Encyclopedia of Exotic Tropical Fishes for Freshwater Aquariums [Hardcover]

G. S. Axelrod (Author), Brian M. Scott (Author), Glen S. Axelrod (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2005

The Encyclopedia of Exotic Tropical Fishes for Freshwater Aquariums is an inspiring resource. The book is separated into two sections, with the first part encompassing six chapters of both general and specific fishkeeping information and the second part offering detailed profiles of 1000 freshwater species. All fish enthusiasts will appreciate the down-to-earth writing style and superb images by some of the world’s top photographers. This practical reference also features anatomical drawings, multiple tip boxes, and over 2800 full-color photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a one-book-covers-all purchase for a large public library with a significantly advanced science and hobbyist collection." -- Library Journal, August 2005

About the Author

GLEN S. AXELROD, M.S., F.Z.S., received his Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry from Rutgers College, Rutgers University and his Masters of Science degree in ichthyology from JLB Institute of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, South Africa. Currently, Glen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of T.F.H. Publication, Inc. and Nylabone Products.

BRIAN M. SCOTT received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 2001. Presently, Brian is the Aquatics Editor for T.F.H. Publications, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 784 pages
• Publisher: TFH Publications (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793805708
• ISBN-13: 978-0793805709
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.9 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #885,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And old hand at this..., October 3, 2005

By 

Phil - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Exotic Tropical Fishes for Freshwater Aquariums (Hardcover)

I've been keeping freshwater fish (and just about everything else that ever tooled about the freshwater environment at one time or another) for a long, LONG time, and I've found this text to be as authoritative and reader-friendly as books can get. Simply stated, the novice can learn all he or she needs to about a species or genera of fish in order to successfully keep that species in captivity, while the advanced hobbyist has at his or her fingers an unparalleled resource text in this book. As an expert whose knowledge is certainly limited, I've found this book to be a sort of catch-all text that answers most any question I might have about the freshwater species of fishes. More so even than that, I consider this book a reference text in that when I go to the local fish shop and I see something I've never seen before, I can come home, reference my Encyclopedia of Freshwater Fishes, and come away with a solid understanding of the species that I just encountered for the first time; I don't have to rely on the "guess and pray" information given me by the pet shop's clerk, I can simply rely on this book to fill in the gaps and bridge the information-gulfs that stand between me and my chosen species of captive fish.

While the above information is simply my amateur opinion on the information the text provides, the following is my professional take on the book as published work. My name is Phil Purser, and many of you may have read my books on Moray Eels, Green Treefrogs, or Garter & Ribbon Snakes. I've been writing on fish & reptiles/amphibians for over a half-decade, and I know what is good and what sucks when it comes to the pet trade. I've read myriad books by "authors" who couldn't find their noses in the dark, and I've read authoritative books by the leading minds of the field, and I can honestly say that, after reading this book from the front cover to the back, this text is one book that will stay one my personal shelves for years and years to come. The information in it is up-to-date, accurate, and timeless (of course nomenclature can change, but the care of each species is pretty well fixed). When you've got all the information you'll ever need in one book, why would you ever reach for another?

The authors of this book are some of the best in the field...better even than myself. Despite my decades of experience studying and writing about fishes, I still defer my questions and inquiries to men such as Glen Axelrod and Brian Scott. Any hobbyist who keeps his or her fingers on the pulse of the freshwater aquarium hobby will attest to the expertise of these scholars; they know their stuff!

I guess what I'm saying is that if an old expert like me can enjoy and reference a book so much as I have this text, then ANYONE who is even remotely interested in the keeping and understanding of freshwater fishes can certianly learn from and relish a book like this one. I honestly believe that a book to rival this one in scope and depth of knowledge will be written for a long, long time to come.

49 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Big price, big disappointment!, May 9, 2005

By 

cavedoctor (Howes Cave, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Exotic Tropical Fishes for Freshwater Aquariums (Hardcover)

I am so disappointed in this book. I was really looking forward to its publication, as it seemed perfect for my needs. I am neither an expert aquarist nor a novice, but somewhere inbetween. This book promised up-to-date information on some of the new species to hit the fish trade, as well as comprehensive information on fish we all know and love. Well...there are certainly alot of species included, but at the expense of detail on any. The pictures are nice, but not of uniform quality. And the typos... are numerous, frequently distracting, and potentially hazardous/hilarious in equal proportion. The Marbled Bichir, for instance, is a large carnivorous fish that grows to over a foot in length. Imagine my surprise to read that "this species was used to bring certain traits into domesticated swordtail and platy lines." Wow. I will never look at a platy the same way again! Beneath those mild mannered and colorful 2-3 inch exteriors may be lurking a big surprise for the other fish in my community tanks.(The whole section was transposed word for word from an entry on Variatus Platies several pages previous, but still!) For the price they are asking they should have a) proofread, and b) delivered much more information.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, March 11, 2006

By 

S. WATSON (Door County) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Encyclopedia of Exotic Tropical Fishes for Freshwater Aquariums (Hardcover)

I wanted one great dictionary for reference as I just got started with my aquarium a few months ago. I found this to be badly indexed, and since it is alphabetical by Latin subspecies and then Latin name within it, they assume a great deal of knowledge right off the bat. Then you need to look up the common name in the index to find the latin name and my most common fish aren't even in there under common name (ie., Molly, Platy). Guppy is under "D" in the index, a typo for "G" - which makes me think this wasn't even proofread. I really didn't need information on freshwater fish like bass and pike, since those aren't aquarium fish, so don't understand who the audience is supposed to be. Many fish in here measure over a foot in length. I have an aquarium, I'm not going fishing.