3 comments about Taking Terrapin Home: A Love Affair With a Small Catamaran..

1. Interested in catamarans, cruising, outfitting and crossing the sea? If you are do not buy this book. This smallish tome is long on ego and little on hard information. We do learn that our boorish captain has a baron in his bloodlines, that he is a divemaster, an amateur anthropologist, has relatives at Cambridge and seems to jump from London and back again seemingly at will and from anywhere. We also know that to sail with him is not fun(ask the poor couple who endured his company on one leg of the journey only to flee port as soon as they arrived). I have never heard such a littany of failures at sea or just plain miserable passages since Herb Payson's Blown Away. Unlike Payson, the skipper here is humorless and of little interest. As for sailing insights, you won't find much of value here. This unfortunate yachtie never talks of his boat's abilities relative to other craft(monohulls) when faced with difficult or uncomfortable circumstances. Our inadequate admiral is all too puffed-up with himself and his new-age anti-smoking, anti-population, anti-crew attitudes to properly attend to a simple shore power problem or understand that when you kill a dolphin fish it dies and it loses its color along with its life. Some ecologist our unfortunately named "captain".



2. This book is the biggest load of rubbish that I have read about a small boat voyage. His insistance on fancy gadgets is an insult to the great sailors of yesteryear like Moitessier and Tangvald etc. He did not seem to enjoy the voyage either and his endless bitching and moaning about the motor makes me wonder why he didn't biff the bloddy thing overboard along with the rest of his other "essential" electronic gadgets. I mean to say, a sail boat is for sailing! And his "essential" list is an absolute joke. If you want to read a book about real small boat voyagers who did it without all the fancy equipment I give you three authors: Shane Acton, Peter Tangvald and Bernard Moitessier.



3. The author commissioned the building of his Heavenly Twins 27' Catamaran in England. He then sailed her via France to his home in Florida. His voyage takes him through the French canals to the Mediterranean, and homeward bound across the Atlantic. Wilson entertains you with a fresh in-depth look at one of the great sailing routes of antiquity, vividly describing his encounters with nature, crew and fellow cruisers. His command of the language [The King's English] offers a light touch that makes for pleasureable reading. "Terrapin" contains a vast amount of practical information which should prove invaluable to anyone contemplating such a voyage -- or merely dreaming about it. In short, "Terrapin" is a delightful and informative book

No comments about Catalogue of the Neotropical Squamata: Part 1, Snakes; Part 2, Lizards and Amphisbaenians.

1 comments about The Guide to Plants for the Reptile Terrarium (Guide To...(T.F.H. Publications)).

1. The book isn't the best. Its short a mere 64 pages and a good number of the pages are covered with pictures. The lighting section was useful but you could of gotten the rest of the information from a houseplant book.

No comments about Pinesnakes.

3 comments about Day Geckos (General Care, Maintenance and Breeding Series).

1. to the world of Phelsuma is this book. Though generally very helpful and nice, some of the info (especially latin names) is not up to date, some species are missing (Phelsuma Pronki, Phelsuma Masohoala etc.) due to their recent discovery. If you are able of reading german, I can only advise you to get a copy of the amazing book:

   Faszinierende Taggeckos - Gattung Phelsuma Authors: Hallmann/Krueger/Trautmann

   This is the bible of Phelsuma friends.




2. Covers all species and subspecies in the genus phelsuma (including limited information on those thought to be extinct), each with detailed care information and most with color photographs. Details basic care with extensive information on a variety of food sources and nutritional information, cage construction ideas, health problems, breeding, and incubation. Also has care instructions for importers and pet shop owners.



3. A must have book for anyone interested in keeping or breeding Day geckos. Includes sections on general information, housing, feeding, breeding, diseases and disorders.
   Contains 80 pages on individual species accounts which include total length, distribution, typical habitat, brief description, management, and captive breeding.
   Even though new species have been discovered since this book was printed, it is the most complete reference in print on Phelsuma day geckos. This book has over 90 pictures, diagrams, and maps.

No comments about Green Iguanas (Bartlett, Richard D., Reptile Keeper's Guides.).

1 comments about Popular Amphibians (Advanced Vivarium Systems).

1. This book details the general types of naturalistic vivaria suitable for amphibians and tells, to a decent degree how to set them up--what plants are suitable, how to plant and grow them, etc. This itself is nice, and makes the book worthwhile; if you're an amphibian person, this would be a good reference for that section alone, as naturalistic vivaria are well suited for amphibians, and vice versa. Also, he covers communal tanks to the best of his ability, detailing what's worked for him.
   
   However, he does not collaborate with others on this book, meaning that his experince is most of what you get. Although DeVosloji has great experince, and is an accomplished herpetoculturist, this excludes many species of commonly kept amphibians; Horned Frogs, White's Tree Frogs, BullFrogs, Red Eye Tree Frogs are all among the common species left out of the species care section.
   
   That said, he does discuss how to piece together information on how to care for an animal based on what is known of it's natural habitat, something I dearly wish more titles would do, as it is impossible to give care information for every species.
   
   This book is very useful for vivarium design, and for general information on disease and vivarium maintence (esp. with water quality advice) but is an incomplete guide to species care. I feel it's still worth 4 stars, due to the extensive section on how to set up and maintain a vivarium well, and because he discusses how to figure out an animal's care based on habitat. However you will need other resources besides just this book

1 comments about Basic Care of Rough Green Snakes (The Herpetocultural Library) (General Care and Maintenance of Series).

1. If you have even the most basic herp knowledge, this book will disappoint you. This book does not do justice to the rough green snake and reads like a report submitted by a second grader. Don't waste your money!

No comments about Blue-Tongued Skinks: Keeping & Breeding Them in Captivity (Herpetology Series).

2 comments about The Iguana Den's Care and Keeping of Giant Green Iguanas.

1. This book should be a required read for anyone considering owning an iguana as well as expierenced owners. There is so many sources of inconsisant information out there, some of which can be very harmful to the iguana. This book is not one of them. It is very clear, to the point and easy to read. It puts all the facts and important information in one place from setting up an enclosure to feeding, taming and daily requirements. Iguanas are not for everyone and this book lays it on the line for you as to what you are getting into. It is definatly one of my favorites.



2. This manual is one of the three best Green Iguana care guides out. I recommend it for ANYONE with a giant green iguana, regardless of their expertise level. From novice to experienced keeper, there's a lesson for everyone! The book covers in depth day to day care, taming, feeding, socialization, sanitary issues, health care, and more. It is a must have for the Iguana keeper. So many books today have outdated, and downright dangerous, information in them. This book is NOT one of these. The information is clear, concise, and written in a format that is both easy to read as well as understandable. For all ages, this book is a resource that can't be missed!