5 comments about A Fishkeeper's Guide to Aquarium Plants: A Superbly Illustrated Guide to Growing Healthy Aquarium Plants, Featuring over 60 Species.

1. This book is good as a basic reference. It has pictures of most of the popular aquarium plants and a basic how to guide for planted tanks. Definitely good for anyone just starting out or wanting pictures of basic aquarium plants. The care guide in this book is slightly vague on the water parameters/light preferences/nutrient needs for some of the plants.



2. I purchased this book because of the other reviews. I have not been disappointed. Even though I just started reading it last night, I can already recommend it. It's not overly technical, but technical enough to answer all my questions (and I love technical info). For me it offers exactly the right mix of useful info, presented in a concise manner, and is enjoyable to read. After only 20 pages, I really feel like I understand plants better and know the inportant factors/variables under my control to help them grow better! Very useful, and inexpensive!



3. It is a very good book for beginners and a handy reference manual. When I read some reviews, I thought that the photos were microscopic, but they aren't. Very useful, includes 4 types of biotopes for aquascaping.



4. The comments from others hold true but I would like to add one more thing and that is that the book is very small. Although very informative and with good photography (it shows you what plants look like brought up under poor light conditions) I will not reference it often due to its size. The print is tiny and hard to read and the photographs would have been splendid in a larger book. For the budget minded, this book is really worth it.



5. This is a great book for beginners and experienced hobbyists alike. Nice photos, good explanations,descriptions, and care instructions for common and uncommon plants you might encounter. A very handy reference that you will certainly get much use out of.

4 comments about Colored Atlas of Miniature Catfish: Every Species of Corydoras, Brochis & Aspidoras.

1. Greetings....this is probably the best book that you will ever read, about these wonderful cute little fish! BUT...Please note: if you have these fish in your home aquarium, make sure the cover of your aquarium is fitted so your fish cannot jump out! Cory-cats are prone to jumping and they can escape out of the smallest gap in your tank lid! Buy this book so that you may learn all about the many different kinds of miniature catfish, because they make lovely pets....Happy fishkeeping! ;>)



2. As a former manager for a large aquarium shop I purchased a lot of freshwater fish. This was one of my best and favorite reference guides for identification and information about not only the ones I ordered, but the "stow-a-ways" which sometimes sneak in!

   Great for the beginner and the experienced keeper as well and well worth the money!




3. Working as a manager in one of the largest aquarium shops in my state several years ago, I had a perfect opportunity to know and use many books. Some were excellent and others a waste of money. This book is an excellent guide to one of my favorite fish...the cat! Different types of cats are pictured in photos or detailed drawings to make identification much easier. Well worth every penny, it is a must for anyone truly interested in their care!



4. What a fantastic book! I raise corys and was looking for a book that would give me more information on specific species. This book gives a very in depth description of the spawning process for Corys in general then gives more specifics under the individual species if they differ from the "general". It includes advice about water temperature, PH, and water hardness. It is just what I was looking for and is a valuable resource for anyone who is raising corys for breeding or has them in their tanks "just for fun."

2 comments about Freshwater Stingray: An In-Depth Survey of These Magnificent Fishes (Aquaguide).

1. A good book to have in any Freshwater Stingray Hobbyist Library!



2. Here is the skinny, if you want to keep freshwater stingrays, you need this book!
   
   Clear, and updated with great pictures and real advice for those of us who want to provide the best for our fish.
   
   Buy this book!

1 comments about Koi: An Owner's Guide toa Happy Healthy Fish (Happy Healthy Pet).

1. this book is very helpful in giving a begginers look at koi keeping. it gives information about all sorts of things including informationg on breeding, feeding, classification, deiseases and their cures, pond maintenance, and just some basic information that helps give an idea of what koi keeping is like.

   I gave this book four stares because i feel that people with limited experience will like tis book but people with extensive koi knowledge will not find rthis book helpful. Regardless this is a book that should be in everyones books shelf.

2 comments about Setting Up a Freshwater Aquarium: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet.

1. I bought this one for my nine year old son. He received a tank setup for Christmas. Before I would let him start it up, I asked him to review the book. When he was done, we talked about the different responsibilities of taking care of a fish tank.

   To my surprise, he grasped the fundamentals immediately. I took a look at the book and discovered that it truly held a wealth of information for the beginner. Everything from water filters to alkalinity.

   There were no in depth details, but enough to make the reader grasp the concept and be able to ask intelligent questions.

   An adult could probably go through this book in an hour or two. My son took several days and was pleased with his accomplishment.




2. I purchased this book back when I started this hobby. This book helped me out in so many ways I cannot explain. I especially like the part when it states all of the diseases that can occur. I would not purchase this book If you intend to use it as a fish encyclopedia. It does tell you about some good and bad beginner fish though. Happy Reading

   Jon

No comments about Bettas and Gouramis: Understanding Siamese Fighting Fish, Paradisefish, Kissing Gouramis, and Other Anabantoids (Fishkeeping Made Easy).

1 comments about Koi Appreciation: The First Step.

1. Koi Appreciation: The First Step by Kate McGill is a great book. Her introduction is superb. Defining "Appreciation" by expanding upon the words appearing in the dictionary and thesaurus is simply excellent. From the personal appreciation of Koi attachment, Ms McGill expands upon the "structured" approach in the appreciation of Koi. She covers body conformation, skin quality, qualities of color, patterns, pattern edges and balance, variety characteristics, and deportment.
   Then each following chapter covers the specific quality requirements relating to each specific variety of Koi. Varieties discussed are Kohaku, Taisho Sanke, Showa Sanshoku, Utsurimono, Bekko, Tancho, Asagi/Shusui, Koromo, Kin-Gin-Rin, Kawarigoi, Hikarimuji, Hikarimoyo and Hikari Utsuri.
   The colored Photographs are top draw. I really appreciated the photos depicting the negative qualities seen in Koi. A great learning tool.
   The final chapter; Beyond The First Step, covers why one Koi impacts us so. Dominating, impressing and compelling us to place it on a pedestal- to be inspired by a living art form.
   A great book in learning how to appreciate the qualities of Koi through the eyes of a judge.

5 comments about The Guide to Owning Goldfish.

1. this book was very helpful. Easy to find what you need to know, good photos. Extremely practical for goldfish owners or wannabes



2. An overview of goldfish and their needs for beginners, Spencer Glass' slim volume is written in a relaxed and sometimes amusing style, and gives one some of the basics for keeping goldfish healthy and happy. Though not a thorough guidebook, it is better than some other books I've seen, and has enough information to get one going and not make mistakes that could harm or kill your fish. As he states in the introduction, "The purpose of this book is not to turn you into a goldfish expert," but give one a start, and as a primer, it is quite good.
   
   Mr. Glass briefly describes 1: Natural History, and how goldfish became goldfish. 2: Keeping Goldfish, with all the proper and necessary equipment. 3: Water Quality and "new tank syndrome." 4: Feeding, and the dangers of overfeeding. 5: Goldfish Diseases, and the dreaded Ichthyophthirius. 6: Pondkeeping, with 2 photos of huge koi. 7: Varieties of Goldfish, with many nice photos, and 8, a short half page on breeding, which of course, if you intended to do, would take a lot more information.
   
   Like many before me have, I started out foolishly buying a gallon-sized bowl, and placing 4 tiny comet goldfish in it. 3 of them almost immediately went to fish heaven, and the fourth stayed at the bottom of the bowl, hardly moving. With the help of this book and some internet surfing, I have learned a lot in a short time, and that one surviving goldfish is now twice the size, a delight to watch, in a good sized tank with proper water conditions, and with a pretty companion fantail. Goldfish are intelligent creatures, and can be lively, aesthetically pleasing additions to the family and home.



3. Waste of money-I would have rather spent my money on a lotto ticket; at least I would have had a chance in gaining something. Tells you nothing informative, and nothing useful, the pictures are even bad.



4. This book provides excelent information in a very easy to understand and entertaining ways to those who wants to start their hoby with goldfish.



5. Of what this guide to goldfish contains, it does a good job, but it is not thorough enough to be considered comprehensive. Examples of what the book discusses are natural history, equipment, filtration (including the important nitrogen cycle), water quality, feeding, diseases, and varieties of goldfish. There are brief sections on pondkeeping and breeding. The color photographs of the different types of goldfish are interesting. Surprisingly, this guide does not contain any information on the selection of live or artificial plants. Even though the information in this book is helpful, the lack of comprehensiveness is disappointing. Actually, I rate this guide 2.5 stars.

5 comments about Piranhas (More Complete Pet Owner's Manuals).

1. Whether you're interested in learning about piranhas for your own enlightenment or starting your own piranha tank, this book is great. There's a little information on most different types of piranhas and a lot of general information for piranha care. The author also goes into detail of his own experiences with piranhas in their natural environment.



2. there isnt any information in here that anyone who has kept a successful fish tank wouldnt already know, and it seems like none of then info is specific to piranhas. he doesnt go over what size tanks piranhas need, or that they dont like a lot of light, or that they need a heater guard to prevent them from breaking it, or that they can chew through air hoses. seems like a basic fish keeping book plus 2 chapters on piranha history and species.



3. I just bought this book today and have already read it. I also just got 5 baby piranhas and loving it. This book was well put together and is very helpful. Get it if you've got questions about piranhas.....



4. Great book and you can buy most of these piranhas on the internet (...), You buy them over a secure server and their delivered right to your door. Its great.



5. I have been exposed to Piranhas as pets for nearly 3 years. Two of my college roomates kept them and I found them to be excellent pets. When I endevoured into my own world of piranhas I found this book to be an extrememly helful tool in understanding the behavior and environment of the piranha. A must have for the beginer or an excellent addition for the more experienced.

5 comments about Tropical Fishlopaedia: A Complete Guide to Fish Care.

1. I really have enjoyed this book. It goes into detail on several points concerning aquarium fish that other books typically leave out. I learned something new every few paragraphs. It does lack a significant amount of pictures, but makes up for it with the amount of information that it includes. It has a what if...? section, on fish health, which is helpful. If you don't enjoy a lot of reading, this book isn't for you, however you may find it helpful, in that it gives you a heads up when information appears later on in the book, so you can skip ahead.



2. I disagree that this book is shallow. I've checked out dozens of books about fish... and bought several. This one had more information on actually taking care of fish than any other book in my public library. All the other books I have found on the subject have only a few first chapters on maintaining your aquaria. The whole rest of them are devoted to what is sometimes called "fish profiles" there is one or at best three pages devoted to a singular species. That may help a little if you haven't bought your fish yet, but you cannot buy every fish profiled. And those few pages will give only a very limited knowlege about whatever fish you decide on. There are entire books devoted to fish profiles called fish atlases which cover many more species of fish, they weigh a ton and are much better for selecting your tank inhabitants than a book that is half-manual, and half-atlas. Tropial Fishlopedia does not presume to be a fish atlas of individual species... In the books introduction pg.#8 at the begining of the second paragraph the authors say "This book deals with just one aspect of fishkeeping - the maintenace of freshwater tropical fish." and between the end of the second and begining of the third paragraphs, Chapter 3 pg.22 "A list of additional reading matter will be found in Appendix A.
   We cannot stress too highly, or too often the need to research each species before deciding whether to keep it." It is unfair to complain that this book does not sufficently cover fish species when the authors make it so clear that this is not the aim of the book. It IS the most in-depth book on the MATINENCE of tropical freshwater aquariums that I have ever encountered. It delves into the facinating subject of your fishes behavior and motivation, how to observe your fish's actions and body language and interpret whether it is stressed by illness, tankmates, or simply preparing for mating. It covers water chemistry beyond just the 'nitrogen cycle'. It has taught me more about fishkeeping than all the other aquarium books I've ever read in my life and I'm not even halfway through this book! No, it isn't a stiring novel or an exciting cliff-hanging adventure. But it is a good book. The longer words seem carfully choosen so that the meaning is clearest to it's reader. If you care about your fish and think that the pleasure they give you is worth the effort of learning to keep them healthy... if you find aquariums facinate you and trigger your curiosity... if you just feel that your fishkeeping thumbs are brown instead of green and that you must be content with looking at a friends tank because you are not gifted or lucky enough to keep alive fish of your own... if any of these situations describe you, you may find Tropical Fishlopaedia thoroughly satisfying.



3. This book is too generic and lacks the most important thing which is practical advice. One can find some useful information how to start a tank but lots of other books and websites can tell you the same things. The authors did not address in deapth the most important aspects the fishes and their diseases. They tried to encompass a wide spectrum of questions but did it in a shallow way. The book does not tell you anything interesting about individual fishes and does not provide practical assistance in identifying and treating diseseas.



4. This book contains some useful information but the majority of it is far too shallow and fague. The writing within this book is a grammatical disaster. The author's writing style is convoluted, unneccessarily wordy and repetative. While this author may know a great deal about fish she is not a great (or even satisfactory writer). Anyone who has a slight sense of correct English or the fluidity of writing will get a headache from reading this.



5. This book is a good reference resource for general problems that may arise for the beginner to intermediate fishkeeper. Ms. Bailey sets up several chapters such as what behaviors are "normal" for certain species. There's another chapter dedicated to fish diseases. She describes what they are. Another portion of the book is dedicated to environmental causes of problems, such as temperature, osmotic stress, etc. Treatment plans are always offered. What is most helpful with this book is that it is set up in a question/answer format with the questions in bold font. The most important, albeit brief chapter, is how to euthanize a very sick fish. Many books ignore this. Ms. Bailey outlines when it is time to do this and how to do it quickly. She also outlines which methods are actually cruel and should be avoided.
   
   This book isn't really for those who want to learn about individual fish or plants. But, don't let that deter you from purchasing this book. It would be a valuable companion to any fish hobbyist's library!