No comments about The Bearded Dragon Manual (Advanced Vivarium Systems).

No comments about The Lizard King: The True Crimes and Passions of the World's Greatest Reptile Smugglers.

5 comments about Iguanas for Dummies.

1. There is a reason that many reptile rescues require iguana adopters to purchase this book. Melissa Kaplan's book is the bible for iguana care. If you read this book and follow it's instructions, your little green friend will live a long and healthy life! The book is also extremely useful if you are debating getting an iguana. You should definitely read it before bringing one home (the level of care an iguana requires might discourage you from getting one).



2. "most", "some"... Facts need to be added to support her views, which is what her writings come down to... her views. Stick with other books if you are looking for the way to properly care for your little green friend. Check out 'Green Iguana: The Ultimate Owner's Manual by James W., III Hatfield' Hatfield relies less on shock value and exaggerations, facts are important.



3. I have had my green iguana for three years and it seems I never stop learning when it comes to whats best for her. I really wasn't aware how poor of care she was receiving until I bought this book. It's helped me help her so many times, and opened my eyes to details I was ignorant about before.
   
   This book is easy to read and understand. The way the topics are divided make it easy to reference anything you want. Though it's not meant to be read cover to cover, I did so anyway.
   
   Melissa Kaplan knows what she's talking about.



4. Excellent information written concisely and with a sense of humor by someone who truly knows, loves, and admires the species.



5. Living in the Florida Keys we have dealt extensively with discarded Iguanas - perhaps 15 or more. People buy them, and get rid of them constantly - and down here, in the semi-tropics, they can survive (with difficulty)in the wild.
   With all the iguana problems we have encountered good information is a necessity, & we have purchased many iguana books including Hatfield's "Green Iguana, the Ultimate Owners Guide" (a great book, but we still prefer Kaplan's "Iguanas for Dummies").
   If you still want addtional technical data you can add "What's Wrong with My Iguana" by John Rossi M.A., D.V.M. and "Understanding Reptile Parasites" by Roger Klingenberg D.V.M.
   Kaplan's book is based on research & a lot of personal experience. It is thorough, and her experience shows through - there are tidbits of information that have been useful to us that we have not found elsewhere. She has long maintained a caring website to help iguana owners and potential iguana buyers - not just to sell books. And the price of this book is reasonable.
   By all means get a good book like Hatfield's or Kaplan's - preferably before you get an iguana. Even if the book talks you out of getting an ig for a pet it will be well worth the price. Proper care for an iguana involves a devoting a lot of time and spending a lot of money. The cost of the animal is nothing in comparison, and they are far more complex to care for than a dog, cat, or hamster. Judging from the number of abandoned iguanas in the Florida Keys a huge number of people do not bother to inform themselves and the animals suffer. It may not be entirely their fault. Many pet stores do not seem to offer the best books or accurate information - often they just want to sell a hapless reptile, and make a few bucks on inadequate (sometimes dangerous) supplies and food. They frequently give bad advice.
   Whatever book you get you will still need to get a good experienced herp vet., and they are hard to find. Things go wrong with iguanas that are not covered with specificity in any of these books. We have been unfortunate enough to encounter some of them.

5 comments about Terrarium and Cage Construction and Care.

1. I found this book very useful and informative. I have buildt terrariums since I was a child, collecting all kinds of scaly pets and the number one rule my mom made me follow was making them escape proof. These did not always work out well with missing snakes turning up in the laundry and a toothy alligator taking a bite of my hand when I first started out collecting such wonderful creatures. Boy do I wish that I had this book when I was a kid. This is a great book for both beginner and someone like me who's always looking for goood ideas on the subject.



2. The book wasnt everything I had hoped for. It did not cover the false bottom method for terrarium/vivarium construction. Seemed out dated and very very basic. Great for ideas, not for construction. Would maybe recommend book for reference but not a single resource.



3. The title of the book is absolutely misleading!
   I ordered this book together with 7 others and my hopes in this book was totally smashed the moment I opened and browsed through. It contained very little information on what I thought it should and many of the books I already owned had more info. The terrarium set ups were very unexciting. I tried going through amazon.com again trying to look for more books pertaining to "this subject" but much to my dismay, this was the only book recommended. This book contains more on recommendations of terrarium inmates rather than cage construction.



4. I bought the book being a person who loves zoos and was expecting it to cover the materials, chemicals, theorys, and design/setup of the cage and what plants to use with what lighting but none of the above really appeared in the book a completely misleading title and poor purchase.



5. For each setup, a lot of space devoted to different types of animals and each types general care. Would have liked to have more information on design ideas, construction tips, and maintenance of actual terrariums.

5 comments about Turtles & Tortoises for Dummies.

1. I never received this book. Sent an email to seller never received an answer. Bad, bad!!!! Very disappointed. Yes, it is paid for!



2. Clear, easy-to-read, easy-to-follow information about turtles and tortises. I purchased this book after becoming a guardian to an Arizona desert tortise. These creatures are protected and found in small areas of Nevada, California and Arizona, and there is not much information about them to be found. This book had more useful information than I received from any other source.



3. Given that this book is obviously aimed at the beginner it would make sense for the book to offer decent info for commonly available species; mud and musk turtles, painted turtles, cooters, sliders, maybe Russian and Greek tortises, salcuttas, and some others. However, it doesn't.

   The book focuses an insane amount on the large, expensive (often over 1,000US), rare-in-captivity tortises like the Galapagos and aldabra tortise, which are exactly what the novice keeper wont' likely be buying. The common, affordable, and easier to keep turtles and tortises are given short shrift in this book. They may get a line or two, but that's about it.
   Furthermore, what information is given seems suspect; reccomended cage sizes tend to be on the small side, temps can be off, as can humidity. It's really not worth having--I threw my copy away.




4. I purchased this book thinking (hoping) it would be the excellent source of information it is advertised to be; it is not.

   I am very experienced in keeping all kinds of companion animals. As a rule, when I think I might want to add a new species to my household, I research the critter in question with great care. I purchased this book prior to getting my first tortoise. At the same time, I began researching my chosen species on the internet. Based upon what I have learned on the net and in speaking with tortoise keepers & breeders via e-mail/telephone and in person at "reptile expos", the information in this book is at best dated and over simplified and at worst may be dangerous to your pet.

   The kindest thing I can say about this book is that it is poorly organized. This alone makes it difficult to formulate an understanding of tortoise culture. Further, the author often contradicts herself, causing the reader to question whether they are misunderstanding the text as they go.

   Turtles and torts are highly specialized - they do not adapt to us as dogs or cats do. We MUST adapt to them and fulfill their very specific needs completely. Please research your chosen species very carefully before you purchase a turtle or tort!

   If you simply must buy this book, please do not use it as your only or best source of info.




5. The author was very knowledgeable about her favorites: box turtles and (large) tortoises. That's all well and good, but... None of these turtles are suited for indoor keeping! I would expect that most prospective or current turtle keepers want or have smaller turtles, and it would have been nice to get more detailed info about them. If you can keep your chenolians in an outdoor habitat, BUY THIS BOOK. Otherwise, find another.

5 comments about The Guide to Owning a Red-Eared Slider.

1. This is a good little reference book for owners of Red Eared Slider turtles. I adopted one of these turtles and was clueless about how to care for it until I read this book. Although it's a small book, it is very comprehensive. I would advise anyone who is thinking of getting a Red Eared Slider to read it.



2. I'm the classic "how much is that puppy in the window?" case. I was in New York city walking in China town when I happened upon a bowl full of baby red ears. I just had to 'save' one of these squirming babies. Then I was worry about how to feed, house, and generally take care of my turtle, who was looking up at me with those moist, cat-like eyes while we sat on the subway. I had no idea how big it would get, or what to keep it in, or what to feed it besides the turtle pellets I got ripped off on.

   I tried websites about sliders, while my baby sat in his styrofoam enclosure with his bowl of water and pellets sprinkled around him. Then I found this book on amazon.com. Right away I ordered it.

   It has helped me alot. I bought a tank and food for my turtle, Mr. Dude. I learned how big he would get and where he came from. I also learned that it is illegall to sell baby red-eared sliders!!!

   If you have a red-eared slider, or are looking into getting one, this book is a must-have.

   (Good Luck!)




3. This book adequately covers the essentials of owning a turtle: housing, feeding, breeding, and diseases. The section on breeding is a little more extensive than in other intro books. A plus is that most of the pictures are in color. One thing missing from this book and others is a discussion of turtle behavior and sensory capability. Do they hear, see, smell, taste well? Do they like to hide? How long do they or can they stay submerged? Apparently and incorrectly, it is assumed this is all common knowledge. While this book will give one a start, owning a turtle is definitely a work in progress.



4. This was a very good book. It taught me a lot more than I used to know. I usually just look at the pictures but now that I've read this book I know a lot more. This book taught me how to take care of them and all of the diseases. If your looking for a good book to teach you every thing you need to know this is the one.



5. This was a very good book. It taught me a lot more than I used to know. I usually just look at the pictures but now that I've read this book I know a lot more. This book taught me how to take care of them and all of the diseases. If your looking for a good book to teach you every thing you need to know this is the one.

3 comments about Vivaria Designs (Advanced Vivarium Systems).

1. A very general book on habitats for herps. More chapters on dry scapes then for amphibians. Easy reading.



2. I really thought this was a great book! It would be great for anyone that wants to start a vivaria. It even had a list of plants to use for a live tank, and alot of books don't have those.



3. The modern-day reptile and amphibian keeper has long needed a sound book covering the topic of basic vivaria design with a generalist approach. Previous to this, there have been two excellent books written by "the vivarist" himself, Phillipe de Vosjoli, with one book treating desert vivaria design and the other teaching us how to artistically creat a living vivarium for snakes.
   Mr. Walls, another expert, has provided the all-around beginning and intermediate herp keeper with the basics of cages, restraint, and several tried-and-true, fundamental vivarium designs covering ever major biome (e.g. desert, rainforest, woodland, etc.) where herps are found on planet earth. This book was written with practically every type of common pet reptile or amphibian in mind.
   This is a must have for every pet store owner who wants to display and sell herps, and for every young lad or lass who is lucky enough to have parents who will let them keep and enjoy God's creatures in their home. If you want to become a zoo keeper when you grow up, learn the basics that are taught in this book. If you want the little pet that you brought home to thrive, do the same.
   I believe this book is a manifestation of the growing sophistication of the hobby.
   I would, however, love to see an author tackle a much more in-depth, large-scale approach to the subject. I'm sure that there are some zoo keepers who could teach us how to build some amazing, detail-oriented, half-a-room-sized vivaria.

4 comments about Lake Malawi Cichlids (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This book has a great overview of how to setup a Malawi Cichlid tank. It also has some specific information about some of the more popular cichlid species. This is a great book for anyone looking to setup a Cichlid tank or for people who would like some more specific information on Malawi Cichlids.



2. Good little book, but some stunning errors in husbandry descriptions which could be a potential disaster for beginning Mbuna keepers. I highly recommend that aquarists look for at least a second opinion before choosing individual species as described in this book.



3. This is THE best little cichlid book for Lake Malawi. But don't let the word little fool you, this book is packed with information on dozens of Lake Malawi cichlids. I especially like that the book breaks down the lake's cichlids into the two main categories of mbuna and Haplochromines. There are over 100 excellent color photos of the most popular species accompanied by descriptions of natural habitat, size, husbandry requirements, diet, and breeding. I always take this book with me when I go to a fish auction or my local aquarium society meeting. There are other books that contain information on more species but none that gives you this much information at such a great price!



4. Book Lake Malawi Cichlids describes natural habitats of Lake Malawi, different groups of cichlids and gives very good instructions how to set up aquarium that will match fish's natural requirements. It contains beautiful photos (some of them also taken in the nature!) and descriptions of some aquariums cichlids. It contains a lot of information given in very understandable way, I missed that in many other more comprehensive books. I recommend this book to all beginners and also to more advanced aquarists.

5 comments about Hermit Crabs: Complete Pet Owner's Manual.

1. I picked up this book because we recently got two hermit crabs and I wanted to learn more about taking care of them. While this book was among the more helpful I've come across on the subject, I was hoping it would be more detailed. Everything in it was useful, and it helped me know what to do for the basics, but I want to go a little more advanced.



2. I found the book to be extremely informative and helpful.
   there was a great deal of information that i found very useful. Very pleased with this product.



3. With there not being out the in pet stores on how to care for your hermies, this book is very helpful for the novice owner or even for a brush up for someone more experienced. I like to try and read as much as I can. It explains the background of the species as well as how to care for them properly. Thru that, it shows that they are NOT just a disposable pet to live in a little plastic container w/ a 1/4 inch of sand :-( hopefully someday that philosophy will change. They are so interesting and can live a very long time if taken care of properly. It is only a lot of work if you do not have the time.



4. This book has everything that the novice hermit crab owner needs to know to take care of and enjoy their hermit crabs! Information on food, water, environment and behavior can be found easily. This book really helped us learn about our new pets!



5. I bought this book and WOW, it totally helped me take care of my hermit crab Sidney. It tells you all that you need to know to let your hermit crab live safely and happily ever after!

5 comments about Betta Care (Quick and Easy).

1. The coverage for betta specific care is useful, if not super user-friendly. Of all the betta care books, this one is probably the most useful for the novice betta owner.
   
   There is also some information for the intermediate-level owner. Discussions include great definitions on true and mixed colors, types of finnage and layman's discussions on what color and fin traits are dominant.
   
   The disease section is fine, but (like most betta books) relies too heavily on dumping in the medications and antibiotics. It does recommend better prophylactic care - like clean water - and at least recommends trying salt regimes before breaking out the bigger meds. Don't look for any pictures of fish diseases, however - there is just one picture of a female betta with dropsy.
   
   The basic betta care section touches on just that - the bare basics. There is enough information to get started, but not the kind of in-depth pet-owning information I personally would appreciate. I guess that is why this book is in the "Quick and Easy" series.
   
   I would also rather the betta care information be organized better, with bullets and easy-to-find section headings. Maybe this is just being picky.
   
   This is probably the best betta book for beginners, with lots of great photos and a decent amount of care information. It's a very inexpensive book and worth picking up for yourself, or as a thoughtful little betta keeper's gift.



2. Betta Care is a well written book with excellent pictures of "Siamese Fighting Fish." If you have only one source of information at hand, this will serve you well.
   
   Unfortunately, there is another source of information that will serve you well at a much smaller cost - the Internet. Though this book is a handy way to get all the information in one place, you can get the same info (as well as all the good pictures) on many different websites.
   
   My recommendation: If you are the type of person who likes to have the info in black and white in front of them, buy this book. If you're the type of person who spends a lot of time on the web, get the same info for free.



3. The book had a lot more information for breederds than for beginners,
   but the information that a beginner could use, was very good.



4. This book is exactly what it says, Quick and Easy. The chapter on white spot was a real life saver for our betta. We followed the instructions and quess what? It worked.



5. This is an awesome book that tells you how to take care of bettas. It tells you information on feeding,housing,ilnesses, and different types of bettas. Bettas are much easier to care for if you read this astonishing informational book about bettas. This book even helped me cure my betta from an illness called Ich. Buy this low-price book if you plan to own a betta.