5 comments about Guppies, Mollies, and Platys (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This book had lots of good information on live bearers. I think it's an excellent source to start out with. If you are looking for very specific information, this may not be the book for you. I was really looking for some Platy specific requirements that don't necessarily include breeding, and other than a short paragraph, there wasn't hardly any information tuned especially for Platys. That being said, It's a great starting place for breeding live bearers. The pictures of Guppies & Mollies were lovely. The fish illness discriptions were well written. But you should not use this as your sole source of information on these types of fish.



2. This book was helpful, but did not have as much on Mollies as I hoped. It still is packed with lots of good information.



3. This book was helpful for me, as I am learning how to breed and care for mollies, guppies, and platys. It was useful in identifying and treating diseases, perfecting my tank, and recognizing the sexes and different types of live bearing fish. The photos are also spectacular



4. If you are a new fish keeper don't buy this book for the setup tips. If you are looking for a book about live-bearers the sections about specific species are good and can be helpful but the other sections on care and aquarium setup are lacking.
   I would suggest a more comprehensive book that can be used as they advance through the hobby. I've seen several more comprehensive guides to get someone started, and I've found the Aquarium Atlas series by Baensch to be helpful in species selection and even the sections on setup and equipment are good.
   CONCLUSION:
   Buy this book for the info on live bearers, if you want info on other aspects of fishkeeping as well, look elsewhere.



5. I am an amature, first time fish owner and I found this book to have everything I needed to raise healthy happy guppies, mollies and platys. I would highly recommend it. The author explains everything in easy to understand terms. You'll have no trouble raising your fish to be as healthy and happy as mine.

2 comments about Quick and Easy Hermit Crab Care (Quick & Easy (Tfh Publications)).

1. Answers a lot of questions, quick & easy to read w/many pictures. Would highly recommend it for anyone interested in hermit crabs or w/a hermit crab pet. My oldest daughter (3) brings it to school frequently to show everyone the pictures - she's learned a lot from it - so far it's a good substitute for the crab.



2. A good basic book. Very little detail on day to day. More than I wanted to know about reproduction. B&W photos do not do much to make the little crabs look attractive.

5 comments about Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish.

1. When I first bought this book it was for information with fresh water fish and it covers them with a commendable amount of detail. The book contains almost every fresh water fish that you are likely to encounter in a -mart store and the majority of average local fish stores. There are large pictures of every species covered as well as information on what kind of tank requirements that the fish will need helpful notes on a lot of the "beginner" fishes on how to get them to spawn in your home and if they can be placed in a community tank of if the fish should be kept alone. There are a few areas that the book has slightly outdated information and a anyone that has ever had a tank of Discus will quickly find a number of inaccuracies with there two page listing. The only criticism that I have about the freshwater section of the book is that the kill fish section is small, while this is common in most books it is always a disappointment.
   
   The freshwater plant section of the book has some helpful information but is lacking light guides, but if you find a plant that is in the book and are thinking about adding it to your tank 30 seconds with google will give you all the missing information.
   
   I have been keeping fresh water fish since I was in grade school and now 20 something years later I am setting up my fist salt water tank. The book assumes that I know a lot of things that I don't and there are a number of items referenced but not explained that someone new to saltwater does not know often leaving me with more questions then answers, maybe when I have a little more experience with salt water the information will be handy.
   
   I rely can not comment on the pond fish area of the book, I don't have any experience with ponds or any idea if the information is complete.



2. This book is a decent source for an overview of a number of fish. It does seem to be missing a lot of fish that are somewhat common in fishtanks, such as puffer fish, etc. If you're looking for a general book with lots of pictures then this book can satisfy. However if you're looking for more in depth information or specific fish, this book can be hit and miss.



3. This book is one of the better books on aquarium fishes I have ever seen. It covers all kinds of fishes: freshwater, marine and pond fishes, but the tropical fishes section alone is worth the price. The photos are super. The information on each fish is concise; scientific name, origin, size, diet, water preference, temperament and a brief description are all in one place with the photo. That makes the book very easy to read. I particularly like the info on water hardness. Few books have this kind of information. Although it missed some very common fishes, it covers most of the fishes we likely find in the local pet shop.



4. This book actually has a section for salt water fish and a section for freshwater plants. It is trying to cover everything with limited pages and left out some very important information.
   
   Such as in the plant section, it does not list the information for lighting or CO2 requirement, which I think it is critical for any plant care.
   
   If the book can add some information such as easy/hard to care indicator for all fish and plants, that will be a great help too.
   
   I also find that there are some very common fish missing, such as shovelnose cats, some rainbows, rams (it does not list the rams but has some information scattered all over the book).
   
   On the plus side, the pictures are all good and I really enjoy them. Overall, it is an OK book. I just wish it has more information. Consider what I paid for this book, I guess it is not bad at all.



5. I found this book to be very imformative and full of wonderful pictures and information on almost any aquarium or pond fish you could imagine! A big thumbs up!!!!

5 comments about The Guide to Owning Piranhas.

1. Before I got my Piranha, I bought this book. This book helped me decide what size tank I would get, helped me with the chemical levels that would be an ideal home for the fish, I learned about what they like to eat, and mor
   
   In February, for mt 12th birthay, I got a Red-Bellied Piranha. This book has helped me mantain the tank and keep my fish alive. It is now December and my fish is still alive and is about 5 1/2 inches. The book is a must for any Piranha owner.



2. What a waste of money. You'd better of reading an article or an expert advise on the Internet than reading the entire book. Which adds to my frustration is the extra cost I encountered on shipping the book internationally.
   
   It has absolutely neither a meaningful new peace of information nor a serious know how.



3. i first got this book b4 i got the fish and found it to be most informative with good pictures and information contained threw out a good buy for any person wanting or thinking about keeping these fish... it is a book that is serious in the right places but not a real professional book like some that i have read



4. 64 pages Over 10 Section (What Are Piranhas? , Aquaria , Understanding Them , Feeding , The Setting Up , The Truth , Breeding , Species , Keeping Piranhas Happy and Healty) . The pictures are extra ordinary high quality , very easy to read .




5. Good information, excellent photos, easy to read. I was expecting a upto date discussion about breeding and information on feeding (other than gold fish). I was disappointed

5 comments about Rainbowfish Complete Owner's Manual.

1. As a new fan and keeper of rainbowfish, I am eager to learn as much as I can about these very lovely creatures. Whereas I found Gerald Allen's book interesting, it is geared more towards the scientific community than the home aquarist who aims to provide her or his fish the best possible care. Derek Lambert's Rainbowfishes book is also good but, in my opinion, this title by Gunther Schmida for Barron's fits my needs much better.
   
   Mr. Schmida describes many species, including some I have not encountered even in the more specialized shops or online. The color photos, including a nice series of shots showing Red Rainbowfish spawning and the males of other species displaying, are exciting. The information is written in a knowledgeable yet approachable style, as if the author truly wants to share with the reader. At the end is an index which includes both the popular and scientific names of the fish included. (Note to reviewer wass29 in Moline, IL: see p.22 for information on M. praecox "dwarf neon rainbowfish," the fish you are seeking.) All in all, there is much to like about this small but useful book!
   
   However, there is inconsistency in how quantities are presented. For instance, lengths of fish and recommended tanks are given in both metric and English measurements, very useful for those of us in the US. However, temperatures are given only in Celsius and that is an obstacle to my immediate understanding as I read. Given that this book was translated for the American audience by an American publisher, it is only reasonable to expect it to use the form of measurements we use in the US. If it were published in Europe or Australia, certainly I would not complain.
   
   Also, in the species' descriptions, Mr. Schmida recommends tanks of at least 157 gallons (an uncommon size) to hold certain species, even M. boesemani. However, for other species of the same size or larger he does not make such detailed recommendations. He does not explain why this unusually-sized tank is needed. Could it be because of the individual fish's size or because a school of a certain number is recommended or perhaps for some other reason? I take his tank specifications with a grain of salt.
   
   Even with these concerns of mine, I find this to be an excellent resource for those of us who are enthralled with these beauties from Australasia. I have been using a copy from my local library and now I am ready to purchase my own, I like it so well.



2. This book is a great addition to any collection. It has valuable information about rainbowfish and some of the different varieties out there, it is a quick informative book to read. However I felt it did not have enough information on all of the different varieties of rainbowfish. I didn't see anything on Dwarf Neon Rainbofish (a very popular one at the fish store where I work part time), also it did not describe all of the fish very well and the info on tank sizes and fish recommendations was incorrect. Even with its shortcomings I own and enjoy it anyways



3. This book has wonderful pictures and information about the different kinds of rainbowfish.. For anyone that is trying to research which specific rainbowfish they should like to keep it's definately a good choice.. The drawbacks are that the pictures and grouped together on seperate pages from the actual information that pertains to the specific species.. It's only a small gripe however.. I also think that some of the information can be a bit sketchy and there is a portion of the book dedicated to standard aquarium set up which I don't feel should be included in a fish specific book.. That's just my opinion though and if you are new to aquarium keeping it can be very helpful..



4. If you are a beginner at keeping rainbows, this is a very commendable book. It covers all of the basics for keeping and breeding rainbows and you can't ask for more than that from a beginner's book. Also, it provides references for seeking further information. It is leagues above the stacks of picture postcard pamphlets being passed off as "informative" books in the hobby. Still, like most books targeted at a relatively small tropical fish market segment, it is filled with many pictures and few words. A 15 - 30 minute read and you will have digested most, if not all, of the information in this micro-tome. After that, it's an inexpensive reference to the names of many species of rainbow with many excellent photographs and drawings of many species.

   However, the editors seemed to have been rather overzealous. In places the text runs just short of the information you would expect, practically begging questions, and I suspect that the author's original text had the information and the editors decided to cut it to save pages. The information in aquarium set-up and maintenance sections is especially abrupt. It's not that the data is incorrect , but a little information can be dangerous. For example, it mentions that carbon is one of the things you can use in a filter but it doesn't discuss the reasons for, or virtues and problems of, using carbon in filters. It appears the editors allowed the author about one sentence for the topic of carbon -- not enough to do justice to the topic but it keeps down the price of a book with lots of color photographs.

   Did I mention the photographs and drawings are absolutely excellent?




5. As a rainbowfish enthusiast, I didn't expect much from this short book, but ordered it because it was the newest available book on the subject. I was delighted about the amount of information packed into its 64 pages.

   The authoritative reference on the subject is Gerald R. Allen's "Rainbowfish: in Nature and the Aquarium," but this book is nearly impossible to find lately. Derek Lambert's short 1998 book "Rainbow Fishes : Keeping & Breeding Them in Captivity" had wonderful photography, but little new species information.

   This new book by Gunther Schmida is similar in format and photography to Lambert's book, but unlike the Lambert book, this one includes lots of new rainbowfish information. The pictures and descriptions of dozens of new rainbowfish species (not described in the other works) make this book a must-have for serious rainbowfish enthusiasts. It also includes a number of tips and advice not found in other books on the subject.

   The photography in the book is top-notch, and the author includes a few tips about how he gets the pictures.

   I only have a few criticisms of the book. This book is translated from German and there are a number of editing mistakes and improper metric/english conversions. There is also a short sidebar discussing legal issues regarding keeping an aquarium, but no indication on what country's laws the advice is based upon. This is important because this is a book sold in America, written by a German living in Australia!

   But overall I recommend the book. If you could get only one book on Rainbowfish (and can find it!) get the Gerald Allen book. Otherwise get this one, or do what i did, and buy both!

2 comments about Commonsense Guide to Fish Health, A.

1. This book is full of great information for the dedicated aquarium hobbyist. However, it can be a bit technically taxing for a sit down read or if you are just entering into the hobby. Even still, it is worth the effort to read as it contains priceless information from a well-known expert on fish keeping including practical solutions to keep fish not only alive, but healthy. Read this book and learn how to make your aquarium inhabitants thrive.



2. At first glance it is physically not what you would call a big book, (keep in mind not all good things come in big packages), I liked the fact that it was published by Barron's, which would mean plenty of current and new graphics unlike other publishers out there. I was right.

   Now to look at the cover for the first time. Nice title "A Commonsense Guide To Fish Health" the title says it all. Unlike most books we have read this one does not dive right in to the problem and then prescribes a miracle cure medicaton. Instead we are lead into the murky waters of fishdom's medical field slowly and intelligently in eight chapters that are very easy to read and provide a lot of insight as well as tried and proved methods of addressing some of the more common and even some of the not so common fish health related problems.

   Chapter 1 covers stress and it causes and the importance of the aquarium habitat, wich leads to the next chapter on water quality, a very well step, again emphesizing the importance of the environment of the captive animal over a pound of cure. It is in this chapter that the importance of filters are discussed and water quality parameters are explained.

   Chapter 3 then gives us the next thing on platter for good fish health, nutrition. Covering more than just the basics on what to feed, Terry goes on to share a couple of his very own recipies for a home made frozen food. A word of warning from both he and I on this, make sure you do not anger the significant other by using the brand new food processor or blender.

   Chapter 4 covers Disease and dissection. Covering such things as equipment and a section on euthanasia, and disease identification. This leads us to chapter 5 wich covers parasites and their treatment. Chapter 6 covers bacterial and fungal infections and their cures. Chapter 7 covers viruses and their prevention with chapter 8 covering miscellanous maladies.

   Overall it is a fresh new look at an age old problem(s). With plenty of pictures and graphs.

1 comments about Garden Ponds: Basic Pond Setup And Maintenance (Garden Ponds Made Easy Series).

1. I bought this for my husband. It came with all of the pages stuck together (on the outside, not cut properly). I would have returned it, but we live in Mexico and it was shipped to Houston for him as a gift. I brought it to him here in Mexico, so the return is not possible. The content is fine, the pictures nice, but quality like that is unacceptable.

5 comments about Koi: Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, Pond Design and Maintenance, and Popular Aquatic Plants (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals).

1. If this were an expensive book, I wouldn't rate it so highly, but it has more information than you'd think for a cheap little paperback. The koi varieties section is mediocre, but you want a big glossy hardcover for that anyway, right? The advice on koi handling and transport is outstanding, with great emphasis on minimizing stress to your fish. There is also information on plants, something most koi keepers disdain to mention. Another reviewer thought the author was against wheat germ sticks for koi--he's not condemning them, just saying there's no proof they make a difference in over-wintering. So much of koi advice is unsupported, it doesn't hurt to mention the fact.



2. Where's the part about behavior, the part about training your fish to come on over (admittedly this is easy) and how about a more comprehensive types and markings - it was also sad they really skipped over butterfly koi. Otherwise nice pictures and a good disease section.

   Oh well. Nice book to have, but it is not by any means complete.




3. This book includes everything you need to take care of koi, but sometimes in too much detail. Many of the items in this book are exactly the opposite of what I have read elsewhere (e.g wheatgerm sticks are bad for koi??)
   While too much detail is usually the problem, there are also many parts when there are not enough facts to actually understand what thi book is trying to say.
   It's an OK beginners guide, but some parts can be tedious and confusiong.



4. This book has all the information you need on keeping Koi. Don't let its small size fool you. I have browse through all available Koi books, this book is the only one you need. You will not get more information from other books, except for more pictures. Buy this book and another book titled "The ponder's Bible" for excellent information on pond building and maintenance. These two books will be more than enough for keeping Koi sucessfully.



5. If you're a beginner at having a pond and keeping koi, this is a great book. It has everything from digging the pond, filters and pumps...to everything you need to know to keep the pond clean for your fish. The book identifys the various breeds of koi, with a complete section on diseases.

2 comments about Fish Behavior in the Aquarium and in the Wild (Comstock Books).

1. This book is a must have for anyone who is interested in fish behaviour.



2. Learn how fish hear, recognize each other, navigate around obstacles despite blindness, take care of their kids, and many other interesting facts. Reebs is a Biology professor but he saves the references for the back of the book.

   Give this one to your friends who don't understand why you need a 300-gallon tank in the living room...

2 comments about The Betta Handbook (Barron's Pet Handbooks).

1. This book has tons of information in it if you are writing a detailed report on the background, history and subtypes of bettas. It has a great deal about wild bettas and types of bettas. It wasn't until over half-way through the book that it actually told me information on keeping the betta splenden as a pet, and then it went back to the history lesson again.
   The information that he provided about food types for Bettas was the most helpful part in the whole book.



2. If you can only get 1 book about Bettas this should be it. Dr. Goldstein is an expert and although I do disagree with some of his thoughts on the need to keep Betta variety names to a strict scientific form, I realise his intentions are good as well as valid. His overview of the Betta world is most complete and the many less known "wild" betta species receive excellent coverage in his effort. I do wish it had more photos of the more recent varieties that have been developed such as the Crowntail and Halfmoon but the descriptions are very good and a web directory guides readers to sites which will fill in the gaps. Any of Dr. Goldsteins books are an excellent addition to the Betta or other tropical fish fanciers library. I've been keeping Bettas for more than 40 years now and Dr. Goldstein's books were there every step of the way. This book will most definitely enhance your pleasure in keeping these fascinating little fish!