[.ca] Understanding Tropical Fish (ISBN 1903098092)

Best fish book in my library:
Sandford takes an unusual approach to educating current and potential aquarists about the hobby. Rather than the standard "buy this" and "do that", she begins by showing us where pet store fish come from in the wild, then moves on to how they are shaped, what they eat, how they breed, and what all this means about how to determine and meet their needs in captivity. Sandford is an excellent writer who manages to balance scientific terminology with common language and her text is beautifully illustrated with drawings and photographs. I would not hesitate to recommend the book to anyone who has the most passing interest in tropical fish. As a well-established aquarium hobbyist, I learned enough to be reading it again a year later, plus I found that short exposures to specific topics increased my spouse's rather slim interest in my pets. This book would make an excellent starting point for a parent or young person considering a first tank. I would recommend it for the classroom or home schooler as well. It is extraordinarily well done and, at the low price, a real bargain as well.