Customer Reviews

Aquarium Atlas (Baensch Freshwater) Vol. 1

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Everything about this book is complete, concise, and colorful. All volumes contain useful information. Vol 1 is the more common aquarium fish, Vol 2 is rarer fish (cichlids and brackish) and Vol 3 is exotics and also more common fish. Each one contains both plants, fish, diseases, tank set-up and more. Each fish is discussed, not just some pictorial symbols as to their care. Pictures are large and colorful (great quality!). The layout is superb and the information is quite accurate. I highly recommend all of these books, but #1 is best for beginning aquarists.

This book contains the most complete information on over 600 of the most common freshwater aquarium fishes & over 100 plants. Large, clear color photos of each fish and plant make browsing a pleasure.

I really liked the plant section. There is information on physical characteristics, aquarium conditions & difficulty keeping. They are grouped by family & separated from the fish for easy reference.

Conveniently, this book uses detailed text instead of symbols to describe the fish & aquarium conditions. Some information includes habitat, behavior, feeding, breeding, physical characteristics, maintenance & difficulty keeping.

Both scientific & common names are given & the fish are grouped by family. Good general information on caring for the fish as well setting up & maintaining the aquarium is also included.

Baensch's Aquarium Atlas doesn't have as many species and photos, but every fish has a detailed info about its origin, care, feeding, breeding, etc. The first 70 pages contain very well written and illustrated info on aquarium basics, technology and accessories. Then comes a 77 page section with beautiful photos and info on 100 species of plants. Next is a 723 page section thoroughly characterizing and showing 600 fish species. The book ends with a section on care and maintenance, a section on diseases, and finally a huge Index sorted by Scientific Names, Common Names, and Synonyma.

This is not just any sappy aquarium book on some market place. This is a real treasure made by professional aquarists Riehdl and Baensch.
In fact,this 1000-page book covers ALL of the information you`d ever wanted to know about basic fishkeeping. It is introduced by some pictures and good tips of decorating & creating a natural aquarium. It also has a few samples of how to place the aquarium (in the wall,on a bench,etc).
A Piece of Advice: feel free to decorate your aquarium with art objects,because I have done so with mine,and the fishes seem to be thriving as well,although the authors of this book says it is a half-bad idea.
Anyway,let`s continue. The book covers every aspect on water quality,techniques,lighting,and much more. It has also a glossary of chemical terms worth to know.
Then,the plant section comes. All of the aquarium plants I have at home can be identified here. It contains lots of usefull information as well.
But the probably best part of the book is the huge section for identification & keeping of fishes. The section is taking up most of the book and identifies over 600 fish species,with detailed species description. I own over a dozen freshwater aquarium books,but this one is with no doubt the most helpfull. It provides detailed information,and every time before buying a new fish,I read about it in this book. Some times I read twice,as I want to be really sure that I can keep it in my aquariums. All fishes have requirements - and some times they are very high,as with cichlids,so they cannot be kept in small aquariums or with other fishes. I also control that they have the right Ph requirements for my aquariums.
If there are any gender differences in a species,or special reproduction behavior,it shows more than one photo of a fish - as with the guppies,there are more than 30 varieties,and all of them are pictured here!
What is also helpfull is that the book is treating ALL the synonyms of their scientific names,both the plants & the fishes. For example,I often encounter the common pleco under the name Plecostomus plecostomus,but in this book it is named with it`s right name Hypostomus plecostomus,and that is also something which no other book does.
It has so far proven to be very helpfull on all ways when selecting fishes.
The last chapter treats fish diseases,and what to be used when they have Oodinium,for example. Often,this is a section poorly explained in many books,but not here. If you have another book,you might have to call some pet shop for getting advice,but I don`t have to do such a thing when having this one.
I also have to mention that this book has a very large full index. One for subjects,one for the right fish names and one for synonymous names. And that could be extremly helpfull.
And for you who think there`s not enough species covered in this one,don`t worry!There are 4 books more,and this is the smallest!I also own the photo index,which covers 4000 species. See my separate review of that one for more information.
Over all,this is the ULTIMATE AQUARIUM BOOK and a must-have for every aquarist.

The Axelrod atlas was the standard for years, but this one makes that book look bad. The reason: Every fish has a detailed description including origin location, maintenance, food, and breeding. Plus, it lists synonyms and erroneous names the species is sold under.

This is probably the most in-depth, relevant, high-quality single-volume reference book I have found in any field that I have personally researched. Just buy it.

This is book one of a three volume set. This book covers the more common aquarium fish, Vol 2 is rarer fish (cichlids and brackish) and Vol 3 is the more "exotic" fish available in the pet stores. Each book is well written and concise. This book covers tank setup, fish, plants, and more.

Unlike other photo guides, this one includes a more complete info section for each fish. Not just the pictoral symbols that some other books have.

Each fish has a large and colorful picture, although the quality is some times lacking. The layout is easy to follow and the information is generally excellent.

I wouldn't make this your first book to purchase but it is definetely one to add to your library.

This is a wonderful and consise guide to the amazing variety of tropical fresh water fish. The photographs are clear and descriptions of the various species are informative and helpful. This is the only book I've found helped me identify a previously purchased fish that had been wrongly identified. Information on various plants and diseases are very helpful as well. Everyone with a freshwater aquarium needs this book!

First of all, the third reader review entitled "Great resource, I'd like to point out an error.." states that there is an error in the book with regards to the Siamese algae eater, which is true. However, the mistake is not that it is mixed up with the other fish on the page (the flying fox, which is correct), but that the picture given for the Siamese algae eater is in fact of the FALSE Siamese algae eater. With that out of the way, let me say that this is the single best reference for both beginning and advanced aquarists yet created. What gives this atlas the nod over Dr. Axelrod's Atlas (or Mini-Atlas) of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes is the much, much more detailed information on each fish and plant species. The Axelrod Atlas should only be used as a supplemental companion to this fine volume.

First of all, the third reader review entitled "Great resource, I'd like to point out an error.." states that there is an error in the book with regards to the Siamese algae eater, which is true. However, the mistake is not that it is mixed up with the other fish on the page (the flying fox, which is correct), but that the picture given for the Siamese algae eater is in fact of the FALSE Siamese algae eater. With that out of the way, let me say that this is the single best reference for both beginning and advanced aquarists yet created. What gives this atlas the nod over Dr. Axelrod's Atlas (or Mini-Atlas) of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes is the much, much more detailed information on each fish and plant species. The Axelrod Atlas should only be used as a supplemental companion to this fine volume.

This is a very nice book-good quality, nice pictures, etc.-, but lacks somewhat in its valid identifications of certain fishes. For most species covered it is an excellent all around reference book. There is some excellent detail given in some portions to specific breeding, behavioral data, and general husbandry information that will prove very important. Some species however, are not identified correctly. Most of the fishes that I encountered in the book that had been mislabled were mainly rarer fish in the aquarium trade. So, these flaws probably won't affect you, but beware. If you are looking for a good informational book on freshwater aquarium fishes this is an excellent book to purchase, although I would definately suggest buying all volumes in the 'Aquarium Atlas' series.