish Breeding.

1. I have purchased several other books on general fish breeding over the years and then a professional breeder recommended this book. Well I must say that it is the most comprehensive general book of its kind - full of delightful illustrations and lots of technical detail. The author clearly "knows his stuff" - from actual breeding, to building fishrooms to producing live foods.
   
   I recommend this book wholeheartedly.



2. I bought this book shortly after reading Mr. Hemdal's Advanced Marine Aquarium Techniques (a book that I've found to be very useful and informative). I am very pleased with his Aquarium Fish Breeding, as well. Whatever your skill level or motivation for breeding, you'll find invaluable insights in this comprehensive resource. A great choice for freshwater and marine breeders alike.



3. As the author of this book, I'm obviously a bit biased, but this book is the only one on the market that fully covers all aspects of fish breeding. Marine fish, freshwater fish, invertebrates and plants are all covered in detail. I wrote this with intermediate aquarists in mind, so both beginners and experts may also find some "cross-over" in the material.
   
   If you want to propagate home aquarium fish, invertebrates and plants, this book is a must-have!

No comments about Hermit Crabs For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets)).

5 comments about Bettas.

1. I agree with the other reviewers. This book is great for breeders and it is interesting, but holds little educational value for someone who just wants to improve the life of their betta pet. I was disappointed.



2. This book is definetly not for begginers. It has a lot of technical information that is virtually useless to to the begginer and average pet owner. I'm sure I would give it a 5 star rating if I were a breeder, but I'm not. Save your money and look for another book if you are a begginer to keeping Bettas.



3. While this book is labled the "complete pet owner's manual" it does not deal with the practicalities of owning a betta. As a person who is a new owner looking for the basics, this book was too academic and had too much infomation. I did enjoy reading the history behind the betta fish and that was about it. This book is great for someone looking to breed and keep and sell bettas, but for us humble pet owners it does not give the needed basic information for daily care.



4. This wonderful book has heaps of information about the various bubblenesting and mouthbrooding betta species groups. It covers the selection of bettas, their housing (the 2001 edition has a chapter on Tanks for Bettas), feeding, breeding, genetics (covering stuff like Betta Genes and the Punnet Square), as well as the prevention, identification and treatment of common betta diseases (environmental, chemical and infectious). It is indeed a great source of in-depth information about bettas and a complete pet owner's manual.



5. This is a pretty book: lots of gorgeous color photos of gorgeous Siamese fighting fish ("Bettas") and glossy pages. That's its main, and only, selling point.
   
   Unfortunately, the info contained is mainly academic filler which is badly organized so that it's difficult to skim through and find the more practical bits, such as: 1. how often and how much to feed these fish, 2. how a Betta would do if mixed in with other fish in a large aquarium (answer: badly), 3. how often the water should be changed if a Betta is kept in a small filtration-less container of 1 gallon or less, 4. most common types of commerical food and which ones are better, etc. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.
   
   Thankfully, Petsmart has a liberal return policy...this one's going back pronto!