World's most popular hobby

In the United States alone, one in ten households has at least one freshwater aquarium. Now a new colorful book, The Complete Encyclopedia of the Freshwater Aquarium, by internationally respected expert John Dawes (Firefly Books, December 2001), offers a one-stop source for all levels of fish hobbyists, from beginners to experienced enthusiasts.

This unique guide to one of the world's most popular hobbies, with more than 500 full-color photographs, describes all the important freshwater fish species in an encyclopedic A to Z format. At the same time, it is a superb, practical reference for all the essentials of the hobby including:

Selecting equipment
Setting up an aquarium
Aquarium maintenance
Fish selection
Nutrition and feeding
Breeding fish
Health management
Selecting aquarium plants.

The author provides easy-to-follow instructions for setting up a general tropical community aquarium, universally the most prevalent system. Dawes' step-by-step procedure is laced with practical advice and tips including:

Wash the aquarium and gravel with clean water (use no detergent) and place on Styrofoam
Use special mesh-type heater protectors to eliminate the risk of accidentally burning your fish, which are inclined to rest in warm spots
During the first week of start-up the water may turn cloudy as a result of a "bacterial bloom." Don't change the water as it will clear up in a few days

Other types of aquarium set-ups are relate to specific fish behavior. For example, goldfish root in gravel for food and it's therefore wise to avoid under-gravel filters. The special needs of the popular Koi are also addressed. The Complete Encyclopedia of the Freshwater Aquarium highlights the most up-to-date filters, water testing kits, temperature control, lighting, and water chemistry. The author discusses how to select a healthy fish, the need to quarantine new fish, and the humane disposal of sick fish.

The entries for the hundreds of aquarium fish are grouped by the major fish families and each individual listing features: the popular name and the Latin name; the distribution or geographic habitat; the size, behavior, diet, suitable aquarium, and a breeding synopsis. Since the vast majority of freshwater fish live with submerged vegetation, plants are very important and are also covered for their significant use as shelter, food, breeding sites, nesting materials, as well as territorial markers and "gathering points."

The Complete Encyclopedia of the Freshwater Aquarium is the most comprehensive and modern encyclopedia published to date. The book describes the major natural habitats of freshwater fish, from the vast expanses of the Amazon Basin to the African Rift Lakes (Tanganyika, Malawi, Victoria), plus the countless rivers, lakes, streams and rivulets throughout the world. Fish conservation, captive breeding and commercial breeding are also discussed.

For more information, see pet training aids.

About The Author:

Colten Rice is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-pets.com. Pamper your pet and get up to date information on pet health, food, accessories, behavior, gifts and toys.