Dr. Axelrod's Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes (Hardcover)

by Herbert R. Axelrod (Author), Warren E. Burgess (Author) "Photographs alone do not identify fishes, nor can anyone really make an absolutely positive identification of a fish without the fish's body at hand..." (more)
Key Phrases: aphyosemion bualanum, aquarium fishes, South America

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Whether you are a dedicated tropical fish hobbyist, researcher, dealer, or wildlife agent, Dr. Axelrod's Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes offers a reliable zoogeographical method of listing species for a unique and simplified approach to fish identification. With hundreds of taxonomic changes since the previous edition, the Atlas incorporates a common name index as well as a scientific name index to the species identified within. It also provides full-color photos for more than 7,000 species of freshwater fishes from around the world, with emphasis on the most popular groups. New and improved photos of key species increase the informational value of the book over the previous edition.

Species added to this 11th edition of the Atlas include several rare livebearing species, along with a wide assortment of new-to-the-book fishes from the popular Neotropical cichlids group, South American killifish species, South American loricariid catfish group, and relatives of the popular Siamese Fighting Fish, Betta splendens. Added species very recently appearing on the aquarium scene also include the Vietnamese White Cloud, Endler's Livebearer, the Goo-Obo Gudgeon, Denison's Red Lined Barb, and the Dwarf Blue Rainbowfish among others.

Featuring newly added species, superior photography, and more informative content than ever before, the revised 11th edition of Dr. Axelrod's Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes is an essential ichthyological reference book that provides quick but accurate identifications to a wide selection of the hobby's most notable aquarium fishes.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author
GLEN S. AXELROD, M.Sc., F.Z.S., President and CEO of TFH Publications, Inc. and Nylabone Products and senior author of the Encyclopedia of Exotic Aquarium Fishes for Freshwater Aquariums, directed the revisions encompassed in the 11th Edition. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1150 pages
• Publisher: TFH Publications; 10 edition (October 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793800331
• ISBN-13: 978-0793800339
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 2.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #769,739 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If you want pictures this book can't be beat!, April 12, 2000

By	G. Hoeppner (Lansing, MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I ordered this book, my expectations were for lots of pictures and lots of info. on eating habits, breading habits, the differences between males and females, fish origins, etc. Basically, I was expecting the end-all-be-all of fishkeeping books. What the book actually turned out to be was a huge book full of nothing but pictures. Every single page is loaded with pictures. The pictures are great, and if that's all you want, then this book is right for you. There is a tiny (really tiny) bit of info. other than pictures. Each picture has a few symbols underneath which you can look up in a legend. These symbols tell you things like if the fish is an eggbearer or live bearer, and some general information. Not exactly what I was expecting. If you're expecting what I was you'd probably be better off getting a smaller book with more detail about the fish that are in it.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Axelrod's Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes, December 3, 2002

By A Customer

I was disappointed in this book since I already had the Mini Atlas and expected the full sized atlas to have the same features (such as text, and helpful information) as the Mini Atlas, just more of them. Instead it is nothing but photos from cover to cover.
This book just sits on the bookshelf untouched since the Mini Atlas more than covers most of the fish available out there - for a much more reasonable cost.

There are also some inaccuracies in the fish species.

You could buy a few better books for the cost of just this one, or just spend one-fourth of the price and buy the Mini Atlas.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Axelrod`s Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes, May 28, 2000

By	Anthony Hildman (U.S.A. Iowa) - See all my reviews

This book is a must. Yes it`s full of pictures, but the simple identification key tells you the basics of almost every fish avaliable on the market today and then some. This book is very helpfull in identifying fish that are sold and possibly mismarked by the wholesaler or the retailer. The joy of fish keeping is just like any other hobby, find the rare and hard to find. This book will help you in that search. Remember, common names are just that, common. This book will tell you what you are about to buy, or what you already have in your tank.