Product Description
The first comprehensive field guide to freshwater fishes - covers all 790 species known in the United States and Canada. More than 700 illustrations, most in color, show identifying marks.Also includes 377 distribution maps and additional drawings of key details. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Review for "A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes: North America North of Mexico" by peterson
This field guide in my opinion is not user friendly for quick reference of fishes native to North America. It is not color coordinated and one has to flip from one section of the book to another section then another to find out information about the same fish. To me thats disorganized. An example of that is that the description of a fish is toward the middle of the book and to find its native range the map for it is in the back of the book. Also the pictures of fish are very limited and the pictures provided are of the artwork form and not live or preserved specimen pictures of the fish. In my opinion and experience artwork of fishes used for reference on fish identification are very miss leading and limiting.

Thank You for reading

Fish Identification
The book is helpful in identifying fish species found in North America. It does require some knowledge of identification to be useful.Overall, the book fulfills most field identification needs.

North American Freshwater Fishes
After a recent dive trip to Florida springs I needed a field guide to help me identify some of the fishes I saw. This book did the job. It appears to be very complete, which is what I needed.

Five stars!
Great book with lots of pictures of species.I hoped that there would be photos for EACH species of fish but there was not.Each fish is documented though even if there is no picture for each.Many species are shown.I still have to give it 5 stars.This book is a great size too.It is not oversized.Perfect for travel.

A waste of money
This book may be of interest to an icthyolgist, but it's not much use to a fisherman. The color illustrations are very poor. They all have a washed out yellowish tint, and thus the illustrated fish tend to look all alike. The non color illustrations are better, but the book relies mostly on descriptions. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a magnificently illustrated volume that will help anglers, scientists, and nature lovers to identify and appreciate North American freshwater game fish. Along with illustrations that showcase gender color variations for each species, Thompson provides information about fish biology, behavior, and habitats. Common and scientific names are provided, as are range maps and information about each fish family's global range, physical traits, diet, significance to humans, and present status regarding its potential endangerment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A treasure
Peter Thompson is one of the most talented painters and sculptors of fish in America. I am fortunate enough to own a few of his originals and prints, and now this great book. The images alone are worth the price. The text and maps are a bonus. If you are one of us who thinks fish are beautiful, then this is a book for you. Most of us are familiar with the elegance of trout, widely extolled, and the rough-hewn beauty of bass, but sunfish? Chub? Catfish? Carp? In Thompson's hands they are all worthy of admiration, as they are in their own right, if only we would take a closer look, laying angling prejudices aside. With Thompson's help, in this book, we can take that look.

Love these images!
The author of this book is a personal friend of mine.That said, if the book wasn't worth it, I'm from NJ, so I wouldn't hesitate to say so ;)THIS BOOK IS WORTH IT!!!The pictures are fantastic for reflection, meditation, rememberances of all type, as well as learning!

An Excellent Book for the Keen Angler
This is the best all round reference I have seen in a long time regarding fresh water fish and fishing.While some of the illustrations could be a bit more distinct, the information on each of the species' habits, diet, habitat and tips for catching them, is very informative.Altogether, I strongly recommend this publication. ... Read more

Product Description
This popular book is the only field guide to all of California's 130 freshwater fish species, both native and introduced. Revised and updated throughout, the guide now features the only complete collection of color illustrations of California freshwater fishes available anywhere. These color illustrations, coupled with a set of highly detailed black and white drawings, provide a quick and easy method for identifying fish in the field. Detailed natural history accounts for each species give a wealth of information, including the current endangered or threatened status of many native species. * Includes angling tips for each sport fish species * Features an expanded section on cooking freshwater fish Illustrations: 106 color photographs, 37 color plates, 114 line illustrations, 3 maps, 2 tables ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Good fisheries book.
Must have for the wildlife biologist.Use it whenever we have fisheries related tasks in Caliofornia.Must have book.

Very nice and complete
Very nice guide and a good deal compare with others fish publications. This book also brings interesting aspects on fish ecology. I didn't like the last part about cooking the fish, but I guess many people may find that cool.

Well, It's ALMOST Perfect.
It still gets five stars for content, good writing, amazingly extensive data, and imaginative inclusions, of which the one on keeping wild fish in home ponds and aquaria is the most surprising and the one on preparing and cooking the creatures is the most splendid.
Just to be done with it, the "almost" refers to some features of layout and form, which are irritating. They are not so bad as to make me want to throw it at a passing raccoon, but they do exercise some of my less formal vocabulary.
As a wildlife rehabilitator, I depend on field guides a lot, and good ones are not as common as we all wish.This one is a dandy, and I am truly glad for it and recommend it to anyone interested in western states fishes, not just those of California.
As a serious cook, I am downright thrilled with the culinary section, which is flatly the best fish cookbook I have ever seen since the immortal Rombauer's JOY OF COOKING, the only other book I know which deals with ALL the details of preparation.

CA Dept. of Fish & Shame
This superb, comprehensive field guide covers not just the extant freshwater fish of California, but details how to catch them, how to cook them, and even how to keep them in the aquarium or pond at home. Superb photographs, and detailed descriptions of each species.
It is truly a travesty though that many of the alien fish in the state that have caused such devastation to native species have been deliberately introduced by the governmental agency responsible for the stewardship of California's freshwater ecosystems. Reading of the California Department of Fish & Game's persistent and ongoing mismanagement is alarming, and a clear indication that the citizens of the state deserve that the bunglers in charge of that office be bought to task and replaced by competent people. CDFG operate in large part to secure the interests of the sports fishing industry rather than working for the citizens of the state and the environment.

Excellent Resource
Once again, Dr. McGinnis has done it!We own the first edition and now the newly revised edition.This is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to know more about the physiology of the fish species in California.The pictures and illustrations are a handy guide for identification.There is also a wonderful section on fish preparation with some great recipes. If you want to expand your Freshwater Fish knowledge, BUY THIS BOOK! ... Read more

Product Description
Expert advice on freshwater aquarium fish.

Illustrated in full color, this comprehensive reference includes 500 of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish. It provides concise at-a-glance information on their behavior, diet and breeding, along with a recommended aquarium setup. Practical and well organized, this book is tailored to the needs of a wide range of freshwater-aquarium hobbyists.

A key decision for the aquarium owner, and also one of the most fun to make, is choosing the fish for a tank. 500 Freshwater Aquarium Fish is a "window shopping" trip, with an expert alongside to offer crucial advice. This thorough directory details every appropriate species. While most of the fish featured require a heated aquarium, there are other popular varieties, such as goldfish, that can be kept in an unheated one.

With more than 500 color photographs, the book is organized by major fish groups, among them:- Cichlids, including angelfish and discus- Catfish- Cyprinids, including barbs, danios, koi and goldfish- Characoids, including tetras, neons and piranhas- Oaches and suckers- Gouramis, including bettas, paradise fish and snakeheads- Rainbow fish and blue-eyes- Livebearers, including mollies and platies.

This comprehensive and useful reference, edited by a highly respected expert, will be welcomed by amateur fishkeepers of any age and expertise. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Good, but not great, reference book for beginners.
Be aware that the physical size of this book may be smaller than you expect.With that said, the size is not so much an issue for me.There are lots of fish covered in this book and it is helpful for beginners.Don't expect much detail though on any particular species.For that, look for species specific books.The summaries are good for general information, though I wish life expectancy was part of the standard information given.Overall good book and glad to have in my library.

Not my favorite
I was disappointed in this book because the type was very light and hard to read. It also does not succinctly state the individual requirements of each species (temp, water chemistry, suggested tank size) in favor of a more narrative approach. I have used it for the photos to see differences between species. My favorite fresh water fish reference is Barron's guide. I hoped this might would have even more info, but instead it had less, in a less accessible format.

great quick ref.book
this is a handy book, I use it more for the quick ref.- each fish has a quick description of what type water the fish requires, lighting, food, etc.it's perfect-

COMPACT BUT INFORMATIVE
GIVES THE NECESSARY BASICS BUT WISH IT INCLUDED WHAT GETS ALONG WITH WHAT INSTEAD OF SUGGESTED SPECIES BEHAVIOR

A HANDY LITTLE BOOK
This is a beautiful little volume.I only gave it 4 stars because of its diminutive size (6x6) which makes it hard to hold while reading.Otherwise, it is a very concise atlas of the more common species of aquarium fishes along with a description of temperment and a brief summation of the proper conditions under which they must be kept.There is a small 3x4 photo of each species included.All in all, it's a very beautiful albiet small book that any fish hobbiest would enjoy owning. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive encyclopedia offers superb world coverage of the many kinds of freshwater fish, reptile and amphibian. ... Read more

Product Description
A compact, authoritative guide for freshwater fishing trips

From one of the most respected names in the world of sportfishing comes the definitive, full-color guide to 140 of the most common freshwater fish species found in North American rivers, lakes, and streams. Featuring information on identification, habitat, size, and diet, Ken Schultz’s Guide to Freshwater Fish is a must for anglers and sportfishing enthusiasts everywhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Could be better
Although adequate, this book could use improvement.First, the text contains no range maps, which are valuable to learn if certain fish species live within a geographical area of interest.Second, information on the food value of the various species was inconsistent.Third, the text could have done a better job of grouping related species together.Lastly, the information about each species was not consistent enough to allow comparisons between them.For instance, it would have been useful if categories with average/maximum for weights and lengths were included for each entry.The illustrations appeared to use painted pictures rather than photos, which is really the best method since photos of individual fish can vary greatly and seldom portray all the typical characteristics for a species.Although the text contains some interesting information, the book is better used as a supplemental text rather than as a field guide.Anyone looking for a field guide should consider another purchase.

Great to id fish
Great field guide.I wanted a book on fishing.My mistake getting used to purchasing books through kindle

Overall Good Guide
I bought two copies of this book prior to seeing it.One for my brother and one for myself.Overall, my brother and I are both pleased with it.I will say that this book is NOT a necessity to the average fisherman, but any fisherman will appreciate it for its information.The reason I say this is because most fishermen already know what they are going to catch, or what they expect to catch when going to their local fishing hole.That being said - here are a list of my pros and cons about the book.

Pros:

-Good descriptions in identifying a large amount of freshwater species.
-Fish are broken down by region, class, diet, etc.
-Decently drawn color photos of each fish for visual aid.
-Informative for someone new to fishing.
-Book small enough to throw in a bag to go fishing.

Cons:

-Not all freshwater fish identified.(Example: in one fishing trip in Florida, I caught 3 species that were not in the book and had to look up online to identify, defeating the "field guide" feel).
-Although the book describes each species main diet, there are no tips on what baits to use or how to catch the fish.
-The book is paperback.This serves its purpose, but when you fish, wet hands from lake water or fish juices have the potential to destroy the book.

Informative, nice pictures, but less usefull as an identification guide
On the plus side, this book has good pictures and the text is full of information useful to fishermen and others. It is also less expensive than comparative guides. As an identification guide, it is considerably less useful, however, since the fishes are organized ALPHABETICALLY and not systematically. Thus, if you know you have a perch, for example, or a carp, you still have to look through the whole book unless you happen to know the name of the fish (in which case you have already identified it of course), and related and unrelated fishes are jumbled together throughout the book. It would also have been nice with maps showing the distribution of each fish.

Koojo's Review
I like the pictures given of the fish and the written descriptions of the fish, but i would also like a map to show general areas where the fish can be found. Other than lack of maps, its an excellent field guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An easy-to-use cookbook vital for any serious angler's dinner table, highly recommended
Written by "Gray's Sporting Journal" food columnist A.D. Livingston, The Freshwater Fish Cookbook: More Than 200 Ways To Cook Your Catch is lives up to its title with gusto. Full-color photography enhances this collection of more than 200 recipes for freshwater fish ranging from trout, salmon, and black bass to pike, walleye, stripers, eels, and even supposed "trash" fish such as suckers and carp. An easy-to-use cookbook vital for any serious angler's dinner table, highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Prospective tropical aquarium hobbyists will find vital information on many fish varietiesÂ--cichlids, swordtails, and many others. Readers will find tips on species identification, feeding, behavior, approximate and purchase prices. Quick-check data requirements are given regarding aquarium size, water temperature, food, compatibility with other fish, and much more. This title is one in BarronÂ's new series of pet buyerÂ's guides, all of them filled with practical information and approximately 250 vivid color illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

excellent book
Full color photos of each fish. Useful information, simple format that is easy to read.

Great investment...
This is a super easy read, has great information!!! Good for all ages, definately worth the money.

Awesome fish book!
This is a great book. Each page has a picture of a fish on it and information about that species of fish. From barbs to tetras to guppies to catfish, this book has it all! Buy it now!!!!!! (: ... Read more

Product Description
While the subject may seem self-explanatory, the fact is that breeding fishes in captivity can be quite challenging, and is as much an art as a science. It is also one of the most rewarding aspects of keeping fish, and something all aquarists strive to do well. With The Super Simple Guide to Breeding Freshwater Fishes, hobbyists at all levels need worry no longer about what to do. Passionate fishkeeper and journalist Laura Muha explains in compelling and "super simple" ways:

-How to recignize and nurture breeding behavior

-Where and how to house your spawning fish and its fry

-How to feed breeders- and their fry- at all stages

-How to nurse ailing fish back to health ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I Should Have Done My Assignment
I feel tricked, but it's my fault for not doing my research. I was surprised when I got the book today. I was expecting a small coffe-table book but what I got was something just slightly better than a pamphlet! Well, like I said, I know it's my fault. If you're serious about the hobby, stay away from this book.

A "must-have" for anyone interested in successfully breeding freshwater fish
Award-winning journalist Laura Muha presents The Super Simple Guide To Breeding Freshwater Fishes, a practical guide for both commercial and private freshwater fish owners. Chapters discuss the history of breeding fishes in aquaria, how to condition adult fish, raising the fry, disease prevention, notes on hybrids, species-specific guidelines and instructions, and more. The species catalogue includes such popular types of fish as livebearers (guppies, etc.), anabantoids, catfish, characins, cichilids, cyprinids, and rainbowfish. Color photographs on every page beautifully illustrate this handy, plain-terms guide, printed on sturdy, water-resistant paper stock. A "must-have" for anyone interested in successfully breeding freshwater fish.

A "must-have" for anyone interested in successfully breeding freshwater fish
Award-winning journalist Laura Muha presents The Super Simple Guide To Breeding Freshwater Fishes, a practical guide for both commercial and private freshwater fish owners. Chapters discuss the history of breeding fishes in aquaria, how to condition adult fish, raising the fry, disease prevention, notes on hybrids, species-specific guidelines and instructions, and more. The species catalogue includes such popular types of fish as livebearers (guppies, etc.), anabantoids, catfish, characins, cichilids, cyprinids, and rainbowfish. Color photographs on every page beautifully illustrate this handy, plain-terms guide, printed on sturdy, water-resistant paper stock. A "must-have" for anyone interested in successfully breeding freshwater fish.
... Read more

Product Description
This book is about freshwater fish in streams, lakes,reservoirs, and special habitats around the world. It addressesapproximately twentymajor topics in freshwater fish ecology in aformat suitable for usein graduate-level courses. The book focuseson basic ecology andcontains much data from fisheries ecology. Dr.Matthews explains theway in which empirical studies, theoreticalconcepts, andexperimental evaluations blend into the currentstate-of-the-art withrespect to each major topic, and providesoriginal data andinterpretations on some points as well as newsyntheses. Each chaptercontains empirical information, a synthesis,and a summary. ... Read more

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.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

i wish to be more "flexible"
The book is excellent in terms of volume of pictures, but I was expecting something more "flexible". It is too difficult to find some fish because of choosed type of classification. if somebody knows only the common name of fish (that I believe is normal situation, not all of us are ichthyologists to be familier with scientific names) he cannot find anything. Again to the internet, but I bought this volume exactly to avoid the display.
in generally of caurse the book is very impressive and good worked.

Nice Pictures but...
I have to agree with the other reviews. I was somewhat disappointed with the lack of written content but it is an excellent reference for those that want or need help with species identification using pictures.

encyclopedia
This is an encyclopedia, not a book on how to set up aquariums. This book has decent pics (some pics are dead and dried fish which isn't all that helpful) and scientific classifications. It is great if you found a fish that you can't identify. For the most part, it will have any fish you are looking for...but every now and again, you will come across a fish not listed. Maybe this is because the book is a little outdated, but it is always good to have several encyclopedias anyway.

Great book!
It does exactly what it is meant to do, which is identification of freshwater fish.It's split into regions, which makes it easy to find the fish you want.It also gives general information on all the fish using a key on the back of the book, so that you know things like if they are an egglayer or mouthbreeder.I am finding it very useful, as well as easy to use!

EXCELLENT
Exhaustive encyclopedia with thousands of pictures.Perhaps a little to large and unwieldy.Not a place on the lap and browse kind of book. Excellent reference, tho I wish it had the common names with the pictures and not at the back of the book.This may be due to space and numerous common names of certain fish.Also, some kind of indents on the edges separating areas of the world.I was a little surprise to find it did not have 3 of my wild Betta's listed and in some cases, picture quality could be better. Overall excellent but limited detail on fish species. L. SCOTT, OSAKA,JP ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Freshwater Fishes of the Northeastern United States
This book is excellent for the identification of common freshwater fish in the Mid-Atlantic and the New England regions of the US.The fish pictures are excellent and descriptions are extremely helpful.I have used this book extensively in my ichthyology class with great success.I would highly recommend this book to people in or going into any field where fish identifactication and ecology is important.The fish species in the book are limited to the fish of the North East, but the descriptions, and life history are useful everywhere. ... Read more

Product Description
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Great book
One of the best books in my collection. I highly recommend it to anyone into Freshwater aquariums.

Encyclopedia of exotic tropical fishes
I love this book it is very easy to use and covers just about all tropical fish in the hobby.

Encyclopedia of Exotic Tropical Fishes
Excellent textbook on freshwater fish species and specific details oneach fish.The best book I have found for researching an incrediable number of freshwater fish! Pictures are excellent. The beginning of the book covers history, systemantics and speciation, anatomy and physiology, nutrition and feeding freshwater fihes.In addition, the textbook touches on reproduction of fishes and general but detailed information on aquarium management. The profiles of the fishes is extraordinary and easy to read, with excellent pictures!I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys having and keeping aquariums with EXOTIC freshwater fishes!

THE BEST BOOK REFERENCE
I HAVE WANTED THIS BOOK SINCE IT WAS PUBLISHED, AND WHEN I COULD
GET IT FROM YOU, I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY.I FIND IT TO BE THE BEST
OF REFERENCE BOOKS AROUND TO DATE.THANK YOU.

Truly exceptional book
I enjoyed the book immensly. I read it in one day cover to cover all 900+ pages. Very informative and great pictures of fish. I have been a hobbyist for 20 years and I still learned something from it. ... Read more

Product Description
The vivid colors and abundant life found under the water's surface is breathtaking. For years, people have struggled to recreate this magnificent environment in exotic home aquariums. Now with today's technology and scientific understanding, creating a thriving freshwater aquarium is easier than ever. In The Complete Book of the Freshwater Aquarium, hundreds of dramatic underwater photographs give you a fish-eye view of hundreds of colorful sea creatures while accessible scientific text explains all about the fragile ecosystem of the underwater life. This book also features a comprehensive guide to setting up your own aquarium, from selecting your equipment and creating the environment, to choosing your fish and invertebrates. Diving into this book is a pleasure, whether you're an advanced aquarist, or a novice just getting into the hobby. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Not so complete.. at all
Really? I have to say I'm a little surprised at the higher ratings this book has received. Where to begin?

Pros:
- Hardcover.
- Full colour, decent sized, [mostly] high quality photos.
- The plant section (about 64 pages) has some good photos and descriptions.
- The fish are sorted by family, with a colour coded bar across the top of each page for quick scanning.

Get ready - here are the Cons:
- The disease section is really lacking; about 3 pages with ONE photo- a Neon Tetra with dropsy (as if there's ever confusion as to what a bloated belly might look like- why not pictures showing the difference between ich and velvet?)
- Fish choices. Understandably (for space constraints), not all freshwater fish are represented. However, the choices in fish represented seem extraordinarily inconsistent. I have to wonder if the author was going for more of the "wow" factor than a reasonable array of creatures. Arowanas, for instance, receive a full page unto themselves. Frankly, somebody who is set up to be housing an Arowana is far beyond needing a book like this. Tetraodontidae (Puffer fish) gets three pages. Yes, it's a remarkable fish- but three pages is not enough information to work off of alone, and in the meantime takes away space that could have been used more wisely.
- The invertebrates section. Why bother? 12 pages, not enough information, sorely lacking in pictures, and a lot of fluff.
- Breeding. 5 pages. Again- why bother? Not enough to work off of; just enough to let you know that you're going to have to purchase another book.
- Fish "stats". These are REALLY lacking, and the inexcusable dealbreaker in my opinion. No water specifications (temperatures, acidity, hardness, etc). Sometimes you can go to the beginning of the section and read the blurb about the family to sleuth out temperature, etc. This proves to be inconsistent and inconvenient though.
- Fish descriptions. Inconsistent! Terribly so. One description includes breeding information, the next does not. One description mentions the fish as having a personality in addition to it's physical characteristics, the next focuses only on colouration. Crucial bits of knowledge are left out- not one Loach description mentions the need for a tank cover.

I haven't actually gone and counted how many fish/plants are shown in this book (so I may be incorrect) - but I have a feeling that the claim of "A comprehensive reference guide to more than 600 freshwater fish and plants" is backed up NOT by 600 individual descriptions, but by maybe 300-400 descriptions; the other 200-300 species being counted from classification lists with no descriptions or photos.

This guide had a lot of possibility, but it seems that the author was so caught up in filler material trying to make it "complete" that a lot of important detail was neglected or left out completely. I'm not saying it's awful, but the title is very misleading - it's not complete, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a first book for someone looking to get started in aquariums. I get so frustrated when I need to refer to my books and find this one - my most recent purchase. The fact that I always turn to my 1988, technologically outdated library-book-sale guide and find more complete, concise, easy to find information EVERY time is a definite red flag. Save yourself the let down and skip this one!

Good reference for fish and plants
I recently purchased this book and I am quite pleased with the visual reference to both tropical freshwater fish and plants.I was a bit disappointed in the aquarium setup guide in the beginning of the book in reference to such small weekly water changes and the use of charcoal ( I do 40-50% water changes on my moderate planted aquariums and my fish thrive - larger water chances bring out breeding behavior and other natural interactions among my fish) In addition, charcoal is not necessary and active charcoal's tendency to clear water is only good for approximately a week, not months...

However, I would purchase this book again just for the visual and descriptive (lacking water parameters) accounts of so many classes of fish and plants.It is a large book and looks good on a coffee table, etc..

Good reading
I liked this book. It helped me in being able to pick out plants and fish for a new tank I am setting up. The pictures could be a little better but for the price this book is an excellent buy.

Worthy guide
Being new to aquariums and tropical fish, I found this book to be very helpful in all the basics.It is wonderfully illustrated and covers the major points.I wish it would give more suggestions for possible compatible communities of fish.

Superb tropical fish book!!!

I am currently 58 years young and have been into tropical fish ever since I was in the 5th grade.I occasionally purchase tropical fish books, enjoying looking at the various species and reading about them, even though I do not have most of them.I was very delighted with this particular book.Excellent illustrations of many breeds, with some good summary material with each one.Great information for beginners at the front of the book; and a lot of plants covered, with very helpful tips regarding them.Even the illustrations for the plants were excellent!One really gets one's money's worth with this book; it seems that it should cost a lot more than it actually does... a rarity in this day and age! Not a lot of specific information on temperature ranges for each species was provided, but you can easily get that in other books or on the web. ... Read more

Product Description

A guide for beginners and experts alike, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Fishes is the most useful book an aquarium enthusiast can own. Whether you are interested in goldfish, guppies, or the most exotic marine species, the opening section on starting an aquarium covers everything you need to know. Illustrated in color throughout, the 295 entries cover plants, amphibia, reptiles, and invertebrates as well as aquarium fishes. Each entry provides the common name, scientific name, and family; distribution of the species in the wild; a description of shape, color, and size; information about sexual differences, feeding habits, reproduction, compatibility with other species, and much more. Next to each entry are easy-to-read symbols that indicate the proper water temperature, pH, and illumination.

This comprehensive guide gives you all the information you need to maintain a beautiful, balanced, and thriving aquarium. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good pictures - but OUTDATED!
Check the publication date for this book.I had a copy of this one in high school!Good pictures (especially of East Atlantic animals) but forget the care information - hopelessly outdated.

An essential field guide...
and book for the determined aquarist. However, this book is geared more toward aquarium species than ones found in the ocean or freshwater lakes. For instance, the Asian pufferfish is a species that has never been mentioned in any field guide, except this one. Without a doubt, it is an aquarium hybrid. There are not very many species of betas, fightingfish, or goldfish covered here. A person looking for heavy coverage of that will be slightly disappointed.
The other fishes covered, such as puffers, triggerfish, or cowfish, have more species listed, and more details given. People interested in pufferfish (such as me), will find this guide useful. The only downside that takes away one star is that some species are hybrids, including betas and goldfish. Most triggerfish and cowfish are authentic species.
If you are looking for a field guide to take along with you on a scuba diving trip to the Caribbean, forget it. This is not the one. However, if you are searching for fish to put in your aquarium, this book is definetely for you..

A good review of fish but a bad guide for setting aquarium
I bought this book as a fish familiarization reference after setting up my aquarium with another book and am glad I did.To say this is a bad intro book on aquariums is an understatement.Anyone considering fish as a hobby would immediatly change their mind upon reading the introduction to this book (which covers setting up an aquarium).For one thing it is way too scientific with diagrams of how pumps work and loads of discussion on things you don't need to know in detail and glaring lack of easy to understand explanations on what you do need to know.

I read a 40 page Wal-Mart book on setting up an aquarium that was 100 times better than this guide in that respect.So, if you're setting up a new aquarium and want to know (in English) how to set up an aquarium, or want to know information on aquarium products, chemicals, techniques, etc. don't use this book to do it.Any of a dozen short, "so you want to buy a fish" guides will do.You don't need to 4 pages of when/how/why to quarentine fish in order to set up your first aquarium.And even if you did, this book doesn't describe the "how-to's" well enough anyway.

This book IS a pretty good guide to freshwater and saltwater fishes, plants, reptiles, and invertibrates (like crabs, starfish, etc.)It covers about 300 specimens in total, 88 of which are freshwater fish and about 100 salt water fish.The rest fall into the other categories.It's not comprehensive by any means.There's ONE entry for Goldfish, for instance, even though there are dozens of readily available variations of goldfish.The one entry will give you generally what you need for the entire family, but it won't show you pictures of the many flavors available.Many generally available fish are also not in the book at all - but most are.

This book does, however, cover a good range of common freshwater and saltwater aquarium fish.And each entry discusses what you need to know about that fish such as required temperature, food, characteristics, behavior and what other fish (or fish types) it gets along with.All this information is necessary to have a happy community (or species) aquarium.

This book does Not adequately cover breeding fish and other expert topics.Its claim as "A guide for beginners and experts alike" is a bit of an overstatement in that regard. (At least that's my opinion.)

My conclusion is that I like it for what I got it for - pictures of possible additions to my aquarium with a general description of needs, behavior, etc of each fish.I didn't buy it as a comprehensive guide or a guide to setting up my aquarium.In my opinion, if you want that information go elsewhere.There may even be better pictoral fish guides, but I liked the compact size of the book and the easy to swallow ($$) price tag. Happy Fish Keeping

Great reference guide for those who keep pet shops to kids!
Awesome reference guide (I have a 1977 edition).

Over 300 full-color photos of freshwater & marine fishes, plants, reptiles and invertibrates. Includes common names, scientific names, families, distribution in the wild (where do these things live), a good verbal description, as well as a good photo, pH, temperature, water hardness, light and other pertinent info about where it lives, and what it needs in an aquarium, feeding info (a bit sketchy there, unless you are already knowledgable), as well as behavioral and compatability information (a MUST for keeping social fishes with others, and keeping those that don't get along apart from each other!)

Basic aquarium knowledge is not required to enjoy the book, but to use the technical stuff for fish keeping, one must have some other background info (another book on the basics, or several trips and brain picking of a reputable pet shop employee is helpful!)

Basic chemistry knowledge (especially dilutions [YES! There really is a use for all that math you took through jr. college!] for the disease treatment section is a must of using this to treat diseases)

Fish diseases section is small, but to the point, and covers most common diseases one will see in aquarium fishes, especially fresh water.

If you want to keep a salt water aquarium, this is a good reference, but you'll also need a great salt water aqaurium book!

My edition also does not cover Chloramines, which were added to our tap water after the book was published - use GOOD, distilled bottled water whenever possible, or perhaps a reverse osmosis system w/ filteration, if your house is so equipped. For salt water, I've found it best to change out water directly from the ocean (away from the coastline and rivers), but then too you risk getting diseases in your aquarium that way... I did keep a star fish (sea star)and a Spanish Shawl nudibrach in a goldfish bowl this way for about 3 years, then when we moved sent them back to the ocean... They were awesome, but required we change the water abuot every 2-3 days.

This is an awesome book, great pictures, but I'd suggest also getting another to supplement this one... My supplement is about 30+ years old, and is no longer in print, and I've not seen one in years.

Easy To Use!!!
YES, as title says - Simon and Schuster's Nature Guide Series - and I have several, are extremely easy to use.They do not contain alot of details about subjects - but enough to identify different aquarium fishes.And the pictures are quite good.
I have enjoyed this book and utilized it often to identify many fish. ... Read more

Product Description
Encompassing habitats as diverse as alpine forests and subtropical swamps, the Mid-Atlantic region has a richly diverse fish fauna. Outside of the important sport and commercial species, however, few are known to the average person. This book provides information on how to identify some 260 species of freshwater fish, from the largemouth bass to the rosyside dace.

Illustrated with more than 200 color photographs, most by James Parnell, this guide provides a detailed description of each species as well as notes on its distribution and abundance, habitat, and natural history (diet, spawning habits, growth, and so forth). Range maps show the distribution of each species. Of particular interest in this time of heightened awareness of environmental degradation are the many references to threatened and endangered species and the effects of deteriorating water quality on their survival. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent guide!
Excellent field guide! I have netted fish with Rohde and Arndt on numerous occassions in South Carolina, and this book was good as gold! The authors accurately depict each species, its habitat preference, and where exactly they occur in the states covered. This book is very easy to read for anyone. This is a must have for anyone serious about fish in the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. The pictures are rather good, as any wildlife photographer would know that fish are among the hardest to photograph as they constantly move and lose color when stressed out. -Anthony J. Chodan

very good but I have a dilemma
I am the animal care specialist in our park.We recently added a few new sunfish to our aqarium.In trying to ID them I was confused at the pictures in your book on plate 133(mud sunfish) and on plate 146 (redear sunfish).Could they be possibly mis labeled? Other than that the book has been extremely helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
Most anglers are well aware of the popular game fish that inhabit the Northeast, including the largemouth bass, the rainbow trout, and the yellow perch. But the region's inland waters boast a much broader array of fish than first meets the eye (or hook).

The father-and-son team of David A. Patterson and Matt Patterson have pursued both game fish and bait fish in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. In Freshwater Fish of the Northeast, they describe more than 60 different species, from the well known to the obscure, including the redfin pickerel, the blueback trout, and the slimy sculpin. This colorful and helpful guide includes detailed information on habits, habitats, history, and more.

In order to best capture the look and appeal of these fish in their native waters, most of the images are based on the authors' own live catches. The pencil-and-acrylic illustrations render each species in lifelike detail, with close attention given to unique physical characteristics. Both art book and guidebook, this volume will stir some fond memories of fish caught--and a few of those that got away. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Accessible guide with beautiful illustrations
This book seems to be aimed at the general public, especially those interested in fishing, rather than being a highly scientific field guide. The descriptions are interesting and informative but not particularly technical. The highlight of the book is the beautiful illustrations.

Well researched, well organized and beautifully illustrated
The book succeeds as both a guidebook for fishing and an art book. It is well organized by color coded page markers into 22 families of fish. The book is the result of a father-son competition to see who could catch the greatest variety of species. The fish were caught, photographed and released and many of the illustrations were made from these catches. The text is a nice mix of both science and fishing techniques for the varieties of fish. The illustrations are wonderful and show the beauty of what we consider "common" fish. ... Read more

Product Description
Covers all types of dishes, from appetizers to main courses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The New Cleanihng & Cooking Fish: The Complete Guide.......
Bought this as a gift for a male friend & he loved it!!!Book was in super condition.....looked BRAND NEW! Would purchace from this site again!Thanks!

1st Class Resource
If you are a casual fisherman/woman/child and hate to waste your catch, this is an ideal resourse for you.Cleaning your fish efficiently and preparing good meals are covered wonderfully.Highly recommended.

Expert advice from an expert
Sylvia Bashline, author of The New Cleaning & Cooking Fish, is just the right person to tell you how to clean and cook a fish that you've just caught. She's served as president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writer's Association and also as a board member of Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Her book makes lavish, skilful use of color photography to tell you everything you need to know about preparing a fish to eat, once you've caught it. Plus, there are dozens and dozens of mouth-watering recipes for cooking fish by every method you can imagine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

fish book
well written, easy to comprehend,lots of color pictures, loads of important information on fish behavior, which ones need more salt in water, which ones will eat the tails off fish, etc.

Good enough but fraught with errors
This is an OK book for one which seeks only to cover the "basic" species of tropical fish.But the editor ought to hang their head in shame.The index is fraught with errors!Page numbers given for a particular species do not match what pages they are actually on to a large extent, especially with the tetras.In another place, the captions underneath a group of photos of swordtails read rainbow fish!It seems as though this book was sort of put together a bit too quickly for a thorough, ordinary review.

That said, looking past the errors, this is an OK book, as I've said, and very much in the same idiom as the companion volume on plants by the same company.I use my copy of this work as a backup to my "A to Z" book.Basically to corroborate what it says and vice versa.Nothing like having two sources opinions on a given species.

Handy little book
This is a nice, easy to read and understand book on livestock selection for the home aquarium. Worth a place on any aquarium keepers book shelve. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If you are interested in freshwater fish, you can't live without this incredible book!
This book is an excellent reference book for any one interested in learning more about the freshwater fish found in South Carolina.I collect wild caught fish and haven't come across a fish that isn't found in this book.Beautiful pictures, great information, simple and effective system for identifying fish species.....a really comprehensive book.I have learned so much from it. ... Read more