Captive Seawater Fishes: Science and Technology [Hardcover]

Stephen Spotte (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471545546 | ISBN-13: 978-0471545545 | Publication Date: December 1, 1992 | Edition: 1

Describes water chemistry, technology and the biological and physical processes of the aquarium ecosystem. Additionally, it presents fish physiology, nutrition, diseases and health maintenance. Provides usable methods and specific protocols for keeping marine fish with the emphasis on professional approaches for public aquariums.

Editorial Reviews

Review

. . . a comprehensive compilation of information on every facet of keeping marine fish and is easily the most complete resource ever assembled between two covers. . . . It is a book for both novices, and experts. . . . Serious amateurs as well as professional aquarists, engineers, system designers, administrators, and students will all find an incredible collection of information and data on every aspect of aquarium sciences. . . . The terms comprehensive and complete are not hyperbole. . . . It is a "must have" for all interested or involved in any aspect of keeping marine fish and invertebrates, and will be widely used as both a reference and text. -- John W. Nightingale, Zoo Biology 12: 505-506, 1993.

. . . a definitive text for any one keeping marine fish, and required reading for those who are seriously committed to the enterprise of maintaining fish in artificial environments. . . . it's all here - the "state of the art" in science and technique for the maintenance of health marine aquaria in general and fishes in particular. This book belongs in the library of all dedicated to that project. It is well written with a lively style and the information is presented in an accessible form, given the rigor of its content. -- Doug Robbin, Aquarium Frontiers, Fall 1995

. . . a tour de force written with great clarity, profusely illustrated with line drawings, halftone and colour plates . . . a pleasure to read. . . . All involved with captive marine fishes will benefit from [this book], not the least the fishes themselves. -- R. N. Gibson, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 161(2): 282-283, 1992.

. . . absolutely wonderful. . . . Stephen Spotte probably knows more about more subjects appertaining to marine aquaria and environments than the majority us put together. The result is a book . . . that is hard to fault in textual content and/or style. . . . a work without equal. -- John Dawes, Aquarist and Pondkeeper, September 1992.

. . . enjoyably readable . . . deliberately eclectic. . . [a] highly intellectual and interpretive review of the science and technology of working with captive seawater fishes. . . . Because of [the] high level of intellectual challenge and the lucid aspect of the primary text, this book will probably stand as a frequent literature citation for the next quarter century. . . . The primary audience may be public aquarists, but aquarium hobbyists as well as all fisheries biologists and aquaculturists who rely on tanks and seawater systems will be grateful for this most absorbing book. -- Jeffrey B. Marliave, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 122: 511-512, 1993.

Spotte succeeds in conveying an enormous amount of information in an organized and a bold, readable fashion. . . . This is a valuable book to own even if one's captive fish operation is smaller than that of a public aquarium or an aquaculture enterprise. -- M. H., Copeia 1993: 915-916, 1993.

This is the definitive work on seawater aquariology, and . . . a comprehensive scientific text . . . the major reference book on the subject. The text is not turgid; for such a weighty volume it is written to the highest literary standard. -- Andy Horton, Glaucus (British Marine Life Study Society) 4(1): 34, 1993.

This latest offering is [Spotte's] magnum opus, and it is indeed a reference work of grand proportions. . . . Spotte has brought a wealth of information together in one volume which should be in the library of every truly serious marine aquarist. Buy it . . . -- John Tullock, Marine Fish Monthly, February 1993.

Wow, mind-boggling, and thorough are just a few of the reactions to Stephen Spotte's new book, Captive Seawater Fishes. . . . a must for every aquarist, be it the neophyte or professional. Be forewarned, because of its size and detail, this is not a book that one sits down and devours in one sitting. It's heavy but delightfully easy reading. . . . Don't walk but run to your nearest book dealer or store and add Spotte's Captive Seawater Fishes to your holdings . . . I wonder what Spotte will do to top this production, for there is little he hasn't treated or included. -- Frank J. Schwartz, ASB Bulletin 39(3), 1992.

From the Publisher

Describes water chemistry, technology and the biological and physical processes of the aquarium ecosystem. Additionally, it presents fish physiology, nutrition, diseases and health maintenance. Provides usable methods and specific protocols for keeping marine fish with the emphasis on professional approaches for public aquariums.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 976 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 1 edition (December 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471545546
• ISBN-13: 978-0471545545
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.9 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,302,831 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A technical treatise., March 16, 2009

By 

Mike Wickham (Rogers, AR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Captive Seawater Fishes: Science and Technology (Hardcover)

I'm not sure what book "gansito" reviewed in the only previous review on this site, but it was definitely not this book. This book is not at all about choosing or identifying fish species. There is hardly a particular species mentioned or pictured anywhere in the book. This book is about the _science_ of fishkeeping (especially saltwater fishkeeping), with a slant toward public aquariums rather than home aquariums. Use "Look Inside the Book" to view the Table of Contents and index pages, and you'll see what I mean.

The title "Captive Seawater Fishes" is a little misleading, but the subtitle "Science and Technology" is dead on. Charts, tables, and chemical formulas fill this book. There are things in this huge volume that you won't find in other aquarium books. And there is detail you won't find anywhere.

Captive Seawater Fishes is not a book for beginning aquarists, and probably not for intermediate ones, either. Even advanced aquarists will need some understanding of the sciences to wade through it. But having said that, I will add this: you will not see this book as a rehash of information found in other books. You WILL learn something from it.

Gansito's errant review was right about one thing. This book IS worth its weight in gold-- just for a different set of reasons.

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfull, June 11, 2000

By 

"gansito" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Captive Seawater Fishes: Science and Technology (Hardcover)

This book is the only one I have seen with a comprehensive listing of marine fish. I love marine fish and I have used this book to figure out which fish i should brougth.

There are so many marine fish to see and bougth, that is important to had certain reference to mix the diferent species.

This book allows the reader to identify the fish and then find its scientific name.

you soulh have this book. because it worths its pounds in gold.