Fish Behavior in the Aquarium and in the Wild (Comstock books) (Paperback)

by Stephan Reebs (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Fish look extremely relaxed from our side of the fish bowl, but underlying their observed tranquility is a world of complex behavior that has been the subject of much research. Unfortunately for the interested amateur fish-lover, the results of this research have been hard to find and harder to understand. Here, Reebs (biology, Univ. of Moncton, Canada) attempts to solve that problem by "translating" the scientific literature of behavioral ecology into plain English. He discusses at length sensory and cognitive abilities as well as mate selection, particularly in common reef species and those that might be found in aquariums. Although serious and scientific in tone, the book is written in a way that even high school students working on a science project could understand. Reebs also describes some experiments that could be replicated in a home aquarium. Bibliographic references are extensive, allowing for further research. Also provided (but not seen) is a list of the Latin names corresponding to all the common names mentioned in the text, a useful reference tool in itself. Recommended for all public libraries as well as high school and college libraries where there is interest in behavioral ecology or fishes. Margaret Rioux, MBL/WHOI Lib., Woods Hole, MA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The aquarium in your living room seems to be a peaceful place, but this seemingly quiet refuge reveals only a fraction of the interesting interactions among fishes and between fish and their environment. Reebs, author of numerous studies on animal behavior, presents a primer on fish behavior. Fish are quite different from the more familiar mammals or birds and live in an environment that is alien to most of us, and yet they must perform many of the same actions as we do. They find food, avoid predators, relate to other fish of their own and different species, attract mates, and raise young. How they take care of these needs makes for fascinating reading. They can detect enemies by scent, many perform courtship dances, and some adjust the number of eggs they lay by the security of the nest site. Sidebars give more information about some topics, and a notes section provides further information and citations to the scientific literature. This excellent introduction will fill any library's need for information about fish. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Cornell University Press (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801487722
• ISBN-13: 978-0801487729
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #843,806 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cichlid Lore and More, March 27, 2002

By	Philip Greenspun (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Learn how fish hear, recognize each other, navigate around obstacles despite blindness, take care of their kids, and many other interesting facts. Reebs is a Biology professor but he saves the references for the back of the book.

Give this one to your friends who don't understand why you need a 300-gallon tank in the living room...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Educational AND accessible, October 30, 2008

By	Edward A. Averill "Writer, artist, fish fanatic" (Sunnyvale, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For anyone interested in the inner workings of fish, I highly recommend this book. Technical enough to be accurate but not 110% jargon and incomprehensible without a degree in ichthyology. As a freshwater fishkeeper of over 20 years, I still learned a lot about my "wet pets" from reading this book.

Perfect for the aquarist interested in how his fish think!

5.0 out of 5 stars Exellent!, December 4, 2008

By	Rajendra Kumar "Raj" (Bangalore, South India) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A great book, an inner understanding of fish behavior. Fish behavior that have been moderated by evolution and you can now see the direction. A serious read, not many pictures. Recommended for all hard core aquarists.