Guide Rating -

• About the Author -As an underwater photographer for many years, Scott W. Michael is highly regarded as one of the world's foremost authorities on the behavior and care of reef fishes in aquarium systems. He regularly contributes articles to "Aquarium Fish Magazine", as well as having served as a scientific consultant to National Geographic Explorer and the Discovery Channel. He is the author of other popular books, such as "Reef Fishes Volume 1", "Reef Sharks and Rays of the World", and "Aquarium Sharks & Rays: An Essential Guide to Their Selection, Keeping, and Natural History".
• Publisher - T.F.H. Publications / Co-Published by Microcosm Ltd.; Paperback; November 1999; June 2001
• Description -448 pages with full color photographs throughout, covering over 500 popular marine aquarium species.

A book in the PocketExpert^TM Guide series, "Marine Fishes" covers over 500 of the most popularly kept marine fish species, including full color photographs and the following information about each one:

• Scientific Name: Includes the most current Latin name applied to the fish by the scientific community. Following the scientific name is the name of the "author". This is the ichthyologist or naturalist who formally described the species.
• Common Name: One or more common names are listed for each species.
• Maximum Length: This indicates the greatest length that an individual of that particular species can attain, or the longest ever recorded.
• Range: Notes the broad geographical area where each species occurs.
• Minimum Aquarium Size: This is the minimum suitable aquarium volume for an adult individual of the species.
• Foods & Feeding: Includes the type of foods generally preferred, and whether or not it may be difficult to initiate a feeding response.
• Aquarium Suitability Index: These ratings, ranging from a low of 1 to a top of 5, gives an indication of the durability, hardiness, and/or adaptability of each species.
• Reef Aquarium Compatibility: Whether the species will fit into a captive system containing corals, tridacnid clams, ornamental crustaceans, and/or other invertebrates.
• Captive Care: General comments on the relative desirability of the species as a marine aquarium subject, as well as traits and usual or unusual habits.

We have had this book since its first publication, and find it to be an invaluable marine fish care and identification book we continually refer to. It is a quick and easy to use reference guide that is full of need-to-know information about the fish you are going to keep, or may already have in your aquarium. -- Debbie & Stan Hauter

11/29/01: The PocketExpert^TM Guide to Marine Invertebrates by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. is soon to be released from Microcosm.