Customer Reviews

Amphibians in Captivity

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Any attempt to write an all-encompassing text like this could quite reasonably be expected to fall short of perfection, especially when judging other "general amphibian" texts out there. To my surprise, this book is, for the most part, an exception to the rule. I must compliment Marc Staniszewski on his good work. I thought after reading many TFH amphibian publications that it would be unlikely that the author would have precise and detailed knowledge of the minutiae of every amphibian species in the book, but, despite this, in my opinion "Amphibians in Captivity" succeeds where every other TFH publication I have seen to date has failed - it is very accurate and detailed. Not only does it cover the usual species information such as size and feeding, it also fills in many of the gaps that other books leave, such as the longevity of each species and it highlights differences in care between otherwise similar species within a given genus. 544 pages may seem like a lot, but unlike many other "general" amphibian books, each page counts - there is no filler or dross.

I wanted to give this book 4.5 out of 5, but it was either 4 or 5. There are a few inaccuracies that could have been easily avoided, although they don't detract much from the book. There simply isn't another hobbyist's captive-care text of the same "general amphibian" type that isn't aimed solely at the beginner _and_ would get more than a 3 star rating from me.

Nearly the first 200 pages deal with various aspects of amphibian natural history and captive care in fine detail (for example there are over 30 pages on feeding alone as well as the individual notes on feeding for each species, and over 40 on housing, and this isn't "filler"), followed by about 350 pages on species care covering the Caecilians, Salamanders and Anurans, in that order.

I hesitated for a few months before buying this book due to the high price, but now that I have read the book I don't regret purchasing it.

If fussing with your amphibian pets is your idea of a good time, this book is the next best thing. Mark Staniszewski is a wonderfully clear and entertaining writer and this is a beautifully illustrated, comprehensive book. The husbandry information is concise and useful, and is especially valuable in conjunction with the amphibian natural history books of Stebbins and Cohen and the biology of amphibians book by Duellmen and Trueb. I have read this book through and go back over it frequently (particularly after my husband vetos buying fire salamanders just because they produce tetrodotoxin...). It is worth every cent and belongs in every amphibian herpers library

This book is has an incredibal amount of information, and is the first book I reach for when someone e-mails me with a question relating to frog health, habitat, housing, behavior, etc....

I agree with the other reviews (this is definatly a "five star" book), but have one concern: A few of the "scientific names" for frogs and salamanders seem to very from the "norm." At times, this makes research a bit difficult. This is the only reason that I didn't give the book 5 stars.

this book is one of the top books around. it not only tells of basic knowledge but of in depth information about most amphibians, along with some very good well-thought information on housing, feeding and general care of amphibains
this book is a must for beginners and breeders or people just interested in amphibians and their care.

At over 540 pages long this is one of the largest books ever seen on the hobby of keeping amphibians in captivity. Practical aspects are clear and precise. Information is detailed and accurate. The author is well known within the field of herpetology (the study of reptiles & amphibians) seen from his many articles on the subject over the last few years. At $99 the book may seem a little pricey but in truth this represents excellent value mainly due to the information contained within. Overall it represents perhaps the most complete volume I have ever seen on these creatures. Excellent