3 comments about The Essential Freshwater Aquarium (The Essential Guides).

1. I used this book to clean up a dying 10 gallon tank and start a 55 gallon tank and the information was invaluable. Two years later I still refer back to this book (in fact I am buying a replacement for my lost copy). I found it to contain all the essential information one needs, plus great information on fish personalities and interactions. The fish descriptions and types are quite abridged, but for a small handy guide this book is the one you need.
   
   It covers the basics from tank setup to the nitrogen cycle to what species do well together. There is a guide to recognizing fish diseases - I can't praise this small book enough. I like things to be concise. For elaboration I go to the library. Keep this near your tank.



2. I find this to be a solid reference guide when it comes to setting up a freshwater aquarium. Some of the things discussed are fish evolution and biology, tank size, aquarium stands, water chemistry (including the important nitrogen cycle), different types of filters, aeration, heating, lighting, gravel, plants, general maintenance, freshwater fish families, fish selection, feeding, and health. The color photographs are also pleasing. This is a helpful book.



3. very goo

5 comments about Encyclopedia Of Exotic Tropical Fishes For Freshwater Aquariums.

1. I HAVE WANTED THIS BOOK SINCE IT WAS PUBLISHED, AND WHEN I COULD
   GET IT FROM YOU, I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY. I FIND IT TO BE THE BEST
   OF REFERENCE BOOKS AROUND TO DATE. THANK YOU.



2. I enjoyed the book immensly. I read it in one day cover to cover all 900+ pages. Very informative and great pictures of fish. I have been a hobbyist for 20 years and I still learned something from it.



3. The author doesn't even include the temperature to keep the fish.



4. I wanted one great dictionary for reference as I just got started with my aquarium a few months ago. I found this to be badly indexed, and since it is alphabetical by Latin subspecies and then Latin name within it, they assume a great deal of knowledge right off the bat. Then you need to look up the common name in the index to find the latin name and my most common fish aren't even in there under common name (ie., Molly, Platy). Guppy is under "D" in the index, a typo for "G" - which makes me think this wasn't even proofread. I really didn't need information on freshwater fish like bass and pike, since those aren't aquarium fish, so don't understand who the audience is supposed to be. Many fish in here measure over a foot in length. I have an aquarium, I'm not going fishing.



5. Unlike many previous Tropical Fish books from the Tropical Fish Hobbyist publisher that were not much more that an unorganized child's picture book, this Encyclopedia is well oganized and has a great common name and scientific name index. A desciption of the fish is on the left page with two corresponding pictures on the right page which makes for easy reading. I would rate this book 5 stars if the descriptions were more detailed. It leaves out temperature range, PH range, sexing information, etc. even though there is sufficient room in the description area for about 40% more verbiage. I recommend this book to be used in conjunction with the 4 Volume set of the Baensch Aquarium Atlas which provides much greater detail of each fish species.

2 comments about Betta: Your Happy Healthy Pet.

1. I bought this book at a PetCo that was going out of business, this was after having owned my own fish. I had a Betta before, and had done a lot of research online, so I thought I knew what I was doing. When I started reading this book in the store I realized that this was a lot more complete and thorough than the hundreds of articles I read online. This books gives consistent advice, and covers such a large range of information. The advice Tullock gives is logical and great. I definitely recommend this book for all, especially for such a decent price!



2. We "adopted" our very first Betta fish, Ray, last July. We just love him but weren't sure if we were taking care of him properly. This book was wonderful and so very helpful. It is easy to understand and separated so that your questions can be answered quickly. A must for all parents of Bettas!

4 comments about Discus: A Reference Book.

1. I have bought this book thinking to include discus in community tank - so what I needed was a general guide to choosing and buying discus, a book to help me decide whether my community tank is any good for this not easy fish, what I got instead is a book concentrated TOTALLY on BREEDING - if you need beginner info on breeding discus the book might help even though it's too general to be of real help. If you are just considering keeping discus this book won't help - there is not any practical detail info on how to choose and keep these fish. And also there are plenty of pictures in the book but not enough used to illustrate the text. I wish I'd have chosen different book!



2. Great book if you want a book to cover everything about Discus from A to Z



3. It is clear that the author has a serious love for Discus. Very easy reading, lots of great information. His excitement is felt in his writing.



4. This is one of many books written on Discus by Bernd Degen, an very experienced discus breeder. The book is particularly suitable for the beginning Discus keeper and has excellent topics about discus care and selection. There is an rather good introduction to breeding too, showinh thechniques in detail. It is not an very detailed book, I think most Discus experts will miss more detailed information on breeding and on selection, specially about the wild types. But in general it is a good introduction to the novice in the Discus world.

5 comments about DK Handbooks: Aquarium Fish.

1. Really a little gem of a book. It's small enough to fit comfortably in your hands and it's just stuffed with information and tasty graphics. The Art Director must have been giggling with delight, the book is really a showpiece. The colorful photos jump off the page and the text is handled in the usual effortless DK manner. Even if you have zero interest in fish, this book is a joy to page through. Beautifully put together.



2. This is a good quick reference guide & has has a good collection of species & varieties. You couldn't raise any fish from the information in this book - but it certainly makes choosing those right for you aquarium a little easier.



3. Like all DK books this little (72 page) book is very pretty and well organized. Unfortunately it provides little info and also misleads the buyer. At first glance it appears to cover 101 fish ("101 Aquarium Fish" is in large print) but only 40 fish are covered and 5 of these are just different types of goldfish. Of the remaining 61 "Essential Tips" included are: Tip #61-Clubs, discusing joining a club, and tip #45 Choosing Prepacked Food, showing photos of different food types ie flakes (2 types shown), pellets, tablets etc.



4. While this is a good quick reference guide, I have found that I have needed another book for most things. This would probably be good for kids as long as parents have another source for more detailed reference.



5. This is a handy little guidebook that features very high-quality photographs (it's another DK book) of just about every aquarium fish you are likely to encounter. It is useful primarily for those looking to distinguish their Five-Banded Barbs from their Checker Barbs or their Madagascar Rainbowfish from their Siamese Tigerfish - i.e. it is a book for fish nerds. I do recommend this book for the enthusiast and the beginner alike, however the beginner should not rely on this book alone as it does not provide nearly enough information on setting up the aquarium, choosing compatible fishes, and trouble-shooting. My main criticism is that while the design and layout of the book, and the large, clear color photos of the fish, makes it a pleasure to read, it provides only very basic information about each fish. For some unknown reason, the critically important subject of water chemistry and temperature is practically ignored. I also find it disturbing that the author does not really indicate which fishes are good for the beginner, and which are more fragile, and suitable only for more advanced aquarists. This is an unfortunate exclusion given the fact that so many fish languish and die in tanks owned by inexperienced people who lack the knowledge to properly choose and care for them. If you're looking for information you can really use, there is not much point in learning to distinguish between 500 different varieties of fishes, but not knowing which of those fishes you would be most likely to be able to keep successfully (taking into account such factors as your level of skill/experience, local water chemistry, the size of the tank etc.). Still, it's worth a look.

4 comments about Aquarium Plants (Mini Encyclopedia Series for Aquarium Hobbyists).

1. I bought this book specifically because it has a guide to diagnose plant problems. The leaves are turning yellow? That means something specific! There are holes in the leaves? That means something else entirely! Well worth the price if you're having problems growing healthy plants or are just starting out in the hobby.



2. this book is more than a paperback of color plant profiles, it touches on all the basics of fresh water chemistry, plant keeping, layout and maintenance, using short paragraphs and nicely illustrated pages. it lost a star for not elaborating more on the wide variety of fish, shrimp and snails that are often used to keep a planted aquarium clean.



3. This book is a great buy for the price. It has the most recent information (2005 edition), is nicely organized and formatted, and the illustrations and descriptors are very good. The sections on individual plants is very helpful with most popular plant types illustrated and described. I especially like the fact that the decriptions, while brief, are very to the point and provide essential information in a clear concise way (plant height, light and other requirements, overall ease of maintenance, growth rate, suggested placement in tank etc). Not as comprehensive in listing species as some other books, but more than enough for most avid aquarists (I have had aquaria and live plants for over 25 years!). If you buy only one book, make it this one!



4. Basically a good book. Pictures are nice and I couldn't find many faults. Book could be more extensive.

5 comments about Tropical Freshwater Aquarium Fish from A to Z (Compass Guides).

1. This book has may types of fish profiles, including many popular aquarium fish, and great pictures. It has the nifty plastic jacket, which anyone with a fish tank will appreciate. It is a small enough book to bring with you to the fish store, and informative enough to make you glad you brought it.



2. An OK book that is very brief in its details of fish species and occasionally slightly inaccurate with regards compatibilities. Very nice pictures that get it an additional star from me just because they make species identification a lot easier than some of other books. It has a nice plastic cover for those times when you're reading and dripping at the same time and is handily pocket sized for taking to the shops with you.



3. Not a lot of detailed info, but it's a great visual reference guide. I love it and it's cheap!



4. As someone new to the hobby, this book helped me tremendously in selecting not only what fish I could and should put in my new fish tank, but helpful tips as to how I should care for them (Ph levels, water temps, compatible types, etc.). I reviewed this book and read "The Essential Freshwater Aquarium" guide; both books help ensure that my first try as an aquarist results in a healthy environment for my fish. I was so impressed by the A to Z Guide that I bought one for a friend who has kept fish for over a year but was mixing fish indiscriminately without regard to the size of her tank or the type of fish already in the tank. We both now have a high enthusiasm for our aquariums and consult the guide before any new fish purchase. Highly recommended for new and experienced aquarists.



5. This books fits our needs quite well. It is appropriate for our 7-year old son while at the same time provides details an adult reader would find interesting and useful.

3 comments about Discus Health: Selection, Care, Diet, Diseases & Treatments for Discus, Angelfish and Other Cichlids.

1. I purchase this book on the basis of many good reviews I read concerning the detailed information it has on keeping and maintaining healthy Discus. It's lived up to those reviews and I keep it around for good reference material.



2. I have had this book since it was published and it is a complete guide to the health and well being of not only discus but other cichlids as well. If I have ever had a problem, a question or a need...this book has had the answer for me! It is, quite simply, the BEST there is...it is that simple.



3. this is a really great book with many ideas about the ways to treat discus fish and their diseases it is useful n case of any other soft water fish a famous japanese koi hatchery uses it for reference too. it saved many of my fish and saved me alot of money too.A MUST HAVE book it is now out of stock but i got a promise from the publisher to have it republished soon.

5 comments about Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook.

1. The was is a great over veiw for people just getting started with the reef hobby. However if you are an intermediate hobbiest the book is very basic and you will most likely not learn anything that you do not know. If your new its a good book to start with.



2. This book was thoroughly disappointing. Provided OK information, but was entirely too technical in its approach. If you do not have a Ph.D. in biology then do not bother with this book, you will not understand it.



3. It should be rated at 5 stars but I give only 4 stars because of its technical nature and my beginner's comprehension. After that, it is a compact guide full of useful, hands-on info that helps the hobbyist create their own ideal aquarium environment.



4. Don't get me wrong, this book is good, however... while reading the book, it uses mostly the scientific names for everything. It would be nice if after the scientific name, it has a common name in parenthesis, you know, using the names the fish stores use. Other than that, it is a decent book.



5. Yes, 5 stars! Pound for pound (and dollar for dollar) this is one of the best books on marine reef keeping you can buy.

   I own several reef and aquarium books. They range from the brilliant, to the not-so-swift-waste-of-money types. The "Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook" by Robert J. Goldstein ranks waaaay up the list, kept from the top only because of its brevity.

   This book touches on a LOT of topics, and it covers them in enough detail to really help you understand and apply what you need to keep your reef (or any aquarium) running well. Due to its (somewhat) small size, it does not cover topics in great detail. Depending on what you want, that may or may not be a good thing. There is however, enough information, written in plain English, for any aquarium keeper--from rank beginner, to the Old Man in the Sea--to learn something new.

   No, this book doesn't contain the depth of information that one of those $80 marine reef books does. But it contains a wealth of information and will send you well on your way to starting up a reef or maintaining your current reef. Even if you're just looking for an interesting read, you can't go wrong with the "Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook" by Robert J. Goldstein.

5 comments about Complete Aquarium.

1. The first half of book talk about how to plan e design the tank, and about equipament. The rest of book show how to mount various biotypes of tanks, realy, the second part is like a layouts guide, with types of fish, plants, rocks and etc for each biotype.



2. We have aquariums, but really knew next to nothing about the correct way to set them up and maintain them. This book was both informational and reinforced what we did know.



3. This is an usual book compared to many of the others I have read recently but I like it. It contains many beautiful pictures of aquarium setups with step by step directions on producing the finished product. The various aquariums are representative of different habitats all over the world. It is a joy to look through even though you may not be creating a new aquarium.



4. I first bought this book looking for a book about building aquariums and was very disappointed. It is titled "The Complete Aquarium, A practical guide to building ....... aquariums". It, however, does not discuss the actual building of an aquarium, what it is refering to is the setting up of an aquarium. It does provide beautiful information for setting up theme tanks, ie. natural environment tanks from lakes, rivers, etc from around the world. It is also very attractive and well organized as is typical of a DK book.



5. This wasnt the type of book for a newbie if you just wanted to know about fish. This is more of a HOW TO book for setting up different types of tanks. I guess it would be a great book if you were really deep into fish other than just wanting a nice community tank that looks nice and the fish wont eat each other.