1 comments about Aquatic Turtles: Sliders, Cooters, Painted, and Map Turtles.

1. This book was helpful for an overview of how to treat and care for our new turtles. My husband loved it.

3 comments about The Leopard Gecko Manual: Includes African Fat-Tailed Geckos (Advanced Vivarium Systems).

1. The leopard gecko is a fascinating little animal. We've immensely enjoyed "B.J." in our home, and this book has lots of good information on all aspects of providing the proper environment, healthcare, and diet for your pet. Pay special information to the information on longevity, though. Unlike other reptiles such as the anole, leopard geckos have long life spans. The longest lived male in captivity is 29 and the longest lived female is 21. Females, in general, live considerably shorter life spans than males, but they still have typical lifespans longer than that of the domesticated cat. Many people buy a leopard gecko for their child expecting that the reptile will live only two or three years, then get rid of the animal when they realize their error and the length of the commitment involved.
   
   As for the details of the book, it thoroughly explains sexing and selection of a good specimen for those who have not purchased a gecko yet. The section on housing your gecko shows you how to construct a naturalistic vivarium. If you are interested in breeding geckos, there is information on that subject plus the research of Dr. Brian Viets on temperature sex determination and coloration in case you want to specify those aspects of the geckos you breed. Also for you breeders, there are thorough instructions on the set-up and calibration of a home-made incubator. Roger Klingenberg, DVM, covers the diseases of the leopard gecko and their treatment in one dedicated chapter. Ron Tremper has a chapter on color and pattern variation illustrated primarily by photos of his own geckos. Tremper has developed much of what is now known about so-called "designer" leopard geckos. There is a nice section at the end of the book on other interesting geckos such as the Arizona Banded, the Texas Banded, the Central American Banded, the African Clawed, the Japanese Leopard, and the Malaysian Cat Geckos. There are plenty of eye-catching photos spread throughout the book.
   
   This book may have more information than you need if you are a "casual" leopard gecko owner, but that is better than having insufficient information.



2. If you are a beginner owner like myself, then this book is all you need to get started and become experienced. All necessary topics are covered and there are numerous contributors to this books chapters which makes it an excellent and diverse read. I have not read other leopard gecko books but see little point at this time. Hard to go wrong with this.



3. The top gecko people in the country collaborated to write this book, and the information is extensive, but simple to understand. It goes beyond the beginner's how to set up a tank and feeding, and gets into breeding for different colors and all the different 'morphs' that have been created so far, with many good pictures. It is the most up-to-date so far in terms of new morphs (colors). After reading it the first time, I like to keep looking through it just for the pictures and to re-read the information on genetics 101. Besides being great little pets who will sit on your shoulder, Leopard Geckos are a popular classroom tool for teaching genetics at high school and college level, and I recommend this book for teachers and students. Most other Gecko books you pick up at the Pet Shop are not worth keeping.
   BTW- Co-author and top breeder Ron Tremper is coming out with a more in-depth book soon (Summer 2005) for advanced breeding information and ideas. It will be the first of this type written on Leopard Geckos.

3 comments about Aquarium Care of Cichlids (Animal Planet Pet Care Library).

1. From a Teacher. . .
   
   Claudia Dickinson's new book, the "Aquarium Care of Cichlids" is a great fish and learning resource for any new or veteran teacher, or simply for a student of cichlids, not only because it is so accurate and informative, but because of how it is written. The book understands teaching in that the pages are "interactive" and the chapters reflect an important teaching flow.
   The pages are "interactive" in design as they are filled with engaging images framed with different geometric shapes that captures the eye and draws you into the critical information provided in a short format and then expanded on throughout the chapter's pages. The engagement goes further by providing the reader, both young and old, with expert knowledge and summary pages for emphasis and clarity.
   The book is ideal for learning because of its logical flow that builds upon itself. First, the books starts with the critical question, "Why Cichlids," and then advances the reader Chapter by Chapter through background information, preparations to be accomplished, and then a number of critical care chapters. This emphasis on learning as you read and then putting the animals first is thoroughly reinforced next through a new important but action oriented question, "Which Cichlid is Best for Me?" The final chapter provides the "real" world connections that can be used by a veteran or newcomer to take their new-found knowledge to ever increasing levels of understanding. For me, as well as for my students, the book is as much a resource as a guide for thinking about the "Aquarium Care of Cichlids." If you have a cichlid tank at home, or in a classroom, this book should be close by for all to be taught about what they are seeing each day in their designed aquatic habitat. The book puts fish and learning first, and this fact makes the book invaluable. I recommend this book highly and without reservation based on my 35 years of teaching experience, work with teachers as a professor at Johns Hopkins University and the co-author of a number of curriculums.



2. This book is written by the consumate enthusiast. There is not a chapter that does not contain valuable and practical information on this outstanding family of fishes. Not only does the author enlighten you, she inspires you, or perhaps I should say she allows these fascinating fishes to inspire you. Cichlids are freshwater fish known for their intelligence and the wonderful parental care of their fry. No one has ever conveyed their amazing qualities better than Claudia Dickinson. I have been keeping aquarium fish for over 40 years, and have read many aquarium books (well over a hundred). I can assure potential buyers that this is must read for anyone interested in cichlids. It has a permanent place in my collection.



3. Those of us in-the-know have been anxiously awaiting the debut of Aquarium Care of Cichlids, by Claudia Dickinson. It has fulfilled our expectations, and then some! The author is an extremely experienced and knowledgeable aquarist. She shares all of that with her readers, along with her effervescent enthusiasm. On one page she becomes an historian, on another a scientist, and on many others she is a hobbyist just like you or me. Her writing style is friendly without being flippant!
   There are eight chapters simply overflowing with advice and information. It is published by T.F.H., and it is also part of the Animal Planet Pet Care Library; "Expertly written, these user-friendly guides are bound to delight the entire family."
   Even though this is Ms. Dickinson's first book, she is far from a beginning author. She has won multiple awards for the countless articles she has written for such publications as Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Cichlid News, Buntbarsche Bulletin, and Modern Aquarium, to name but a few.
   To quote Ms. Dickinson: "If reading this book sets you on the road to success with your first cichlid aquarium, these pages will have served their purpose well." Ultimately, YOUR review will be the most telling!
   (Submitted by the book review columnist for Modern Aquarium magazine.)

5 comments about Turtles and Tortoises (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. I just wanted to learn more about turtles and it has lots of info about different types of turtles. It is in a pretty easy format and has lots of photos too.



2. When I got my turtle, Tim, I didn't know a thing about turtles - so I got this book as well as did a ton of research online. This book has TONS of good information (and pictures) about how to care for and house turtles. My turtle is several years old now, and is very happy and healthy. I recommend this to anyone who is looking to get a pet turtle. The reality of turtle-keeping is that it is a LOT of work. Turtles are dirty, and even with high powered filters their tanks need constant cleaning. I didn't know what I was getting in to, but it's worth the effort! Turtles are wonderful pets, and this book will give you all the basic information you need to know.



3. This is a great book to get you started in the hobby. This book is loaded with valuable information in an easy to read format with loads of pictures and examples. The basics are covered as well as a few of the more in depth topics. The chapters on breeding and hybernating are a little confusing and more information and ideas could have been added. The differences in the requirments needed by different species could have been covered also. This is a general care book. Nothing to fancy. If you want specifics buy a book on the species you are interested in.



4. For such little investment a wealth of information. From species identification and care basics to 72 color pictures and great tips from true turtle experts. This is a must for a turtle enthusiasts library!



5. Though inexpensive, this book provides a wealth of excellent information. It is the most used book in my extensive collection of turtle identification and care books. All turtle owners, beginners and experienced alike, should have this book.

5 comments about Hermit Crabs: Complete Pet Owner's Manual.

1. I picked up this book because we recently got two hermit crabs and I wanted to learn more about taking care of them. While this book was among the more helpful I've come across on the subject, I was hoping it would be more detailed. Everything in it was useful, and it helped me know what to do for the basics, but I want to go a little more advanced.



2. I found the book to be extremely informative and helpful.
   there was a great deal of information that i found very useful. Very pleased with this product.



3. With there not being out the in pet stores on how to care for your hermies, this book is very helpful for the novice owner or even for a brush up for someone more experienced. I like to try and read as much as I can. It explains the background of the species as well as how to care for them properly. Thru that, it shows that they are NOT just a disposable pet to live in a little plastic container w/ a 1/4 inch of sand :-( hopefully someday that philosophy will change. They are so interesting and can live a very long time if taken care of properly. It is only a lot of work if you do not have the time.



4. This book has everything that the novice hermit crab owner needs to know to take care of and enjoy their hermit crabs! Information on food, water, environment and behavior can be found easily. This book really helped us learn about our new pets!



5. I bought this book and WOW, it totally helped me take care of my hermit crab Sidney. It tells you all that you need to know to let your hermit crab live safely and happily ever after!

No comments about The Pet Owner's Guide to the Tortoise (Pet Owner's Guide S.).

4 comments about Lake Malawi Cichlids (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This book has a great overview of how to setup a Malawi Cichlid tank. It also has some specific information about some of the more popular cichlid species. This is a great book for anyone looking to setup a Cichlid tank or for people who would like some more specific information on Malawi Cichlids.



2. Good little book, but some stunning errors in husbandry descriptions which could be a potential disaster for beginning Mbuna keepers. I highly recommend that aquarists look for at least a second opinion before choosing individual species as described in this book.



3. This is THE best little cichlid book for Lake Malawi. But don't let the word little fool you, this book is packed with information on dozens of Lake Malawi cichlids. I especially like that the book breaks down the lake's cichlids into the two main categories of mbuna and Haplochromines. There are over 100 excellent color photos of the most popular species accompanied by descriptions of natural habitat, size, husbandry requirements, diet, and breeding. I always take this book with me when I go to a fish auction or my local aquarium society meeting. There are other books that contain information on more species but none that gives you this much information at such a great price!



4. Book Lake Malawi Cichlids describes natural habitats of Lake Malawi, different groups of cichlids and gives very good instructions how to set up aquarium that will match fish's natural requirements. It contains beautiful photos (some of them also taken in the nature!) and descriptions of some aquariums cichlids. It contains a lot of information given in very understandable way, I missed that in many other more comprehensive books. I recommend this book to all beginners and also to more advanced aquarists.

5 comments about Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owner's Manual.

1. I've bought 6 different books on iguanas and they all took from this one. This book contains more information than I've been able to find anywhere else.



2. I loved this book, it has so much helpful information, and you could tell that the author really cared about Iguanas.



3. A Fantastic Book and very comprehensive. He gives you all the information that you will ever need if you want an iguana. PURCHASE THIS BOOK BEFORE YOU OWN AN IGUNA. There are full plans for making the ultimate home and I wish I would have had it before I had one built. All the others books I purchased are obsolate!



4. First-rate coverage of the whys & wherefores of raising iguanas, especially the Green Iguana. It would be a good idea to read the first few chapters before buying to get a feel for the Iguana "lifestyle".



5. As the subtitle says, this is the "ultimate owner's manual." It is comprehensive book, with detailed and specific information, punctuated by anecdotes from iguana owners. Because the iguana is a difficult pet to maintain, with specific environmental and dietary requirements, this book is essential to the iguana owner.

4 comments about Pythons (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. Helps in choosing a species, but offers little care advice relating to the care of specific species. Still, I consider this a must-have for its basic information on sexing snakes, helping them shed, and ensuring a proper feeding schedule.



2. Since I don't have a pet python yet and i don't want to have an accident so I bought this book in order to familiarize everything before buying one or two if possible.

   For me, this is the most comprehensive book about pythons on how to select, care, breed and medical nutrition and behavior on such lovable snakes.

   So, hobbyist or the like... buy this book first in order to be a more effective and good caretaker of your own python... =)




3. 9 main topics about 95 pages , understanding pythons , acquiring your python , caging , general husbandry , medical problems , breeding , incubation , species , useful addresses . A good book for the beginning python owner and a good source of general information . Full-color photos !



4. This is a good book for the beginning python owner and a good source of general information from choosing, housing, breeding, and caring for pythons. It also has a section describing the care and characteristics of different species. One great section actually illustrates rather than decribes the sexing of pythons, which is impressive for a book this size. I have herp books in my collection costing 15x as much that do not illustrate this process. For the cost, a very good book.

No comments about Leopard Geckos For Dummies (For Dummies (Pets)).