Product Description
The vivid colors and abundant life found under the water's surface is breathtaking. For years, people have struggled to recreate this magnificent environment in exotic home aquariums. Now with today's technology and scientific understanding, creating a thriving freshwater aquarium is easier than ever. In The Complete Book of the Freshwater Aquarium, hundreds of dramatic underwater photographs give you a fish-eye view of hundreds of colorful sea creatures while accessible scientific text explains all about the fragile ecosystem of the underwater life. This book also features a comprehensive guide to setting up your own aquarium, from selecting your equipment and creating the environment, to choosing your fish and invertebrates. Diving into this book is a pleasure, whether you're an advanced aquarist, or a novice just getting into the hobby. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Not so complete.. at all
Really? I have to say I'm a little surprised at the higher ratings this book has received. Where to begin?

Pros:
- Hardcover.
- Full colour, decent sized, [mostly] high quality photos.
- The plant section (about 64 pages) has some good photos and descriptions.
- The fish are sorted by family, with a colour coded bar across the top of each page for quick scanning.

Get ready - here are the Cons:
- The disease section is really lacking; about 3 pages with ONE photo- a Neon Tetra with dropsy (as if there's ever confusion as to what a bloated belly might look like- why not pictures showing the difference between ich and velvet?)
- Fish choices. Understandably (for space constraints), not all freshwater fish are represented. However, the choices in fish represented seem extraordinarily inconsistent. I have to wonder if the author was going for more of the "wow" factor than a reasonable array of creatures. Arowanas, for instance, receive a full page unto themselves. Frankly, somebody who is set up to be housing an Arowana is far beyond needing a book like this. Tetraodontidae (Puffer fish) gets three pages. Yes, it's a remarkable fish- but three pages is not enough information to work off of alone, and in the meantime takes away space that could have been used more wisely.
- The invertebrates section. Why bother? 12 pages, not enough information, sorely lacking in pictures, and a lot of fluff.
- Breeding. 5 pages. Again- why bother? Not enough to work off of; just enough to let you know that you're going to have to purchase another book.
- Fish "stats". These are REALLY lacking, and the inexcusable dealbreaker in my opinion. No water specifications (temperatures, acidity, hardness, etc). Sometimes you can go to the beginning of the section and read the blurb about the family to sleuth out temperature, etc. This proves to be inconsistent and inconvenient though.
- Fish descriptions. Inconsistent! Terribly so. One description includes breeding information, the next does not. One description mentions the fish as having a personality in addition to it's physical characteristics, the next focuses only on colouration. Crucial bits of knowledge are left out- not one Loach description mentions the need for a tank cover.

I haven't actually gone and counted how many fish/plants are shown in this book (so I may be incorrect) - but I have a feeling that the claim of "A comprehensive reference guide to more than 600 freshwater fish and plants" is backed up NOT by 600 individual descriptions, but by maybe 300-400 descriptions; the other 200-300 species being counted from classification lists with no descriptions or photos.

This guide had a lot of possibility, but it seems that the author was so caught up in filler material trying to make it "complete" that a lot of important detail was neglected or left out completely. I'm not saying it's awful, but the title is very misleading - it's not complete, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a first book for someone looking to get started in aquariums. I get so frustrated when I need to refer to my books and find this one - my most recent purchase. The fact that I always turn to my 1988, technologically outdated library-book-sale guide and find more complete, concise, easy to find information EVERY time is a definite red flag. Save yourself the let down and skip this one!

Good reference for fish and plants
I recently purchased this book and I am quite pleased with the visual reference to both tropical freshwater fish and plants.I was a bit disappointed in the aquarium setup guide in the beginning of the book in reference to such small weekly water changes and the use of charcoal ( I do 40-50% water changes on my moderate planted aquariums and my fish thrive - larger water chances bring out breeding behavior and other natural interactions among my fish) In addition, charcoal is not necessary and active charcoal's tendency to clear water is only good for approximately a week, not months...

However, I would purchase this book again just for the visual and descriptive (lacking water parameters) accounts of so many classes of fish and plants.It is a large book and looks good on a coffee table, etc..

Good reading
I liked this book. It helped me in being able to pick out plants and fish for a new tank I am setting up. The pictures could be a little better but for the price this book is an excellent buy.

Worthy guide
Being new to aquariums and tropical fish, I found this book to be very helpful in all the basics.It is wonderfully illustrated and covers the major points.I wish it would give more suggestions for possible compatible communities of fish.

Superb tropical fish book!!!

I am currently 58 years young and have been into tropical fish ever since I was in the 5th grade.I occasionally purchase tropical fish books, enjoying looking at the various species and reading about them, even though I do not have most of them.I was very delighted with this particular book.Excellent illustrations of many breeds, with some good summary material with each one.Great information for beginners at the front of the book; and a lot of plants covered, with very helpful tips regarding them.Even the illustrations for the plants were excellent!One really gets one's money's worth with this book; it seems that it should cost a lot more than it actually does... a rarity in this day and age! Not a lot of specific information on temperature ranges for each species was provided, but you can easily get that in other books or on the web. ... Read more

Product Description
Even for long-time hobbyists, the thought of maintaining a thriving aquatic ecosystem can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when attempting to keep any of the rare or particularly challenging species available in the marine aquarium trade today. These species often provide unique challenges that require creative solutions. No other book written to the average hobbyist addresses topics like fish mass determination, fish pharmacology, or ethics and aquariums. The author also thoroughly addresses common problems such as diet and nutrition, tankmate selection, and maintaining proper water quality. In addition to detailed care information for a wide variety of both common and rare fish species, this book covers non-fish aquatic animals, such as octopuses, rare shrimps, and other invertebrates. Inspiring photographs highlight the awesome beauty of a variety of marine creatures while numerous graphs and charts make the information easy to understand and apply. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A good read but Delbeek & Sprung's BOOK is far better
What can I say, it contains information which I think a little bit unstructured. It has interesting concepts but I personally think a book of this price should have something special in it, which this one is lacking of. But overall, it's quite an interesting book to read.

Enjoyable read with species not readily seen in US
This text in my view is directed between marine fish only tanks and reef keeping. Many of the tropical fish listed are from the Australian tropical regions. It also appears the author does not follow Sprung or other cohorts in that he uses equipment that is currently not in fashion for maintaining reefs.

I do agree that a well set up ozone reactor run with the dpd chlorine method is a superior way than ORP control and useful today despite its unpopularity. There are other texts available on this subject but this is an interesting point of view. He appears to adopt established public aquarium techniques to large private marine aquariums. However, I must admit many private aquariums are far superior to many public displays I have encountered, especially concerning sps corals. So I highly recommend the book but do not consider it an exhaustive reference on husbandry techniques, but more of an introduction to well established techniques.

Prepare to learn something!
Jay Hemdal's Advanced Marine Aquarium Techniques picks up where most aquarium literature leaves off. Once you've gained a basic understanding of marine aquarium husbandry, reading this book is one of the next steps you should take. I've kept aquariums for well over 20 years, and I find that I keep referring back to this book for answers and solutions I can't seem to find anywhere else.
I really appreciate the fact that, even though this book targets advanced hobbyists and offers in-depth explanations, it's written in easy-to-understand language. You won't find yourself swimming in technical jargon. Also, Hemdal doesn't simply parrot what has been written by others. His conclusions are clearly based on his own extensive professional experience, and he's not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom when necessary.
If you buy this book, be prepared to learn something!

OK, but be careful
This is a good book and terrible in others.I would ONLY recommend it for a well read, very advanced aquarist that has a good handle on the hobby already.Some of the advice is WRONG and will harm your system.However, there are also is some good info/ideas that are not available online or in other books (still in print).This is well worth the price _if_ you can sift through the junk to get to them.

The author also needs to get an editor to read the book and fix things like parts of paragraphs that are missing and basic grammer/spelling errors.

AMONG THE VERY BEST
Of the 70 or so marine aquarium books I have this is certainly in the top five. There is information here that is simply not easily available from other sources and the book itself is very well written and illustrated. This is not a book for beginers because it assumes a basic level of knowledge and, thankfully, skips over such discussions as the nitrogen cycle, etc. There are few books written in this field that I would read cover to cover, yet this book is compelling and highly informative. I am surprised by how much I've learned from Hemdal's writing and how relevant it all is to my level of interest. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
MICRO-ULTIMATE MARINE AQUARIUMS (H) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A fact finding guide on how to create a salt water aquarium
I loved it!!!I was in the process of installing 3 aquariums in our house to recreate the reefs in our oceans and needed a little guidance.This book gives you specific info on 50 GREAT aquariums.The book provided me a base line of info in which to attain the perfect reef aquarium.A suggestion on different set ups and designs. What has worked for these folks and there reasons why or why not.I was able to get answers to 99% of the questions I had on everything from lighting to feeding.I only wish there was more info to collect from these pioneers.I hated that the book only covered 50 and not 500 aquariums. You will thank the author for writing this book after reading it!!

Great Reef Aquariums comparision
A wondeful comparision of the Best Tanks around the nation and beyond and how they setup the tank, what equipment they used, what they would change, etc.

Must Have if you plan to start a reef aquarium
Very useful book.It doesn't just give one persons ideas on what it takes to have a successful reef aquarium.This book samples many different types of successful reef tanks and what the owners did to keep their reefs thriving.It shows you that you can spend thousands of dollars on equipment and have a successful tank or you can have very simple and inexpensive things and still have a successful tank.It is interesting what each hobbyist did with their tanks.The book tries to sample different size tanks from a simple 55 gallon to a tank as large as 20,000 gallon and everything in between.Very good book.I actually came online looking to see if he wrote a second book, but I don't see one here.

Great read
This is a wonderful book of reef aquaria. It is a survey of 50 different aquariums which all show various approaches to captive reefing. Most of these systems vary from algae turf scrubbing to higher end refugums. One reviewer made a note that most of these systems are in the USA. Most are, which is somewhat unfair. I hope there will be another like this but from various other countries. Let's hope the publisher will pay for the author to go abroad and make a continuation on outstanding reef aquariums.Maybe a book on top 50 nano reef also!

Saltwater book
Ultimate Marine Aquariums: Saltwater Dream Systems and How They Are Created
This Saltwater How To Book was very informative and interesting. It's full of beautiful color photos. It's easy to read, understand and follow.
It's great for beginners as well as intermediate hobbyists such as myself. It has unique advice and point of views on certain topics. I got a lot of good ideas for setups and use in my own saltwater aquariums. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to start a Saltwater Aquarium or expand their horizons for theircurrent Marine setup! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Exelente Fuente de Conocimientos
Excelente fuente de conocimeintos para los novatos en acuarios marinos, la infromacion es presentada de forma practica y entendible lo que nos ayuda a no cometer errores en el inicio de nuestro acuario marino.

Great Book!
This is a terrific book about saltwater aquariums. Being a beginner hobbist, I found it very useful. But for building my first fish tank I needed to use other books, as this book isn't intended to be a step by step guide. What is great about this book is that the author gives a score from 1 to 5 to each fish and invertebrate depending on how hard it is to keep each animal on the fish tank. Being a beginner, this was simply super. Other great feature from the book are the fact it is hardcover, top-notch paper quality and outstanding pictures -- one for each animal being discussed.

On the down side, it could cover more invertebrates -- event thought the information provided is enough for a beginner like myself --, the author is from UK so many stuff that he talks about is clearly based on the UK market (like recommending a Specific Gravity meter manufactured in Germany that can't be found in the US). The author also emphasizes on cientific names and technical terms, sometimes making it hard to follow for a layman like me.

All in all, it is a great book to have, but not a real complete one for a beginner.

A book worth having
This is a very good book for those who are starting out fresh in the marine hobby.Lots of pictures and references to help you out.

A Good Intro book but not a GREAT one!
Well, I must admit, this book has great photos regarding fishes but little on corals. They have talked little regarding the equipments set ups. They aren't many species included in this book but the common ones are there. If you are looking for a book with great pics on fishes, then this would be the one for you. If you are looking for a reef aquarium manual then this is not for you.

Great Place To Go Fishing
I have been in the aquariast hobby for quite a few years. Though I haven't had a tank set-up for almost 10 years since retiring from the US Navy and moving from Va. to Ga. I decided for the sake of the fish in my 150 gal tank it was best left behind in the care of my neighbor and best friend JD. I am now in the research and planning stages of setting up a 250 gal. reef tank. Since so much has happened in the last 10 years I felt it was wise to get some reading material for varied opinions and fact gathering. I now have 5 reference volumes to refer to. This book by Vince is not only a beautiful book with outstanding pictures but is my favorite. Crammed with every possible aspect of this hobby. From beginner to advanced the info is superb. In fact a Newbie could take this book as a stand alone reference from your very first Marine Fish only tank to an explosively beautiful Reef with Fish, Inverts, and Corals. It gives info on all the types of filtration from the Jaubert System,(My Favorite), to the extreme hi-tech route..Plan on spending major bucks if you go the hi-tech route. in my opinion the Jaubert System is as close to natural as you can get and the results I have seen from those using it match if not excel over much more expensive set-ups, but hey, back to the book. Every possible life form is fully described in easy to understand detail, inhabitant compatibility, location of origin, feeding, disease care, all of it. The way it is organized makes it superior for that "gotta have info right now" scenario when one of your prized specimens needs immediate attention. Though the diseases coverage is brief it is concise and easy to follow. This book is now among 2 that sit out on my coffee table. It gets read or at least browsed through alot by my visiting friends. Kids love the pictures. I highly recommend it for anyone from beginner to advanced. You can find higher priced books but non better. It's great buy at twice the price. ... Read more

Product Description

Tetras and barbs are among the most popular community fish, with dozens of species readily available in pet and aquarium stores. Written by one of the leading experts on these groups of fish, this comprehensive guide features five important fish groups spanning hundreds of species and covers topics essential to aquarists interested in tetras and barbs such as feeding, water requirements, species, diseases, and breeding. Full-color photos, sidebars, charts, and tip boxes illustrate key points and nicely complement the informative text.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Disappointing
I was actually a bit disappointed in this book. I was expecting more information on the various types of tetras, as I have an aquarium that is setup with only various tetras and corys. But there was no list of tetras and the information contained in it seemed pretty generic. I found answers to my questions in other books I've purchased from amazon.

Tetras and Barbs by Randy Carey
This long awaited book on Tetras and Barbs, the so-called "scatterers", is an excellent addition to any fishkeeper's library and I've proudly added it to mine.It covers every aspect of these amazing animals from an introduction and discussion of their relationship in the overall scheme of life to their habitats in the wild, setting up an aquarium designed for them, giving them proper care, breeding them, and raising their young if you desire to do so.None of the book is canned text - everything is fresh and new.Even the section on setting up an aquarium for them is not wasted by repeating things discussed ad nauseum in every beginner text ever produced, but rather it addresses how to set up an aquarium specifically for tetras and barbs.

This is not an encyclopedic work, either.That is to say that it does not contain a detailed description of each species, which can also be found elsewhere in atlas and encyclopedia type works.Don't get me wrong!There are many excellent photos throughout illustrating many of the common and the not-so-common species.But instead of wasting space describing fish a hobbyist might never encounter (for those who want information on the bread-and-butter fish) or spending all of the time on fish that can be found in any pet store (for those who want information on the rare stuff), the author spends his allotment of pages on a detailed look at all of the known groupings of tetras and barbs and their close relatives and what makes them unique and of special interest to hobbyists the world over.

The author has an interesting approach to keeping and breeding these fish that is a distillation of methods passed down from earlier generations of hobbyists combined with some of the latest thinking in the aquarium hobby.I especially liked the author's discussion of the various species' occupation of microhabitats in the wild which leads directly to satisfying each individual species' special needs and caring for the fish in home aquaria.

In the author's own words, "fishkeeping is both an art and a science".This book helps to explain the science of keeping and breeding tetras and barbs without becoming bogged down in complex terminology, and demistify the art without becoming too esoteric. Both the author's writing style and the topics covered in the book make this volume useful to both the beginning aquarist working with these fish for the first time, and for the seasoned advanced hobbyist looking for advanced information on these groups of fish.

I highly recommend this book for anyone even remotely interested in tetras, barbs, and other allied groups of fish.Of course, I have to mention the caveat that the author has been a good friend for many years, but if I didn't think this book was worthwhile, I would have politely declined the opportunity to write a review.

Took too long
The book took so long to arrive that I had forgotten that I had ordered it.Shopping experience was poor but I was happy with the book, so I'll split the rating. ... Read more

Product Description
Prospective tropical aquarium hobbyists will find vital information on many fish varietiesÂ--cichlids, swordtails, and many others. Readers will find tips on species identification, feeding, behavior, approximate and purchase prices. Quick-check data requirements are given regarding aquarium size, water temperature, food, compatibility with other fish, and much more. This title is one in BarronÂ's new series of pet buyerÂ's guides, all of them filled with practical information and approximately 250 vivid color illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

excellent book
Full color photos of each fish. Useful information, simple format that is easy to read.

Great investment...
This is a super easy read, has great information!!! Good for all ages, definately worth the money.

Awesome fish book!
This is a great book. Each page has a picture of a fish on it and information about that species of fish. From barbs to tetras to guppies to catfish, this book has it all! Buy it now!!!!!! (: ... Read more

Product Description
This second volume in the series features the anemonesand soft corals associated with reefs, detailing their biology andhusbandry requirements, and featuring numerous species descriptions,with the benefit of wonderful color photographs. Also featured is newinformation regarding parasites in reef aquariums, and captive cultureof anemones and soft corals. The book finishes with another sectionfeaturing more stunning images of reef aquariums around the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Great Series
This series is well worth every penny.You can find a lot of books for less but that is what you are getting.Save yourself some money and get the series that thoroughly do cover every aspect of the hobby in amazing detail.This series is amazing and you will love it. It is a bit scientific but it does not leave anything out.

A Must for any Salt Water Aquarium Household
My husband took a dive into the Saltwater Aquarium world.ALL of Sprung's books are a must have.They have a lot of info and definitely is a great resource.Well worth the price.It has been referenced many times throughout the saltwater aquarium evolution.

not a beginner book
This book goes indepth about the anatomy and physiology of mushrooms, soft corals and anemones. Not a great reference guide for choosing specimens for your It tends to generalize by family and/or genus vs species. If you are new to saltwater and are looking for a reference to choose items for your tank this would not be my first choice.

THE reference for that field
Just like the vol. 1, that is a must-have book. Please note that the vol. 3 should be released late Nov. 2005.

Emmanuel, Los Angeles CA

One of the best of the best vol.2
This volume of the series covers the soft corals and sea anemones; very important topics indeed for reef aquarium. The two books together are still not complete as  there are many organisms found in a reef aquaria still not covered. In this series. A fine glossary accompanies this book. Much of what I had to gleen by trial and error and by reading arcane publications over the years is covered in this book. Approachable to the beginner yet  a lot of substance for the expert.
... Read more

Product Description
Written by an expert on marine biology, this title is must reading for the marine aquarium hobbyist. Keeping ocean-dwelling fish and other marine life forms thriving in the synthetic environment of an aquarium requires special knowledge and care, especially in regard to water quality. The author discusses the properties of natural seawater, then gives details on how to create and maintain high-quality synthetic seawater. He describes biochemical cycles and fluctuating conditions that are normal in a flourishing marine aquarium, instructs on adding needed chemical components, and advises on water analysis test kits, instrumentation, and record keeping. Includes illustrations plus informative tables and charts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Good Stuff!
This was a great little book about the chemistry of salt water.It was a little too detailed on the actual chemistry section but the how's and why's were expertly written so that my children and I could learn about the do's and don'ts of reef aquariums.We have read a lot of books over the last few months about it and this one was one of the best.I recommend it to anyone who is as clueless as we were before we started reading up on it.If you are trying to decide if you want to dive into a salt water set up, you need this book.It doesn't just tell you what you need, it tells you why you need it and how to get it.Very cool.A keeper, totally,

Water chemistry for saltwater aquariums
Excellent book dealing with water quality in reef and fish saltwater aquariums. A must for anyone who is seious about the hobby.

good basic information
A lot of good information for the new fish keeper. Save yourself some frustration and expense by starting off with some good clear information.

Oddly outdated
Strange for a book on this topic published in 2005 not to mention live-rock or the chemistry that goes on in the various in vogue substrate filtration systems.

Salt Water Info
Very informative on beginning a new salt water tank. Information on what equiptment needed to provide the type of tank I wanted. Different habitat need different water and light conditions. Very helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
A lavishly illustrated reference covering all aspects of keeping fish, the Encyclopedia of Aquarium & Pond Fish is the first book on the market to provide care and identification information on all types of fish for every possible environment, from indoor aquariums to outdoor ponds. The book contains a directory of over 800 of the most popular fish-freshwater, saltwater, coldwater, and tropical-showing not only what each fish looks like, but what food they eat, which species they can cohabit with, how big they grow, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Get this book, probably the only one you would need
I have bought this book few years ago (when first published). Never needed another one.

I use it to identify fish, fish requirements (food, water chemistry, ..etc.), compatibility, and general information about each.
Text is easy to read. Information well researched and covers all you need to know. Photos are beautiful, clear, and easy to identify each fish.

Great book.

This book is complete
Great book for clueless people.Is very comprihensive and very colorful.Qualiy of the book is great.Tons of information.One of the most beautiful books in this subject I have ever seen.

Lovely Pictures
I gave this book to the fish enthusiast in my family, my 15 year old son. It has beautiful pictures and is full of information.

Excellent reference book!
I borrowed this book from our library and found it was excellent so have purchased a used one through Amazon's program. The pictures are clear and colorful. Good basic information including origins, size, diet, water temp and ph parameters, and temperment. Each fish has a paragraph describing colors etc and if needed an extra tidbit of info. This book also describes spawning behaviors. Once again an excellent book.I have been involved in aquarium keeping for about 3 years now so am speaking from that perspective.: )

simply fish !
This book is also very helpful, we have three tanks & an outdoor pond the information covered everything we need to know, thanks ... Read more

Product Description
Expert advice on freshwater aquarium fish.

Illustrated in full color, this comprehensive reference includes 500 of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish. It provides concise at-a-glance information on their behavior, diet and breeding, along with a recommended aquarium setup. Practical and well organized, this book is tailored to the needs of a wide range of freshwater-aquarium hobbyists.

A key decision for the aquarium owner, and also one of the most fun to make, is choosing the fish for a tank. 500 Freshwater Aquarium Fish is a "window shopping" trip, with an expert alongside to offer crucial advice. This thorough directory details every appropriate species. While most of the fish featured require a heated aquarium, there are other popular varieties, such as goldfish, that can be kept in an unheated one.

With more than 500 color photographs, the book is organized by major fish groups, among them:- Cichlids, including angelfish and discus- Catfish- Cyprinids, including barbs, danios, koi and goldfish- Characoids, including tetras, neons and piranhas- Oaches and suckers- Gouramis, including bettas, paradise fish and snakeheads- Rainbow fish and blue-eyes- Livebearers, including mollies and platies.

This comprehensive and useful reference, edited by a highly respected expert, will be welcomed by amateur fishkeepers of any age and expertise. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Good, but not great, reference book for beginners.
Be aware that the physical size of this book may be smaller than you expect.With that said, the size is not so much an issue for me.There are lots of fish covered in this book and it is helpful for beginners.Don't expect much detail though on any particular species.For that, look for species specific books.The summaries are good for general information, though I wish life expectancy was part of the standard information given.Overall good book and glad to have in my library.

Not my favorite
I was disappointed in this book because the type was very light and hard to read. It also does not succinctly state the individual requirements of each species (temp, water chemistry, suggested tank size) in favor of a more narrative approach. I have used it for the photos to see differences between species. My favorite fresh water fish reference is Barron's guide. I hoped this might would have even more info, but instead it had less, in a less accessible format.

great quick ref.book
this is a handy book, I use it more for the quick ref.- each fish has a quick description of what type water the fish requires, lighting, food, etc.it's perfect-

COMPACT BUT INFORMATIVE
GIVES THE NECESSARY BASICS BUT WISH IT INCLUDED WHAT GETS ALONG WITH WHAT INSTEAD OF SUGGESTED SPECIES BEHAVIOR

A HANDY LITTLE BOOK
This is a beautiful little volume.I only gave it 4 stars because of its diminutive size (6x6) which makes it hard to hold while reading.Otherwise, it is a very concise atlas of the more common species of aquarium fishes along with a description of temperment and a brief summation of the proper conditions under which they must be kept.There is a small 3x4 photo of each species included.All in all, it's a very beautiful albiet small book that any fish hobbiest would enjoy owning. ... Read more

Product Description
The key to becoming a dedicated aquarium hobbyist is to succeed with your first aquarium.The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums concentrates on providing you with a complete plan and all the information you need to choose and use the right-for-you aquarium equipment and the right-for-you fish and plants: it wants you to succeed.The information is presented in a completely straightforward text that’s easy to read, easy to understand - and very definitely easy to put to good use. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

Best Starter Aquarium Book Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had no idea where to start. 24, new apartment, only had dogs my whole life. Couldn't get a dog so i decided to go with an aquarium since there was a sale at the pet store on aquariums and their supplies. I had no idea where to start or what to get. So i did what every intelligent person does, I researched to find out what to do from experts.

I came across many different books and this one had the best overall direction in every aspect to get you moving in the direction YOU want to go, not just a single minded direction of what fish to get or what setup is best.

I read the entire book cover to cover on a trip from Chicago IL to Columbia SC. After reading it I felt more confident and started looking at what fish are out there and what products work with what equipment and what fish prefer what decor.

This book will walk you step by step through every process of starting an aquarium with great detail. I now have a successful 55 gallon tank with about 20 fish. I am very proud of this tank and give all the credit of it being a success to this book! The prices on here are the best you will find, but a local petco, petsmart or borders will carry it if you would like to brows through it yourself.

It is worth every penny to know what to do and what you are doing before you start. If you are deciding to start and adventure with an aquarium, I would say you have to get this book, You wont regret it. Worth every penny!

This book is definitely not for beginners
I do not doubt that the author possesses incredible knowledge on the subject of freshwater aquariums.But he is seriously lacking in the skills required to convey that information to beginners.

Trying to wade through the way he felt information should be organized was exhausting.He'll go on and on and on about a certain subject only to say "but beginners shouldn't try this", or "but hey, you're not a chemist so just do X".

Trying to find the answers to the simplest questions was next to impossible.

great book, great info
This is wonderful book for beginners.Straight foward, no nonsense, no chemical warfare in your tank.If you are starting out get this book.

A must read book for beginners!
I wish I had read this book before setting up my first aquarium! Out of 40 fish I bought, 8 died within the first 2 weeks. One thing this book taught me is that you cannot always rely on the honesty of your local pet dealer. Pet stores sometimes want to get rid of unwanted pets, and might find your lack of knowledge to their advantage. Reading books about fish care and how to set up a first aquarium is way more important than relying on your pet shop's advice.

For example, the pet shop told me to wash my aquarium well before filling it with water. He omitted to say that I should not use any chemicals, such as soaps or window cleaners detergents, such as Windex. The chemicals in such products will dissolve in your aquarium's water and eventually kill all of your fish. Always wash your aquarium with water only! You may use bleach, and the author explains how this should be done.

For your first aquarium, the author recommends avoiding goldfish. They will quickly dirty your aquarium with their waste and increase the ammonia content of your water. My pet store neglected to tell me this and advised me to buy mostly goldfish!

The pet store told me to keep the fish in their plastic bag, and have it float in my aquarium for 15 minutes on arrival at my house. This is so that the temperature in the plastic bag becomes the same as the temperature in the aquarium. The author says thin is a misconception. The correct way of doing it, and the way that will cause the least stress on the fish, is to pour the fish and the water in the bag in a small container of about 2 liters. Gradually add a cup of water from your aquarium to this container every few minutes until it is almost filled up. Then net the fish out of this container and into your aquarium. Discard the water in the container. NEVER put the water back into the aquarium, lest you run the risk of introducing contaminants and disease into your aquarium from your pet store's water!

My pet store told me to feed my fish once every day. They even sold me a tablet that I can put in my aquarium during my travels which will provide food for my fish for about a week. The author cautions about overfeeding your fish. He explains how fish can easily survive 2 weeks without being fed. It is healthy for fish to be put regularly on a fast. The author explains that there are many microscopic food in the water for fish to eat! Beware of pet shops trying to sell you food you won't need.

The pet shop gave me a plastic bottle with fish food in it and told me this is good for all types of fish. The author explains how different species need different foods, and how fish food should be supplemented with vegetables. Giving your fish the same food repeatedly is not good for their health, and they will quickly grow bored. Feed your fish an assortment of food, but always specific to the species in your aquarium.

Fish can easily jump out of your aquarium says the author. Always keep your aquarium closed. My pet store told me fish can't jump, and that it is safe to keep your aquarium without a top cover.

The author also talks about the cycling principle, the 3 Ns (ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites), the different species of fish and why not all fish can be mixed together (some fish will eat others), and the placement of your aquarium, among many other interesting and important topics.

I can go on with the list of advice the author gives. This is truly a great book for all beginners, and I am glad I read it. I can now be a better parent to my new pets. I highly recommend this book!

Great book
Everything that needs to be said already has been, but I wanted to chime in and say that it is indeed a great book for beginners and much more readable than your typical instructional book.I read the whole thing in like 2 sittings because I was so captivated by it.Definitely learned a lot and have had 2 successful aquariums as a result. ... Read more

Product Description

Many people want to learn how to keep and grow jellyfish in aquariums, but don't know where to start. Though the scientific literature contains clues, the language can be cryptic for the uninitiated, and the references can be tricky to track down without access to a well-stocked university library.

In this first-of-its-kind guide, Chad L. Widmer presents in plain language some proven methods for jellyfish husbandry. With some study, attention to detail, and a little pioneer spirit, you'll soon be enjoying your own jellies, along with your newfound jelly-keeping skills.

Customer Reviews (7)

Must have for any jelly aquarist
Fantastic book from start to finish.Easy to read, not overly technical, lays out everything you would ever need to know about how to successfully keep and culture jellies.Very highly recommended.
I work at an institution that has had great success at culturing and displaying jellies and the information in this book has both improved our cultures and taught us a few new tricks.Thank you Mr. Widmer!

Not just for jellyfish
I use Chad's screened-in flow-through tanks to raise squid eggs.Despite working for one of the best funded aquariums in the world Chad always keeps an eye on the budget and many of his techniques will save you a lot of money.Anyone trying to raise animals or plants in fresh water or seawater will benefit from his secrets.

The definitive guide for keeping jellies
If you are a hobbyist interested in keeping jellies, this is the only book you need to get started.Instructions are clear and based on years of experience.Chad Widmer is one of the most knowledgeable jellyfish aquarists.Buy this book, you will be learning from the best.

Very detailed long, but good book.
I am in the business of aquariums, I install and maintain them, I am looking at installing jellyfish aquariums in the future. This book, which I am currently reading, should prove itself good. It is long, like a book, not a booklet full of facts, it is a read from front to back book. But very very good.

Puts the Sh%& in Kreisel. wait...
How to Keep Jellyfish in Aquariums is a fantastic reference for those who want to dip their toes into modern-day jelly husbandry.The book is logically laid out in two distinct sections: general setup/care, and a species section that has potential jellyfish listed in order from easy to challenging.Each species description includes feeding methods, tank sizes and geographic status, as well as individualized tips and techniques to encourage success.I would shove this book at anyone who has been daunted in the past by the hype (and prices) surrounding captive cnidaria.Specialized spherical aquariums costing tens of thousands of dollars are no longer required.The author explains techniques to inexpensively begin a jelly collection and includes thoughts on tank design, double-decker tank plumbing and bio filtration.The principles described work for home aquaria, or can be extrapolated to huge tank sizes.Mr. Widmer manages to explain all details of his personal invertebrate passion with zeal, a "Bill Bryson meets Bill Nye" style of humor, and without the typical stuffy Britannica tone set in many guides.Buy it! ... Read more

Product Description

A comprehensive guide to creating a reef environment in the home aquarium.

Designed with the beginning hobbyist in mind, this richly illustrated reference introduces the hobby of marine aquariums in a practical way. Explaining the technology and terminology clearly, Greg Jennings relates the aquarium setting to that of the natural saltwater environment and offers fascinating insights into the biology and the behavior of the most popular marine fish.

Over 150 species of reef fish, invertebrates and algae are described: their distribution in the wild, size, behavior, diet, aquarium requirements and compatibility. A large, full color photograph appears for each featured species, with personal recommendations on the fish considered best for the beginner.

The New Encyclopedia of the Saltwater Aquarium covers:

• The natural history of saltwater fish
• The pros and cons of the latest in equipment and technology
• Saltwater aquarium setup and maintenance - starting out, water quality and temperature, tank decor, lighting and filters
• Feeding, general care and health matters
• An extensive illustrated selection of saltwater fish, invertebrates and algae.

A glossary, suggestions for further reading and a list of useful websites round out this complete reference.

Customer Reviews (4)

Saltwater Aquarium
This product has not been received yet, already said that in a previous review. Would not reccomend Bookcloseouts. Never had a problem with orders through Amazon before.

Its a solid book for the price
if your looking for an a to z aquarium setup book its not the right one, its a good species book to learn about our marine fish friends, but again not a dictionary of photos, loaded with a lot of pics but not every species has a pic. For those who want to lear a little more about aquarium keeping but arent looking for a step by step guide and would also like to learn more about a ton of species of fish, its a solid book. Combine it with J.C. Delbeck and J. Sprung "The Reef Aquarium Volume 3" and i dont think youll need another book.

Mediocre!
Just got done selling it to a local bookstore...It's brief aquarium in the setup dept. and the fish description is jumbled together with a mish mash of pics that don't pertain to the listed fish! If you want a half way decent fish description book it's ok but when it comes to aquarium setup and operation pass on this one....the Dakin book and Fenner book are still the best!

Salt Water Aquarium Encyclopedia
I expected way more pictures enabling us to find what we had in our tank. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Must Have
This is a book that should be in the back pocket of everyone going to the local fish store, unless they're already expert aquarists.It has very detailed descriptions of the fish and also, in many cases more importantly, a section detailing why you should never buy some fish commonly sold in stores.I can't say it's the only book you need about saltwater fish, but it's likely the most used and most helpful one I own.

Well done, nice photos, Good Value
Bought this as a gift for my husband who is just getting into saltwater fish.Very nice guide, full of beautiful photos and information.This was a great value!

Good, but not great.
This book has good information and a very easy to use "compatibility" system, but overall it is a very generic book, with many species not included that I can find in the LFS.It does have a section on fish that are not good choices for aquariums, which is nice, but I would much rather preferred a broader "good fish" listing.

great pocket size book.
I take this book with me to lfs to watch different fish behaviors. It has helped decrease impulse purchases and helped plan my stocking.

Good Handy book


Good book easy to carry and read, liked the colour coding on peaceful/aggressive fishes.Also helps in avoiding fishes which have poor survival. ... Read more

Product Description

Whether you are a new or intermediate hobbyist, The 101 Best Aquarium Plants is the perfect pocket-sized guide for navigating the booming planted aquarium market.

The 101 Best Aquarium Plants makes aquascaping and keeping healthy aquatic plants simple by providing clear, expert advice and recommendations that greatly improve the hobbyist’s chances of success. It presents 101 full-page species accounts of plants that are not only appealing in appearance but can thrive in aquarium tanks. Also included are 33 species to avoid—plants that are not compatible with home aquariums or that tend to perish in the hands of inexperienced aquarists. Written by an experienced aquarium hobbyist, this title features must-know buying, fertilization, and keeping tips, plus easy-to-use keys to sizes and care requirements. The book is organized for instant look-up, with color-coding to highlight species that will fit into aquarium systems of different sizes. The brilliant full-color identifying photos serve as the perfect comple
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great resource
I've owned this book for a few years now and it's a great resource for identifing common aquarium plants.

This beginner finds it very helpful
I've kept aquariums before with moderate success, but I'm setting up a new one after a 13 years hiatus (during which I moved around a lot) and I've never kept live plants before.

I was looking for a good, basic reference that would help me decide which plants might be good for what I have planned and which wouldn't.The factors I'm following are height, growth rate, lighting needs, and supplementation (C02, fertilizer and such) requirements, as well as the usual things you'd pay attention to with the fish themselves -- temperature, PH, water hardness, etc.

With only 101 species claimed, it's not going to be, by any means, an exhaustive look at the aquatic plant world, but I found very few species listed for sale on various websites (including e-bay) that weren't covered in this book.This is particularly valuable to me because those sites often list very little in the way of the details I was looking for, and with things like e-bay, you have to wonder how accurate whatever details are there actually are.

The only real drawback to it, from my perspective, is that when it groups several varieties of the same plant, it doesn't always include size differences in the smaller blurbs, and I'm suspicious that those sizes do vary.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with it in the role of a basic, beginner's reference.

Aquqrium Plants
This is an excellent...book, Well written easy to understand covers just the information that is needed to start off a well planted Aquaruim...
It come in a perfect size to take with you when u go to your local Pet store so you see exactly what plants ..there selling and what your buying.
I highly recomend this book by MS. Mary E. Sweeney

No one has reviewed this yet?!?
Well, I must say at the outset that this is a book I currently have on loan from my Spokane library. I discovered no one has reviewed it here on Amazon when I came here looking to buy it and wanting to know what others thought about it! I have not seen alot of aquarium plant books yet, certainly not Hiscock's, which seem to be strongly represented here.Mary Sweeney's book is a little "pocketbook" type (called a turtle?). It is only 11 cm wide by 20 cm long. Very "handy".

As for the contents, I can say two things right off the bat: 1) the text is good to a point but has some problems (see below); 2) the photos are sometimes good and sometimes not so good.

Concerning the text, the plant species are not arranged alphabetically, but rather by some grouping which I have not yet fathomed. This means I have to continually be going back to the index for page numbers of certain species. Granted the editors have given us a "cheat sheet" of genus names and their pages on both insides of front and back covers, but still... Also, the treatments for each species are not equally thorough. We get complete descriptions, etc. for some species in a genus but then the rest get short shrift. Those that get the short comments often do not have their sizes mentioned. This is irritating. I want to at least know how big each plant will get. Granted this is 101 Best so I should be content with that, but I already want more and it is not there.

With regard to the photos, sometimes they are really quite good. Then there are those that aren't. The disparity is sometimes very great. On the whole I would say the photos are good about 80% of the time. Admittedly it must be a b*tch trying to take photos of plants in water!

This book is copyrighted 2008, so it is up-to-date. Its newness may be one reason why the used ones are still commanding new prices, more or less. I was hoping to find a copy cheaply :-) because this will not be my only aquarium plants book. I just started in my interest in having an aquarium that is strongly oriented to plants (I am afterall a botanist), so the fact that I am already having to look in this book and in Barron's Plants for the Aquarium, and am already contemplating getting Hiscock says something about the level "101" is written on.

So I give it a three rating. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Amano Tanks Rule!
The Amano tank series of books are the best and most inspirational books on the market for planted fish aquariums. This book is a must have!

Inspirational
This book is a work of art.The pictures are beautiful and the aquascapes are inspirational.This is not a "how to" book but it gives some insight into the inspiration of the artist.

More of an artistic endevor, than a how-to book.
I knew what I was getting.Beautiful, inspiring, Shows what an Aquarium can be with out plastic ship wrecks and bubbling treasure chests. The only thing left out was how long were they able to maintain these aquariums.

Nature Aquarium World Volume 2
The Nature Aquarium World set is excellent.I bought book 3 first and it was for large to gigantic planted aquariums.Book 2 starts with miniature tanks and goes up to medium size tanks.It provides a good variety of planting ideas with a list of plants, fish and accessories needed to recreate each design.The pictures are stunning.

Lowered Rating from 5 Star to 4 Star Due to Goldfish Bowl
If it were not for the goldfish bowl, this book would receive 5 stars from me because, in every other way, the book serves its purpose very well. The validity of the goldfish bowl is a dangerous notion to perpetuate and I was disappointed that an expert, who serves as a role model and who must love nature so much, would not have more respect for it than to perpetuate such a known erroneous practice.

Goldfish should never be kept in bowls.The smallest goldfish reach softball size when kept in healthy conditions and need twice the tank size for a similar biomass of smaller fish.In such a bowl, the fish would be dead in a matter of hours from suffocation due to lack of oxygen.In slightly larger (but still small tanks), their growth would be stunted, their immune systems compromised, and their lifespan greatly reduced due to the inability of the system to carry the large load of ammonia excreted by these fish.Although survival in small tanks is possible, with frequent, large water changes, the quality of life would be dismal for these beautiful cratures and completely inhumane.I hope Takashi Amano takes responsibility, changes his ways and stops perpetuating bad practices that so many other responsible aquarists have been working hard for so long to change.

Aside from the goldfish bowl, I think the book is fabulous.I have been an advanced aquarist since 1994 (have worked in fish stores, owned a fish maintenance and design business and have a degree in marine biology) and have read (and own) most of the plant books on the market. This book, as well as his others, are not meant for beginners (or even intermediate users) in search of a solid how-to manual. Better sources for that would be The Dynamic Aquarium: Building Living Ecosystems (by Adey and Loveland) or Peter Hiscock's 2 books, Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants and Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature or The Ecology of the Planted Aquarium by Diana Walstad.

But, if you are a beginner looking for inspiration or scope of what is possible, this is a good beginner book. I suspect that majority of aquarists who actually get a lot of practical use from these books are those who can readily take the data from each photo and put it to good use. Amano's books, if used as such, assume the aquarist has an advanced understanding of lighting, water chemistry, nutrient balances, biological filtration, fish behavior, etc. For advanced aquarists, these books are invaluable in that they supply tested permutations that can be immediately applied. This saves the hobbyist much experimentation when it comes to combinations of plant placement, relative to CO2 levels and lighting and nutrient regimes.

In my opinion, this book is not required for beginners, although they can certainly learn from and enjoy it. But, it is required for any advanced plant-loving aquarist. I would highly recommend it for anyone who loves aquariums or appreciates the natural world. ... Read more

Product Description
Debunking the myth that reef aquariums need to be wildly expensive and technologically complex, John Tullock offers a new, radically simple approach to producing beautiful, captive microcosms.

Using live rock and live sand as part of a natural filtration system, the home aquarist can now create vibrant reef tanks that are biologically stable and simple to maintain.

With Tullock’s suggestions, the reefkeeper can now mimic natural habitats such as a Florida Keys Lagoon, a Caribbean Turtle Grass Flat, an Indo-Pacific Deep Cave, or a Red Sea Patch Reef. With more than 200 color photographs and illustrations, Natural Reef Aquariums provides inspiration for both beginning and expert marine reef hobbyists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Perfect for new, intermidiate, and pros
A must read if your going to get serious about the saltwater reefs. Will help you skipp the rookie mistakes.

An informative read for anyone wanting to explore the rewards of keeping a reef tank.
This book really drives home a simple concept; Natural fish and/or reef keeping.I kept saltwater tropical fish only tanks for over fifteen years.I moved and took a seven year hiatus.My reemergence back into the hobby has been one of wonderment.Everything has changed!Instead of mountains of expensive equipment and sickly livestock, my tanks are natural microcosms and rich with bio diversity.This book shows the reader how to utilize the most natural approaches in reef keeping and ultimately bestows the knowledge necessary to be a responsible aquarist.My fish and corals are not merely surviving; they are thriving!I strongly encourage anyone to read this fabulous book.

Excellent Book
Perfect book for starting off understand what is involved in keep a saltwater aquarium. Supplement with reading web forums and online information to get really current opinion and views but a great reference book for the starter. Buy before you buy any equipment.

Great Info
I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my daughter who has a drop-dead gorgeous reef tank! She loved it and said it had tons of great information.

Simplified Approaches to Creating a Reef Aquarium
I have read several books on Reef Aquariums and this book is by far the best yet.I understood all that was being written, as a beginner just learing about Reef Aquariums and enjoyed the beautiful photos as well.I feel the book as given me a much better understanding of how to set up and maintain a healthy and beautiful aquarium. ... Read more

Product Description
‘Children and adults of various ages, races, and physical abilities tour a public aquarium to look at many of the world’s marine creatures. The language is almost lyrical…[and] the story is alive with color and action.’—SLJ. ‘A versatile author at her best.… In the large, cheerful illustrations, action-filled spreads are varied with portrait vignettes, and underwater scenes with the visitors’ enthusiastic responses.’—K.

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1994 (NSTA/CBC)
1993 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)
1996 Garden State (NJ) Children's Nonfiction Award ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

great book for kids who like ocean animals
My little boy loves to go the aquarium in Chattanooga, TN and he adores this book.

Excellent to introduce young children to visiting aquariums.
My son is almost 3 and loves to read this book along with me.We have supplemented this book with actual "field trips" to a local aquarium and he enjoys the relationship between what we read and what we see.The author has included many interesting and informative facts without "going over" the little ones' heads.We recommend it!

A beautifully illustrated trip to the Aquarium.
My visit to the Aquarium captures the feeling of being at the Aquarium with its beautiful illustrations.The author has very thoughtfully included a diverse gathering of people who visit this Aquarium, including a young girl who is using a wheelchair.There is so much information to teach a child who is reading this book about fish,sealife nad other water resources.My daughter exclaims her excitement when looking at the illustrations in this book.It is truly a visit to the Aquarium with out ever having to leave the house.We have renewed this book three times from the library and have decided to add it to our perminent collection since it is liked by every member of the family, adults as well as children.We know you'll love it too

An absolutely wonderful book for the entire family !
Akiki's 'My Visit to the Aquarium' is another wonderful addition in her series of children's books about nature and science. For us, it became the inspiration to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium while on vacation in California. I can still recall my six year old son's excitement as he acted as our "tour giude" from the knowledge he gained from this book. Beautifully illustrated. ... Read more

Product Description

A week-by-week practical guide to setting up and maintaining a superb living environment

As fishkeeping continues to grow in popularity, hobbyists are looking for authoritative advice and more sophisticated results.

Setting Up a Tropical Aquarium Week-by-Week is an encyclopedic reference that takes a fresh look at setting up and maintaining a tropical freshwater aquarium. New hobbyists are quite often impatient to set up their aquarium and want to add their expensive fish as soon as possible. This common misstep can have disastrous results that may discourage beginners from ever trying again.

To curb such enthusiastic impatience, this book presents clear step-by-step practical advice in a convenient week-by-week progression. The book uses detailed photographic sequences to follow each stage of setting up a warm water freshwater tropical aquarium in real-time over a period of ten weeks.

The set-up procedure starts with the first day, when the substrate and life-support systems are installed and progresses to the point at which the first fish are added - two weeks later. The book then follows the aquarium's development during the next eight weeks as the tank turns from an artificial environment into a living eco-system.

Alongside the main aquarium set-up sequence are photographs that show how to create two different aquascape designs based on a cube and a bow-front tank.

Profile sections show fifty aquarium plants and one hundred popular warm water freshwater aquarium fish at relevant stages of the set-up process. Throughout, the book explains the natural processes that occur so that fishkeepers can ensure ongoing success.

Combining clear text and simple-to-follow illustrations, Setting Up a Tropical Aquarium Week-by-Week is a crucial reference for tropical freshwater fish hobbyists.

Customer Reviews (15)

If you need a guide, this is it.
I've always wanted a fish tank but never knew how to go about setting one up.I am the type of person that needs instructions to follow so that I can make sure I have everything in order.This book does exactly that by giving you thorough instructions on how to set up the aquarium and letting you know what should and shouldn't happen.The only reason I rate this a four is that even though I read it, I have not set up my tropical aquarium yet and can not determine if I will have unanswered questions.

nice pictures
This is a beautiful picture book and is probably worth something just for that.As for the advice offered for actually setting up an aquarium, I couldn't recommend it.If you're serious about setting up a beautiful, low-maintenance aquarium, get Diana Walstad's "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium."On the other hand, this one will have you buying a lot of equipment and doing a lot of work, and will eventually leave you wondering why your plants aren't thriving.Indeed, some of these books leave you wondering how aquatic plants and fish manage to grow outdoors in all of that sunlight and without benefit of mechanical filters, store-bought additives, and mechanisms for supplying additional carbon dioxide.Sometimes the old ways work better, even (especially?) the old ways we've forgotten.The organization of this book is artificial and the recommendations for plants and fish somewhat arbitrary.But the pictures are gorgeous.

Setting up an aquarium
This is a great book for a newbie like me.I've had fish before, but a long time ago, and I've never had a modern tank with modern equipment.This gives me a template to follow to have a functioning tank that looks like I want it to look, and works like I need it to work.I really like it!

Excellent beginners guide
I have had an aquarium before, it lasted a couple of months, and then everything went kaput.I purchased the book, read it, and have now set up a new aquarium, and so far so good!The author gives detailed instructions, and a timeline, which I really love.It also has a great section on appropriate fish, and whether or not certain fish get along, eat each other, etc.I feel more confident this time around with this book ready to answer my questions.

Great for a beginner aquarist
I had never owned a large aquarium before, this book has set me up perfectly! easy to follow with pictures for every step- day by to to week by week, including fish selections. ... Read more

Product Description
Once considered an impossible dream, the breeding of marine fish species by home aquarium hobbyists is becoming an enticing reality. As pressures mount to develop sustainable sources of aquacultured livestock for the aquarium hobby, reproduction mysteries of captive reef fishes are fast unraveling.

The All-New & Complete Breeder's Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes is the first detailed guide to amateur marine fish breeding, and reveals the techniques and for successfully spawning and rearing more than 90 species marine fishes. This hands-on resource provides comprehensive coverage of the following species:
* jawfish
* grammas
* marine bettas
* assessors
* gobies
* blennies
* cardinals
* dottybacks
* damsels
* chromis
* clownfishes
* angelfishes

It also includes all the essential breeding steps for each family:
* securing breeding stock
* pair formation
* breeder conditioning
* spawning
* larval feeding
* juvenile husbandry and growth

Beautiful color photographs and diagrams help illustrate the species, equipment, and techniques described in the text.

An essential for both the amateur and aspiring small-scale commercial breeder, The All-New & Complete Breeder's Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes is expected to open the door to many thousands of new home breeders--a major step in the evolution of the marine aquarium hobby. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Very comprehensive
This is a great book for getting into breeding marine ornamentals. Very informative and offers lots of tips and instructions on how to get started. I looked all over for a book to get some more information about it and I finally found this. A great all around book on the subject.

Quality information on a challenging subject
Marine husbandry was once considered impossible but the last 40 years has proven this wrong. I found it difficult to get good information on this subject and I'm very glad I bought this book. Even if you don't plan to breed fish, it is amazing to read about (and see in the beautiful pictures) the breeding habits of some fish. For example, if you had 100+ babies, how long would you keep them in your mouth for? A great buy.

An extraordinary must-have reference.
In the better part of twenty years since Martin Moe Jr.'s benchmark references, there has scarcely been a book so useful and inspiring as this work. I suppose I could gush on about it's merits, but let me just say that in my personal collection of several hundred aquatic hobby/science references this book is soundly among my top 5 favorites. It is literally within reach and actively reread in my fishroom. You will be hard pressed to find a more dense and specific resource!

Great subject; needed better editing
This is such a fascinating subject; and the author clearly possesses a great deal of knowledge about it.However, it seemed like the book was rushed to printing without thorough editing.

There are typos and omissions throughout the book.The most annoying omission was the detailed protocol for breeding the Orchid Dottyback.For every species of Dottyback, and for other unrelated species, the author refers the reader to see the "detailed protocol of breeding P. fridmani" on page 186.This detailed protocol seems to be one of the most important sections in the book; and it isn't there.I read the book cover to cover and never found the"detailed protocol of breeding P. fridmani."Considering that this section is referred to so often and for so many species the omission of this section is either extremely sloppy editing or it was purposefully left out. Perhaps some of the commercial breeders associated with the author didn't want these details released...

The photos in the book are very good, and help to redeem the overall poor editing.

An exceptional Book
The book is exceptional reference for the home breeder.

However it could have been a little more detailed in a few sections.

It is the best Marine Breeders reference I have came accross to date. ... Read more