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I
have read many books on fishkeeping and some of them provided a lot
of useful information on one subject or another. The list that
follows is based on my impression and is necessarily subjective.
However, it can be a starting point for your library. Since I am
dealing with quite a few different species I will divide this
section in two big categories : 1. General Interest 2. Malawi
Cichlids (call it addiction) and 3. Marine Fish.
BOOKS
OF GENERAL INTEREST - part I
1.
R.RIEHL
& H.A.BAENSCH "AQUARIUM
ATLAS" by TETRA PRESS. A
remarkable wealth of information, these books (3 in all) are an all
around player. If you decide to buy only one book I highly recommend
this one. Every known freshwater species has a description, basic
information on how to keep it and a photo. Also general information
on fish keeping and live plants (with photos, too) at the beginning
of volume 1. The only disadvantage is that this book followed the
expansion of the hobby and the addition of more and more species
chronologically, therefore you may have to search all three volumes
to find a species. For example, though some Africans are in Volume
I, still you have to search Volume III to find Protomelas species.
The advantage is that you will find almost everything in there.
2. C.
ANDREWS, A. EXELL & N. CARRINGTON "THE
INTERPET MANUAL OF FISH HEALTH"
by
Salamander Books Ltd. A really comprehensive
manual will serve you well in 99% of health problems. Photos,
descriptions of diseases, proposed treatments and very useful lists,
all neatly arranged. I have other books on the same field but these
normally require (or are addressed to) a degree in that science and
are impossible to be "read", they are meant to be a
"case solver".
3. K. ATAJ
& T. J. HOREMAN "AQUARIUM
PLANTS" by
T.F.H. Publications. Contains more information
than you will probably ever need, plus many photos (unfortunately
not of exceptionally good quality). However, the text is superior to
any other book I have read. A very extensive description of plants,
their biology and needs, their diseases and special aquarium
requirements, all in one book. The book also covers the fields of
algae and invertebrates which are sometimes associated with plants.
4. I.
SCHEURMANN "AQUARIUM
PLANTS MANUAL" by
BARRON'S. A little more than the basics but
with lots of good quality photos and diagrams. A basic book if you
do not need an in depth analysis. The photos will help you to
identify the plants you bought but you can't rely on this book as a
single source for keeping live plants in your tank.
5. P. W.
SCOTT "A
FISHKEEPER'S GUIDE TO LIVEBEARING FISHES" by
TETRA PRESS. I think that the inscription in the
cover says it all : a splendid introduction to the care and breading
of a wide range of these fishes. Every time I needed something for
my son's mollies this book delivered an answer.
6. Y.
MATSUI & H. R. AXELROD "GOLDFISH
GUIDE" by T.F.H.
Publications. Dr. Axelrod is famous for his in depth
analysis of topics and this book is definitely not an exception.
Photos of all major goldfish species, information on how to keep
them, feed them, breed them successfully and treat them if diseased.
The book also contains some great shots of fishes that won
international contests. Among the books available for the first fish
to be kept in captivity for human pleasure this is, by far, the
best.
7. W. SEUSS
"CORYDORAS"
by DAEHNE VERLAG. I am relatively new to corydoras and I had to get a book to start
with. After searching a lot, it seems that each book covered very
few species, or was not especially about corys but a book on
catfishes which contained a section on corys. Well, here is the
exception. A man who claims to have bred more than 2/3 of all
available corydoras species in captivity, has written a book on
corys. I knew that corys are very difficult to breed. After reading
the book I thought that I really had a chance to do it. A beautiful
book, too.
8. AXELROD
- SWEENY "BREEDING
AQUARIUM FISH" by TFH
Publications. Even if there were no words in this
book it would still be highly recommended. A large-format, full
color luxurious book, a jewel for every library. Rare photos
accompany a rich text. A must for all aquarists. Since this book is
written with all hobbyists in mind the African Cichlid section is
not very large. This is why this book is listed here and not in the
next section.
Books
for the hobbyist continued in next page... |
