The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists [Paperback]

Robert M. Fenner (Author), Christopher Turk (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1998

Drawing upon a lifetime of aquatic experience, marine biologist Bob Fenner demystifies the process of planning, setting up, stocking, and managing a beautiful, thriving slice of the tropical ocean. A leading advocate for the responsible collection and care of wild-caught specimens, Fenner starts with the basics and proceeds to give the reader the scientific background and expert-level secrets to being a smarter consumer, better reef steward, and more successful marine aquarium keeper.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ROBERT M. FENNER is a lifelong aquarist with an active and continuing involvement in the academic, journalistic, trade, and hobbyist sides of aquarium keeping. He is a former marine science and aquariology instructor at the University of California and in the California State University system. Bob lives in San Diego, California. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: TFH Publications (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890087025
• ISBN-13: 978-1890087029
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Fish & Aquariums

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE "Must-Have" volume for beginning and intermediate..., March 5, 2000

By 

Lorenzo F. Gonzalez "Outdoors Adrenaline Geek" (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists (Paperback)

This is far and away the best book about hobbyist fishkeeping I have EVER read - that includes everything for freshwater, as well. Probably little here for the very experienced marine aquarist, but for the beginner, there is NO BETTER BOOK. It's worth every penny I spent on it. The author even points out silly errors and terrible misinformation present in OTHER books I also own! It is the ultimate reference, with enough information to take the complete newbie from a simple fish-only setup to a reasonably advanced reef system, avoiding the many, MANY possible pitfalls in between, from equipment and feeding, to which fish will eat your invertebrates (and vice-versa). Highly opinionated, and incredibly experienced, the author also demonstrates a rare talent in this typically dry genre: His prose is actually FUN to read, and his points are highly memorable because of it.

I might repeat the cliche' "If you read only one book about marine fishkeeping..." But the fact is, until you get to really exotic reefs and invertebrates, you only NEED to read one book - This one.
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The above review was written quite some time ago, and I'm making this addendum because I now have a relationship with Mr. Fenner (I work on his website(s)) and I think it's important to disclose that - also because Amazon finally added this 'edit' feature! Also important though, I now believe that "The New Marine Aquarium" by Michael Paletta is possibly a better beginner's book. I still think Bob's CMA (as it is called by insiders) is the "One Book". But if you plan on having -more- than one, and you're looking for your first, you might check out Paletta's, it's a shade easier to digest than the all-powerful CMA. [grin]

58 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy This One Next!, May 4, 2003

By 

Too Cold in Madison (Madison, WI, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists (Paperback)

Thinking of getting into the saltwater aquarium hobby? Do not buy anything until you have read this book cover to cover! You will be sorry if you don't. By applying the principles in this book, you will have much greater success at the venture. You will save a lot of money and spare the lives of many fish.

But first, buy and read The New Marine Aquarium by Michael S. Paletta. It's a great starting point. Then read this one and give this great hobby a go.

Being a marine aquarist is a great responsibility. Most marine aquarium fish are wild-caught. We have a responsibility to choose only those can thrive in captivity and are not endangered. Beyond that, we have an obligation to properly care for the animals we have assumed stewarship for. This book makes that clear and it will welp you achieve this.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for beginner and expert alike!, September 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists (Paperback)

I had already been in the reef aquarium hobby for a year when I picked up this book. Most of the information I had already heard about, but alot of it was either new to me or covered in a new way. This book will give the straight talk about which fish and animals are "best" for the aquarium, and the author is not afraid to say what is wrong with keeping certain type of fish. A must for beginners, a decent refernce for all other aquarium keepers.