Customer Reviews

A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates: 500+ Essential-to-Know Aquarium Species

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The two "500+ Essential-to-Know Aquarium Species Books" are the biggest bang-for-your-buck aquarium stocking and general information books out there. Even though both of the books, Marine Fishes (ISBN: 1890087386 by Scott W. Michael) & Marine Invertebrates (ISBN: 1890087661 by Ronald Shimek) are pocket guides, they offer so much more information than the other books that I have seen. They don't waste space telling you about fish that you will never see in an aquarium and instead give relatively in-depth information on the species that you are likely to encounter. Neither do they present the information in hard-to-decode picture format; they use sentences: A very underused communicated technique in most aquarium handbooks out there. Not only is the selection of species perfect but the provided information on care is perfect as well. The Marine Fishes version provides the following well-presented information on each fish:

* A color picture
* Scientific name (genus & species)
* Common name
* Maximum size
* Minimum suggested aquarium size
* Aquarium suitability index
* Reef aquarium compatibility
* Captive care tips and information

Likewise, in an equally well-presented manner, A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates: 500+ Essential-to-Know Aquarium Species presents the following information on each specimen discussed:
500+ Marine Invertebrates by Robert Shimek

* A color picture
* Scientific name (genus & species)
* Common name
* Maximum size
* Naturally-occurring range
* Lighting requirements
* Foods & feeding
* Aquarium suitability/Reef aquarium compatibility
* Captive care tips and information

Don't take my word for it, just try it with a few species that you already have in your tank or that you are considering buying by using Amazon.com's "Search inside the book feature." I recommend you buy these on Amazon.com; you get free shipping (with a $25 order) and don't have to pay sales tax.

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This book is excellent for what it is - a quick reference guide. Do not expect to see the detail you would find in larger volumes focusing on specific genera or species of animals. However, to help identify see basic care and compatibility information and aid in setup and purchase decisions, this book is worth every penny.

Many authors divide volumes confusing and annoying customers as they will classify anemones, corals, mushroom corals, and invertebrates differently. This covers the lot. Don't expect to see everything in endless detail. However, you won't be upset if buying this as a first reference for selection or as a complement to an existing and extensive collection.

I've been waiting for this book for well over a year. So glad it's finally here! It is an excellent companion to Scott Michael's "Marine Fishes" handbook. It's a handy, easily carried reference to take to the LFS or use in planning. The key info is there. The pix are nice enough. I think that coral fans would be best off with a separate corals book. As a big fan of echinoderms, I would have preferred a broader selection of these. You cannot rely on this book to identify all but the very most common stars. I have 3 seastars and several serpent/brittle stars in my tanks that are not pictured here.

I also had to chuckle at his deadpan wit. Regarding the Blue-Ringed Octopus: "The rewards of octopus husbandry can be had without selecting one that can kill you." Regarding Fish-Eating Cone Snails: "If you are stung by one of these snails, there is a very good chance you will die."

Thanks to this book I was able to identify the fact that I had inadvertently introduced a small Mantis Shrimp into my reef tank thru the purchase of living rock. Mantis Shrimp can, when fully grown, either kill your fish, or even break the glass of your aquarium! When I realized what it was, I was able to get the shimp out of my tank.

This is an excellent book which can help you to choose appropriate invetebrates for your tank. The descriptions help you to understand their needs and any possible compatibility issues with other invertebrates.

This pocket guide is small enough to take with you when you go to your local fish store so you can check before you buy.

An excellent reference for looking up invertebrates. Lists feeding, lighting,and compatability traits, good information however does not have the 1-5 ease of keeping scale like the fish book does.

This is an invaluable tool to use when shopping for marine invertibrates; its convenient to take with you and do a bit of spot research on animals you find in the fishstore and might be considering purchasing, so that you can make an informed decision. it briefly covers the different types of corals you might find and various motile (moving) invertibrates like crabs, snails, etc. Also on each entry is given: minimum tank size, lighting requirements, reef aquarium compatibility, captive care, foods and feeding, maximum size, and place of origin. Also I recommend the other 'sister' book, Marine Fishes by Scott W. Michael.

This is an excellent pocket guide for quick search. Small, well-presented and easy to use. On the other hand the book is quite complete with pictures, genus & species, aquarium compatibility, captive care tips and useful information.

Some of the captive care tips are a little bit old-fanshioned, an actualization on some feeding procedures & tech available today would be neccesary. In general terms is a must-have book.

This book is a good resource. It has helped me make informed decisions about which invertebrates are best for my reef aquarium set-up. Although, it does seem to be missing a fair amount of species that are for sale in the marine fish stores. Despite these missing species, this book is still a must have for any marine hobbyist.

Nice little book, good pictures and information although limited amount of invertebrates.
Better more comprehensive guides on the market!

This is an excellent quick guide to help you making your invertebrates "wish list", and also very helpful to carry it when going shopping for new inverts. Each page provides a picture and useful information about the portrayed invertebrate, compatibility with fishes and other inverts, etc.

It could be a little better if the author gave a score from 1 to 5 like the author from "A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Fishes" did. Also, a better clarification on light levels would be important. Just saying "bright", "medium", etc isn't enough for a beginner like myself.