5 comments about Konings' Book of Cichlids and All the Other Fishes of Lake Malawi (Guide to Owning A...).

1. This is one of the most poorly produced books I have ever encountered. At least 25 text pages have been left in German--what was the publisher thinking?--and the design is atrocious. It will be a cold day in Hades before I buy another TFH Publications book.



2. While this book has some great pictures in it, and the information about the species and lake is good, the arrangement of the species could really use some work. For some reason, Konings has decided to to arrange the species based on outdated classifications, something he acknowledges doing. The reasoning for this is not entirely clear, maybe its because he's an old fuddy-dud who insisted on using archaic and inaccurate classifications. This alone could be forgiven, after all, the book was published over 10 years ago, at a time when the more accurate classifications were still relatively new. However, what is more confusing is that konings has changed the names of the species to reflect the new system of classification. So while the species are arranged in the order of the old classification their names do not reflect this. For example, under the outdated naming system the Cyrtocara group of fish is arranged alphabetically as Cyrtocara ahli, Cyrtocara anagenys, Cyrtocara anaphyrmus and so on. However, Konings does not label these species as Cyrtocara xxxxx, rather he names them using their accurate names of Sciaenochromis Ahli, Exochromis anagenys, Maravichromis anaphyrmus and so on. Thus when you try and look up Otopharynx lithobates, rather than looking for the names starting with "O" you must flip randomly through the book (all 495 pages of it) or look it up in the index at the back. Needless to say, this becomes very frustrating. Oh, by the way, I hope you can read German, because about 10 pages of the book are written in it. I'm not sure if this is a problem with only my copy or with all of them but it too is very annoying. (maybe that explains why the book sold for almost 40% off) Anyway, despite these problems the book does contain some good info and pictures and as a coffee table book it succeeds wonderfully, particularly if your guests don't know much about fish. However, as a reference book it is inferior to much of the information and pictures that can be found on the internet. My adice: check out www.cichlid-forum.com for some good info on the species, then pick this book up to impress your friends.



3. This is one of my favorite books. Once again Ad Konings does a wonderful job of presenting the fish of Lake Malawi.

   This book provides the Konings typically wonderful photos of virtually all of the fish and color morphs. The information provided on each fish is excellent as well.

   This is a must have for the serious cichlidiot.




4. This book is excellent for someone who is more interested in identifying lake malawi fish as opposed to general information on how to properly keep these fish in a home aquarium. For someone who is not a beginner, this definitely is a must have book. The pictures are great and there is a whole lot of information on lake malawi and the general characteristics of each fish. Buy this book, it will be a decision you will not regret.



5. Mr. Konings has provided the african cichlid enthusiast with a lavishly illustrated reference work that covers the vast majority of mbuna encountered in the hobby as well as rare open water cichlids. Also included are photos of many non-cichlid species of fish (catfish,etc.) found in Lake Malawi. Detailed descriptions of each type of cichlid are given including size, spawning behavior, diet, and habitat. An excellent book!

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.

No comments about An Essential Guide to Choosing Your Marine Tropical Fish: A Detailed Survey of over 60 Marine Fish Suitable for a First Collection (Tankmaster S.).

No comments about 500 Ways to be a Better Saltwater Fishkeeper: Hints and Tips from a Team of Experts.

2 comments about Complete Aquarium Logbook.

1. I keep searching for more books by Kevin Boyd. Both this guidebook, and the "complete Aquarium Problem Solver" book together give you the tools to learning what proper fishkeeping is all about. The cartoons are humorous and entertaining as well. I often dig these two books up ALWAYS putting aside my other 15 books of fishkeeping. I prefer Boyd's style and easy to understand explanations. These chapters are also organized for easy reference.



2. This book is a true look into the masterful writing style of Boyd. The sheer poetry expressed in this book about Aquariams truly moved me when I sought guidance for repairing the aquariam for my pet goldfish. It was a pleasure to read this book. I am a lifelong fan of aquariam books after reading this.

5 comments about Reef Life: Natural History & Behaviors of Marine Fishes & Invertebrates.

1. What a delightful and informative book! As I've been able to do more diving and snorkling in SE Asia the past couple of years, identifying the underwater life has become a hobby as much as my love of birding. But I wanted to know more than just identification. This book is very readable and informative, suitable for adults and older children. The photographs are gorgeous and very clear. I'm reading it cover to cover. Many thanks to the Tacketts!



2. I have the complete set of books now and I really enjoy having the infromation so when I go diving in Cozumel each year it really helps me identify the different species. This really helps when you are one of the few that does not know it all.



3. This is a beautiful book with incredible pictures. Additionally it has very informative text. It is a great book for anyone with a serious interest in reefs & reef life.



4. I have been waiting for this book! Burt Jones got me focused on the 'one metre' dive a few years back and I've been enjoying macro critters and muck diving ever since. In this awsome new book, the Tacketts bring you their personal experiences with the macro world and incorportate a great deal of useful information which can help all of us better understand the interrelationships amongst all the critters. That understanding is one of the keys to making better images of the critters.

   If you are a diver and you really want to get acquainted with the underwater world, stop swimming and start looking. And this book gives you step by step pointers on how to go about looking and helps you understand what you are seeing.




5. The Tacketts have achieved something remarkable with this book. Not only is the quality of the photographs consistently high, but the detailed information within the text is logical and accessible to any diver whether they be experts in marine biology or simply curious fish watchers.
   This American husband and wife team seem to have lived many divers dream existence. Travelling the Indo Pacific for 13 years, they would camp on a beach with their own compressor and make three dives a day collecting sponge specimens for medical research.
   The scientific information is clear and broken down into digestible chunks, enlivened by well annotated pictures - everything from mantis shrimps eating coral shrimps, to frogfish camouflaged against cup corals. Predation, reproduction, camouflage, feeding and mimicry are all wonderfully explained. And, in keeping with the mood of the times there is a final section on reefs in danger - overfishing, cyanide, pollution etc, complete with appropriate photos including a poignant shot of an octopus trying to cover itself with a piece of broken plastic audio-cassette.
   A substantial glossary at the end of the book covers everything from allelopathy to zooxanthellae.
   The strength and value of this book is that it is not just a collection of good underwater images, I suspect it will become an invaluable primer for any diver who wants to look at reefs in an intelligent way.

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

3 comments about The Proper Care of Malawi Cichlids.

1. I had great expectations from this book but found it very dissappointing. As a new hobbyist I was hoping that this book would give me an idea on how to set up a tank and all the information required for keeping my fish happy but the book was very vague and did not talk about the very marked variation in the different types of cichlids and their needs. The basic tank set-up did not talk about how to introduce new fish into the tank or about the numbers of fish suitable in a tank. Although it mentioned all the equipment it did not really discuss what important features a new hobbyist should be looking for when buying equipment. This book can be used a begginers introduction to Mbuna but not really worth the money.



2. For the beginner Mbuna keeper an easy ,readable book to start.Well organized content,good pictures,wealth of useful info.After 18 years of Mbuna keeping I still use it as a reference.



3. Mary Sweeney's "The Proper Care of Malawi Cichlids" only covers Mbuna cichlids. More than half of the book talks about tank setup that is all common sense. She overemphasizes obvious points and barely covers or doesn't cover at all the important information. The pictures are not varied enough - alot of pictures of the exact same fish. I think this book would be better titled "Proper Care of Mbuna Cichlids of Lake Malawi". I am very disappointed in this book.

1 comments about The Fascination of Breeding Aquarium Fish.

1. This is a highly exclusive book and a really big one too! The main target group will most certain be experienced aquarists with an urge to do something more exciting with their aquarium pals. The book's size is, as mentioned, huge (13''x9'') and with some 450 pages. But you never get bored, every page got one or more color - photos in a sort of "feels-like-a-real-photo" quality. Dr. Axelrod and Mary E. Sweeney guides us through the spawning procedures for 160 different fish species, all in a familiar, storytelling way. This book do not have any info-bars or a system like the one you find in the Aqualog serie or in the great "All about Tropical Fish" by Derek McInerny, but if you read the spawning story about the specific fish, you will know all you need to know about your fish. This is not a newbe introduction however, but it got a great chapter about general care for the spawn with a special emphasis on food and feeding. The main part of the book is a learning experience in words and in pictures that can not be fully explained. Buy this book, you will not regret it!

1 comments about An Essential Guide to Choosing Your Koi Colour Varieties: An Essential Guide to Choosing Your Koi (Pondmaster S.).

1. I was rather disappointed in this book. I purchased it to learn more about the blue Koi in my pond. A blue was illistrated, but only one page was devoted to this color sad to say.