1 comments about Water Snakes of North America.

1. This work is not as accurate as the work in the Herpetocultural Library Series regarding the temperment of some species. However, it does not give poor advice regarding husbandry. It is also thorough in covering every species and subspecies of Nerodia, providing wonderful full-color photos of every representative of this interesting Genus which makes it a great field guide. A must have for the pictures alone.

1 comments about Snakes: Keeping & Breeding Them in Captivity.

1. This book has nowhere near enough information. It is meant for first-time snake owners, but does not supply them with all the facts. It also barely has any information on snake species. However, it has nice pictures and a good snake disease section, hence the three-star rating. A much better book on the subject is Breeding and Keeping Snakes, by Dr. Dieter Schmidt.

No comments about Snakes: Giant Snakes and Non-Venomous Snakes in the Terrarium : Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, and Diseases (A Complete Pet Owner's).

No comments about Maintenance of Rattlesnakes in Captivity (Special Publication / University of Kansas, Museum of Natura).

No comments about Beginner's Guide to Bettas.

5 comments about Goldfish: Everything About Aquariums, Varieties, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, and Breeding (Pet Care Series).

1. I found this book to be very useful in preparing me to get my first goldfish. I would recommend reading it before you go out and buy your aquarium and fish, because it has lots of information about selecting an aquarium and setting it up. It also describes some of the different types of goldfish, so you can determine what type would be best for you (some are not as hardy as others and so are not good for beginners).
   
   The book is rather short, but it's meant as more of a basic informative guide for the beginning goldfish keeper rather than as a detailed manual for advanced raising/breeding of goldfish. It's full of useful tips on everything from how to make your aquarium aesthetically pleasing, to what types of goldfish are best kept together. It also talks a little bit about the history of the goldfish species and about goldfish anatomy, and why some types are more prone to problems than others. The author stresses the importance of maintaining a clean aquarium and preventing health problems before they start.
   
   I own several of the Barron's line of pet-keeping manuals, and I've found it to be a very good series. I would recommend this book to someone who's thinking about getting their first goldfish; it's a fun and informative read.



2. This is a very basic beginners book. It is not well versed on disease and treatment. However, my 2 year old likes the photos!



3. Very informative. This book had some information that I was looking for. I especially found the section on goldfish varieties helpful.



4. Overall this is a good beginners book. Lots of helpfull information on the more common types of goldfish both flat and eggshaped, setting up your aquarium and maintaining it, common diseases, diet, ponds, breeding and plants.



5. A good book for begginers. The title misguides the reader into thinking it is a complete reference for goldfish. The author briefly touches many of the topics. I regret buying this book because it did not solve my questions about diseases, plant care, water quality, and nutrition. A good book for kids. Nice photographs.

1 comments about Community Fishes.

1. More than half this book says absolutely nothing about community fishes.

   The first section of this book repeats much of the same information one might find in any aquarium book -- heating, lighting and filtration, plants and layout, maintenance of equipment, feeding, etc. -- at a fairly general level. The main section of the book lists and describes sixty freshwater tropical fish that can be kept together in tropical tanks. There's nothing about compatibility between specific species, or how to include fish that are marginally community-oriented. There's nothing about water conditions for different fish, so a reader depending on this book might not even realize that some fish will do poorly in the same water that other fish thrive in. The last section of the book is about breeding -- again, nothing about "community."

   For those who are interested in the "community" aspect of a community aquarium, this book is simply a list of sixty fish to choose from. For those who are setting up an aquarium for the first time, who want a random mix of fish, and who want to buy only one book, this could be the book.

1 comments about Practical Guide for Feeding Captive Reptiles.

1. I have read many pet care books recently, and I have found that most aren't helpfull at all. Most state the basic stuff that is common knowledge! But I have found this to be very usefull in keeping my new critters among the happy and the living! I would suggest this very helpful book to anyone that has anything to do with reptiles! This was from a very happy reader (if you can't tell)!

No comments about The Art of Goldfish Keeping.

No comments about In Search of Reptiles & Amphibians.