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Related Articles: Literature Searches, Finding Help on the NetHelix Camera (and books)From Water to Words: Writing for the Ornamental Aquatics Industry By:  Steven Pro,

Good Books for Beginners:

Freshwater, Marine & Brackish Aquaria

 

© Bob Fenner & Neale Monks 2008

 

Do books have value in the age of the Internet? Here are WetWebMedia we'd definitely answer that in the affirmative. Every aquarist should at least own a book that outlines the basics of water chemistry, water quality, livestock selection, diet and healthcare. It's also a good idea to own a fish encyclopaedia as well so that when you go shopping you'll have a book that will tell you the environmental, social and dietary needs of any fish that you're not familiar with.

Fortunately the range of aquarium books is enormous. There are books aimed at every part of the hobby, from beginners to experts. The tricky bit is choosing the book that's right for you. On this page you'll find books that the WetWebMedia crew have found particularly useful. We're recommending them here as being reliable and good value. Books that are still in print or available from stock are listed with their US dollar prices; some books that are out of print are also listed, being well worth tracking down used. Amazon has good access to many used titles, often at very low prices (under $10).

Click on the links to go to the Amazon.com web site; if you order the book, WWM will get a small commission that will help defray bandwidth costs. This doesn't cost you a penny!  

Freshwater and brackish water fishkeeping

For Absolute Beginners

       

 

A Practical Guide to Setting Up Your Tropical Freshwater Aquarium

Gina Sandford

Barron's 2000

ISBN 0764152661

$9.99

       
         

Aquascaping & Plants

       

 

Complete Aquarium

Peter Scott

Dorling Kindersley 1995

ISBN 0789400138

$20.00

 

 

Aquarium Plants (Mini Encyclopedia Series for Aquarium Hobbyists)

Peter Hiscock

Barron's 2005

ISBN 0764129899

$14.99

   
         

Fish Encyclopaedias

       

 

Baensch Aquarium Atlas, Vol. 1

Hans A. Baensch and Rudiger Riehl 

Mergus 2004

ISBN 3882445181

$27.95

 

 

Baensch Aquarium Atlas, Vol. 2

Hans A. Baensch and Rudiger Riehl 

Voyageur 1993

ISBN 1564651142

Used

   
         

Goldfish & Native Fish

       

 

An Essential Guide to Choosing Your Coldwater Aquarium Fish

Nick Fletcher

Interpet 2000

ISBN 190309805X

$9.95

 

 

North American Native Fishes for the Home Aquarium

David M. Schleser

Barron's 1998

ISBN 0764103679

Used

   
         

Livebearers

       

 

Fishkeeper's Guide to Livebearing Fishes

Peter Scott

Tetra Press 1999

ISBN 190238962X

$10.95

 

 

Livebearing Fishes

John Dawes

Blandford 1995

ISBN 0713725923

Used

   
         

Cichlids

       

 

Enjoying Cichlids

Kjell Fohrman, Mary Bailey and Ad Konings

Cichlid Press 2002

ISBN 0966825578

$39.99

 

 

The Cichlid Aquarium

Paul V. Loiselle

Tetra Press 1994

ISBN 1564651460

Used

 

 

Fishkeeper's Guide to African Cichlids

Paul V. Loiselle

Tetra Press 1989

ISBN 3923880391

Used

 

Lake Tanganyika Cichlids

Mark Smith

Barron's 2007

ISBN 0764136739

$8.99

 

 

Back to Nature: Malawi Cichlids

Ad Konings

Cichlid Press 2003

ISBN 0966825594

$34.99

   
         

Brackish Water Fish

       

 

Brackish-Water Fishes

Neale Monks

TFH 2006

ISBN 0793805643

$39.95

 

 

Aqualog Special: Brackish-Water Fishes

Frank Schaefer

Aqualog 2005

ISBN 393602782X

$28.95

 

 

Aqualog: The Puffers of Fresh and Brackish Waters

Klaus Ebert

Aqualog 2001

ISBN 393170260X

$49.99

         

Health & Water Chemistry (Freshwater)

       

Manual of Fish Health

Chris Andrews, Adrian Exell and Neville Carrington

Firefly Books 2003

ISBN 1552978249

$24.95

     

 

 

Saltwater fishkeeping

Saltwater For Beginners

       

 

The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide

Michael S. Paletta

TFH 1999

ISBN 1890087521

$19.95

 

The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists

Robert M. Fenner

TFH 1997

ISBN 1890087025

$39.95

 

Marine Atlas: The Joint Aquarium Care of Invertebrates and Tropical Marine Fishes

Helmut Debelius

Voyageur 1995

Used

         

Saltwater for Intermediate to Advanced Hobbyists

       

 

Natural Reef Aquariums: Simplified Approaches to Creating Living Saltwater Microcosms

John H. Tullock

TFH 1997

ISBN 1890087009

$34.95

 

 

The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium, Vol. 1

Svein A. Fossa

Birgit Schmettkamp 1996

ISBN 3928819291

Used

 

Reef Secrets: Starting Right, Selecting Fishes & Invertebrates, Advanced Biotope Techniques

Alf Jacob Nilsen and Svein A. Fossa

TFH 2003

ISBN 189008767X

$39.95

         

Fish Encyclopaedias

       

 

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

Scott W. Michael

TFH 1999

ISBN 1890087386

$29.95

 

 

A PocketExpert Guide to Reef Aquarium Fishes: 500+ Essential-to-Know Species

Scott W. Michael

Microcosm 2006

ISBN 1890087890

$29.95

 

What Fish? A Buyer's Guide to Marine Fish: Essential Information to Help You Choose the Right Fish for Your Marine Aquarium

Tristan Lougher

Barron's 2006

ISBN 0764132563

$14.99

         

Invertebrate Guides

       

 

Baensch Marine Atlas, Vol. 2

Harry Erhardt, Horst Moosleitner, Hans A Baensch, and Gero W. Fisher

Mergus 1998

ISBN 081382558X

$59.99

 

 

Baensch Marine Atlas, Vol. 3

Harry Erhardt and Horst Moosleitner

Microcosm 1998

ISBN 1890087203

$49.99

 

Reef Invertebrates: An Essential Guide to Selection, Care and Compatibility

Anthony Calfo and Robert Fenner

Reading Trees 2003

ISBN 0967263034

$42.95

         

Livestock Health

       

Fish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment

Edward J. Noga

Wiley-Blackwell 2000

ISBN 081382558X

$124.99

 

The Marine Fish Health & Feeding Handbook: The Essential Guide to Keeping Saltwater Species Alive and Thriving

Bob Goemans, Lance Ichinotsubo, Martin A. Moe, and Matthew L. Wittenrich

TFH 2008

ISBN 1890087955

$37.95

 

Invertebrate Medicine

Gregory A. Lewbart

Blackwell 2006

ISBN 0813818443

$139.99



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