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Recommend for rainbowfish starter
I expected this book give me some beginner level knowledge of rainbow fish, so it is! 64 pages but clear and easy-understand content give you a clear concept how to raise rainbowfish.
Nice pictures and details specification bring you in a wonder world of rainbowfish.
If you want to start your rainbowfish tank, I recommend you have this book.
[Tuesday, December 09, 2008]
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Appealing to the home aquarist
As a new fan and keeper of rainbowfish, I am eager to learn as much as I can about these very lovely creatures. Whereas I found Gerald Allen's book interesting, it is geared more towards the scientific community than the home aquarist who aims to provide her or his fish the best possible care. Derek Lambert's Rainbowfishes book is also good but, in my opinion, this title by Gunther Schmida for Barron's fits my needs much better.
Mr. Schmida describes many species, including some I have not encountered even in the more specialized shops or online. The color photos, including a nice series of shots showing Red Rainbowfish spawning and the males of other species displaying, are exciting. The information is written in a knowledgeable yet approachable style, as if the author truly wants to share with the reader. At the end is an index which includes both the popular and scientific names of the fish included. (Note to reviewer wass29 in Moline, IL: see p.22 for information on M. praecox "dwarf neon rainbowfish," the fish you are seeking.) All in all, there is much to like about this small but useful book!
However, there is inconsistency in how quantities are presented. For instance, lengths of fish and recommended tanks are given in both metric and English measurements, very useful for those of us in the US. However, temperatures are given only in Celsius and that is an obstacle to my immediate understanding as I read. Given that this book was translated for the American audience by an American publisher, it is only reasonable to expect it to use the form of measurements we use in the US. If it were published in Europe or Australia, certainly I would not complain.
Also, in the species' descriptions, Mr. Schmida recommends tanks of at least 157 gallons (an uncommon size) to hold certain species, even M. boesemani. However, for other species of the same size or larger he does not make such detailed recommendations. He does not explain why this unusually-sized tank is needed. Could it be because of the individual fish's size or because a school of a certain number is recommended or perhaps for some other reason? I take his tank specifications with a grain of salt.
Even with these concerns of mine, I find this to be an excellent resource for those of us who are enthralled with these beauties from Australasia. I have been using a copy from my local library and now I am ready to purchase my own, I like it so well.
[Saturday, December 30, 2006]
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A good Starter book
This book is a great addition to any collection. It has valuable information about rainbowfish and some of the different varieties out there, it is a quick informative book to read. However I felt it did not have enough information on all of the different varieties of rainbowfish. I didn't see anything on Dwarf Neon Rainbofish (a very popular one at the fish store where I work part time), also it did not describe all of the fish very well and the info on tank sizes and fish recommendations was incorrect. Even with its shortcomings I own and enjoy it anyways
[Tuesday, October 30, 2001]
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