LITMIR.BIZ

David A Lass’s introduction to angelfish fulfills its subtitle, “Understanding and Keeping Angelfish,” and more. This colorful guide in the Fish Keeping Made Easy series discusses angelfish in their natural Amazon rain forest habitat in South America and the needs of this beautiful and recognizable fish in the home aquarium based on their dietary, water conditions, and behavior in the wild. The chapter “Angelfish Groups” describes the three species of angelfish (Pterophyllum altum, P. leopoldi, and P. scalare), the most popular twelve color variations seen in local pet stores, and the special traits of the species. Separate chapters are devoted to selection and care, feeding and diet, and reproduction. The author discusses the keeping of angelfish in an “all-angel” tank (shoal of angelfish!) as well as in a community tank, and gives solid advice on selection of equipment and live plants. A chapter on parasites and diseases will be of great use to all fishkeepers trying to avoid fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases in their tanks as well as general treatment protocols and hospital tanks. Glossary as well as resources of websites and publications conclude the guide.

Подробнее

Author Ray Hunziker, longtime editor of Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine and lifelong fish keeper, is the ideal tutor for aquarists looking to take a dive into the saltwater end of the tank! Marine Aquariums begins with a discussion of seawater and water quality, the most critical part of keeping marine fishes happily swimming (and breathing) in their tank. Hunziker continues with a step-by-step explanation of setting up a marine aquarium, discussing aquarium types, the number of fishes for the size tank selected, siting the tank, stands, substrates, temperature, lighting, filtration and décor.The chapter on stocking and maintaining the tank discussing purchasing healthy, vibrant fish, acclimatizing them to the tank, feeding them, and monitoring the tank on a regular basis. An elaborate chapter on the various types of saltwater fishes available, “Ideal Fish for Your Marine Aquarium, “details and illustrates nearly 70 fishes divided into the following categories: moray eels, squirrelfish and soldierfish, lion fish, groupers, cardinalfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, damselfish, hawkfish, wrasses, jawfish, gobies, surgeonfish, and triggerfish. The final chapter discusses keeping fish healthy, including the signs of illness, treating various ailments, and setting up a quarantine tank for affected fish. Resources, glossary, index included.

Подробнее

Livebearers focuses on four families of fish which contain many of the most attractive and popular species in the tropical fish hobby today, including guppies, mollies, swordtails, and platies. The families include Goodeidae (Mexican livebearers), Anablepidae (four-eyes and others), Poeciliidae (guppies and others); and Hemirhamphidae (halfbeaks). Author David Alderton explains that hobbyists have applied the term livebearer to these four families for convenience even though there are fourteen families in the wild that reproduce by bearing live young. The chapter “Where in the World?” focuses on the natural history of these families, their distribution, and lifestyles. Hobbyists looking to begin an aquarium of livebearers or to expand their existing communities will find useful information in the chapter called “The Different Groups,” in which Alderton discusses age considerations, health matters, and sex. The chapter also describes the four families and the most common genus/species of each. Included are sixteen representatives of the Family Goodeidae (e.g., Allodontichth, Characodon, and Skiffia), three genus of the Family Anablepidae (Anableps, Jenynsia, and Oxyzgonectes), twenty-six representatives of the Family Poeciliidae (e.g., Belonesox, Fiexipenis, and Limia); and three genus of the Family Hemirhamphidae (Dermogenys, Hemirhamphodon, and Namorhamphus).This colorful, user-friendly guide offers basic information on the anatomical characteristics, housing options, required aquarium equipment for livebearers as well as their feeding habits and food requirements (greenstuff, carotene-rich foods, live foods, meat, etc.). The breeding habits of livebearers have ensured their popularity with hobbyists, and the chapter on reproduction describes the various breeding habits of livebearers and outlines successful breeding strategies for interested hobbyists. In the chapter on health care, the author offers solid advice about caring for livebearers to maximize their lifespan in captivity, which is typically only a few years. He also gives information on signs of illness and some basic diseases that can be treated by the fish keeper.The final chapter offers photographs and distribution maps for sixteen popular livebearers of all four families, including information on size, physical description, natural habitat and behavior, and required aquarium conditions. The author’s livebearer hit parade includes the butterfly goodeid, rainbow goodeid, black-finned goodea, four-eyed fish, guppy (millions fish), black molly, sailfin molly, swordtail, platy (moonfish), mosquito fish (dwarf and large), humpbacked (black-barred) limia, black-bellied limia, pike livebearer (piketop minnow), knife (Alfaro’s) livebearer, and wrestling halfbeak. Resources, glossary, and index included.

Подробнее

David Alderton’s investigation of anabantoids, the Asiatic gouramis—the bettas and gouramis, including Siamese fighting fish, paradisefish, kissing gouramis, begins with a look at the origins of these adaptable and widely varying fishes in their Asiatic homelands, where they’ve been popular for hundreds of years. Given the considerable size range of this group of fishes, from the tiny licorice gourami (only 1.5 in or 4 cm in length) to the giant gourami (about 28 in or 70 cm), there are great differences to be considered by the fish keeper, all of which are addressed by Alderton in this color guide. The anabantoids is also a large group of fishes, with one hundred varieties/species available in most pet and hobby stores. The book provides photographs and images of dozens of the most popular examples.Chapter two is devoted to “The Different Groups,” and the author explains how the classifications of anabantoids work and then proceeds to discuss the members of each family. In all, eighteen genuses are described in detail, including their natural ranges, physical characteristics, abilities, behaviors, and breeding facts. The author discusses the specific traits of the anabantoids, including their unique labyrinth organs, swim bladders, hearing ability, lateral line, and locomotion.The section on care discusses the selection and positioning of the aquarium, planting, flooring, water, filtration, heating, and lighting. The guide gives specific advice on feeding habits and food, including foraging and hunting techniques of certain anabantoids and the various kinds of food (prepared diets, green food, live food) that are best for individual species. For readers interested in breeding bettas and gouramis, the chapter on reproduction will prove exceptionally helpful, giving expert guidance on preparing for and encouraging spawning behavior, nest building, and rearing the fry. The author also provides information on color genetics for breeding Betta splendens.The general health of the Asian gouramis is covered in a chapter called “Lifespan and Diseases,” including a primer on preventing and managing parasitic illness, bacterial and fungal diseases, dietary problems, and more. In the book’s final chapter “Popular Anabantoids,” the author presents a full-page of text and photographs for twenty-six different species of the families Belontiidae, Anabantidae, Osphronemidae, Helostomatidae, and Luciocephalidae. Resources and glossary conclude the volume.

Подробнее

For beginning aquatic fancier looking to start out right with fish, Freshwater Aquariums by David Alderton is the ideal primer. A vertebrate that breathe primarily by means of gills and swim by means of fins is the author’s lead-in to the first chapter called “What are Fish?” Alderton builds the reader’s confidence by providing solid information about what fish are anatomically speaking, how they evolved, how they breathe, how they move, where they live, and how they behave.The new fancier’s aquarium begins in chapter two with instructions on setting up the tank, including selecting the right size, figuring out how many fish, setting the tank, equipment, substrate, heating, lighting, filtrations, plants, water chemistry, assembly, and more.Choosing the freshwater fishes that appeal to the reader is the subject of “Introducing the Categories of Fish,” which schools readers in seven categories: Cyprinids (e.g., goldfish, minnows, and barbs), Characins (e.g., tetras), Cichlids (e.g., oscars, angelfish, and discus), Anabantoids (gouramis, bettas/Siamese fighting fish, and paradise fish), Toothcarps (guppies, swordtails, platies, black mollies, and killifish), Catfish, and others (loaches and Chinese algae eaters). The purchasing, maintenance, and feeding of fish are described in considerable details, and the author gives a basic overview of breeding and keeping fish healthy as well. Resources, glossary, and index conclude the book.

Подробнее

One of the most popular choices for home aquariums, CICHLIDS come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. From the Fish Keeping Made Easy series, this book covers diet and nutrition, recognizing and treating illness, biology, breeding and more.

Подробнее

David A Lass’s introduction to angelfish fulfills its subtitle, “Understanding and Keeping Angelfish,” and more. This colorful guide in the Fish Keeping Made Easy series discusses angelfish in their natural Amazon rain forest habitat in South America and the needs of this beautiful and recognizable fish in the home aquarium based on their dietary, water conditions, and behavior in the wild. The chapter “Angelfish Groups” describes the three species of angelfish (Pterophyllum altum, P. leopoldi, and P. scalare), the most popular twelve color variations seen in local pet stores, and the special traits of the species. Separate chapters are devoted to selection and care, feeding and diet, and reproduction. The author discusses the keeping of angelfish in an “all-angel” tank (shoal of angelfish!) as well as in a community tank, and gives solid advice on selection of equipment and live plants. A chapter on parasites and diseases will be of great use to all fishkeepers trying to avoid fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases in their tanks as well as general treatment protocols and hospital tanks. Glossary as well as resources of websites and publications conclude the guide.

Подробнее