Reef Aquarium Fishes by Scott W. Michael

All in understandable grammar and all of which will be quite helpful to the average hobbyist.

In doing so, scientific name, common name, maximum length, range, temperature, aquarium care and suitability, biology, and applicable remarks are used to denote each species. It's a chapter that really helps the average hobbyist understand the reef environment.Īfter 233 pages of informative text, Chapter 4 'The Fishes' gets to the heart of the matter. In Chapter 2, 'Taxonomy' provides the reader with an understanding of the concept of species and lays the foundation for further discussions on the classification of fishes.Ĭhapter 3, 'Coral Reef Habitats' describes and identifies various major reef habitats and the fishes that occupy them. In Chapter 1, 'The History & Anatomy of Reef Fishes,' Scott introduces the history and evolution of fish in general. The book is divided into four chapters and closes with various 'References' such as a Glossary, Bibliography, Photography Credits, Index, and, About the Author. Just prior to the first Chapter, there is a lengthy 'Introduction' titled 'Coral Reef Fishes.' It introduces Scott to the readers and provides some insight to the behavior and relationships found on the reef. John Randle, there is a Preface followed by 'Acknowledgments.' It pays tribute to those who have helped Scott write and publish this immense work, including the Microcosm staff that brought his manuscript to life and those who provided additional color photographs and sketches. What families will be in each of those volumes still awaiting publication is noted in this Volume's Preface.įollowing a brief 'Foreword,' written by Dr. Volume 4 will include a full photographic index of all mentioned species. Other Volumes will have an equal number of families, again with some families of general interest in each.

Even though Volume 1 includes 23 families of fish, only seahorses/pipefishes, moray eels, squirrelfishes/soldierfishes, lionfish and the seabass family are of general interest to the hobbyist. This is such a huge undertaking that it had to be accomplished in more than one book. Finally, the day has arrived and it was well worth the wait! Not only are the over 1000 photographs (that's a guess because it may a lifetime to finish just looking through this book) well worth its price, it was written in a language the aquarist will understand. By the time the evening was over, I was already eagerly waiting its publication. When I met Scott at dinner a couple of years ago we discussed this book and the two or three volumes to follow.

Reef Aquarium Fishes by Scott W. Michael