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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43549 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 528 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781554071678
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
A beautiful book, lovingly written and illustrated, carefully compiled with information suitable for the beginner or the longtime enthusiast. (Linda Turk Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal 20070127)

Packed with in-depth detail perfect for setting up an aquarium. (Diane C.Donovan The Midwest Book Review 200703)

For users looking for specific information on freshwater aquarium fish this will be a useful and interesting resource. (Shannon Graff Hysell American Reference Books Annual 2007)

About the Author
Greg Jennings has been actively involved in fish-keeping for more than 40 years. He has visited many of the locations around the world where popular hobbyist species originate and, through fellow enthusiasts in the international community, keeps up with the very latest developments and techniques.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Sample Entry [each entry is illustrated by a color photograph]

CHARACOIDS

Dwarf Pencilfish Nannostomus marginatus

This is a delightful species that, despite its small size, creates a sparklingdisplay. It has vivid red coloration on its fins (except the caudal fin), threeprominent, dark-brown bands on its body, and a splash of several redscales along the midpoint of the central band. This species lacks anadipose fin.

Family: Lebiasinidae

Subfamily: Pyrrhulininae

Distribution: Guyana, Suriname, and (possibly) lower reaches of the Amazon

Size: Around 1 1/2 in (3.5cm).

Behavior: Peaceful shoaler, somewhat more timid than N. beckfordi; should not be kept with lively tankmates

Aquarium: Thickly planted and with subdued lighting. Soft, slightly acid, nitrate-free water preferred (anychanges in conditions must be carried out gradually), as is tannin-stained water. Temperature range: 73-81degF (23-27degC)

Breeding: Subdued lighting, soft, acid water and fine-leaved vegetation required. Water temperature: around 86degF (30degC). Eggs are scattered among the vegetation and may be eaten by the spawners. Hatching takes 1-3 days.

Customer Reviews

Great text
This is a great reference text for some common species as well as the unknown ones; especially if you want a quick reference of a variety of species to create a "species" or "community" tank this book will be helpful in decision making. The book gives good details regarding the expected size of the fish, general behavior and environment just to name a few. The photos contained within the text are well detailed. I would recommend this book to beginners and intermediate aquarists.

Packed with in-depth detail perfect for setting up an aquarium.
The same format graces Greg Jennings' 500 FRESHWATER AQUARIUM FISH: A VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE MOST POPULAR SPECIES. Over 500 species and varieties are covered with basic facts on size, behavior, diet, aquarium and breeding conditions accompanying a full-color, full-page facing photo. Any home or library collection strong in aquarium references - and many a fish store - will find this packed with in-depth detail perfect for setting up an aquarium.

Good, but could be better
Yes, there's probably every bit of 500 fish in this book, but it still lacks on a few of the more common species. It is also a little too vague on descriptions. There is a 4 page spread on Discus and Oscars, but that's not really necessary when all the other fish are given one page with one sentence descriptions.
It's still nifty to have at home, but if you want to see how the fish are going to cohabitate with your other tank mates, this is not your book.