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Amphibians in Captivity

Amphibians in Captivity

List Price: $99.95
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nearly perfect - without equal.
Review: Any attempt to write an all-encompassing text like this could quite reasonably be expected to fall short of perfection, especially when judging other "general amphibian" texts out there. To my surprise, this book is, for the most part, an exception to the rule. I must compliment Marc Staniszewski on his good work. I thought after reading many TFH amphibian publications that it would be unlikely that the author would have precise and detailed knowledge of the minutiae of every amphibian species in the book, but, despite this, in my opinion "Amphibians in Captivity" succeeds where every other TFH publication I have seen to date has failed - it is very accurate and detailed. Not only does it cover the usual species information such as size and feeding, it also fills in many of the gaps that other books leave, such as the longevity of each species and it highlights differences in care between otherwise similar species within a given genus. 544 pages may seem like a lot, but unlike many other "general" amphibian books, each page counts - there is no filler or dross.

I wanted to give this book 4.5 out of 5, but it was either 4 or 5. There are a few inaccuracies that could have been easily avoided, although they don't detract much from the book. There simply isn't another hobbyist's captive-care text of the same "general amphibian" type that isn't aimed solely at the beginner _and_ would get more than a 3 star rating from me.

Nearly the first 200 pages deal with various aspects of amphibian natural history and captive care in fine detail (for example there are over 30 pages on feeding alone as well as the individual notes on feeding for each species, and over 40 on housing, and this isn't "filler"), followed by about 350 pages on species care covering the Caecilians, Salamanders and Anurans, in that order.

I hesitated for a few months before buying this book due to the high price, but now that I have read the book I don't regret purchasing it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nearly perfect - without equal.
Review: Any attempt to write an all-encompassing text like this could quite reasonably be expected to fall short of perfection, especially when judging other "general amphibian" texts out there. To my surprise, this book is, for the most part, an exception to the rule. I must compliment Marc Staniszewski on his good work. I thought after reading many TFH amphibian publications that it would be unlikely that the author would have precise and detailed knowledge of the minutiae of every amphibian species in the book, but, despite this, in my opinion "Amphibians in Captivity" succeeds where every other TFH publication I have seen to date has failed - it is very accurate and detailed. Not only does it cover the usual species information such as size and feeding, it also fills in many of the gaps that other books leave, such as the longevity of each species and it highlights differences in care between otherwise similar species within a given genus. 544 pages may seem like a lot, but unlike many other "general" amphibian books, each page counts - there is no filler or dross.

I wanted to give this book 4.5 out of 5, but it was either 4 or 5. There are a few inaccuracies that could have been easily avoided, although they don't detract much from the book. There simply isn't another hobbyist's captive-care text of the same "general amphibian" type that isn't aimed solely at the beginner _and_ would get more than a 3 star rating from me.

Nearly the first 200 pages deal with various aspects of amphibian natural history and captive care in fine detail (for example there are over 30 pages on feeding alone as well as the individual notes on feeding for each species, and over 40 on housing, and this isn't "filler"), followed by about 350 pages on species care covering the Caecilians, Salamanders and Anurans, in that order.

I hesitated for a few months before buying this book due to the high price, but now that I have read the book I don't regret purchasing it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very indepth book
Review: If fussing with your amphibian pets is your idea of a good time, this book is the next best thing. Mark Staniszewski is a wonderfully clear and entertaining writer and this is a beautifully illustrated, comprehensive book. The husbandry information is concise and useful, and is especially valuable in conjunction with the amphibian natural history books of Stebbins and Cohen and the biology of amphibians book by Duellmen and Trueb. I have read this book through and go back over it frequently (particularly after my husband vetos buying fire salamanders just because they produce tetrodotoxin...). It is worth every cent and belongs in every amphibian herpers library

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A must for herpetoculturists that keep amphibians
Review: Staniszewski's book is without an equal in the English language. It is the authority when it comes to keeping amphibians. Although it is a general guide, the volume of information is unmatched by any other amphibian text. Staniszewski starts out by introducing the biology of major amphibian taxa, then proceeds to give the reader straight-forward, and quite detailed, information regarding how to prepare terrariums for various species based on habitat and niche. Everything is covered; plant species to use in terrariums, temperature and humidity needs for each species, substrates for different species based on feeding and habitat needs, lighting and heating, etc. This information is followed by a lengthy section regarding the types of foods to feed various amphibians, both terrestrial and aquatic. Staniszewski focuses on live food items and tells how to obtain and raise various species of insects, mollusks, worms, and various aquatic invertebrates as amphibian food. Many newt breeders will find the sections regarding food items for larval amphibians extremely helpful. The general care is rounded off by a chapter covering the diseases many amphibians suffer from in captivity, with the cause and treatment for each included.

The most helpful part of this book is, however, the species accounts. Just about every species of amphibian you could possibly keep is covered, from common things like axolotls and white's tree frogs to rarer things, such as crocodile newts and arboreal salamanders. I especially found the section about keeping newts of the genus Triturus helpful: it's not easy to find literature on that genus in the US. I'd also like to point out that this book is a great reference for dart frog enthusiasts, particularly in regards to choosing species based on breeding requirements and hardiness, as well as techniques for raising tadpoles. My only complaint is that Dendrobates azureus is left out. There is also a large amount of information regarding salamanders from North America.

Finally, the illustrations in this book are excellent. Although there are a large number of pictures, they do not take away from the book's quality as a source of information. In addition to the high-quality photos, a number of hand-drawn, field guide style color plates have been included to help potential keepers differentiate between various species and even subspecies.

All in all, this is a must-have for any serious herpetoculturist's library.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: one amazing herpetological book
Review: this book is one of the top books around. it not only tells of basic knowledge but of in depth information about most amphibians, along with some very good well-thought information on housing, feeding and general care of amphibains
this book is a must for beginners and breeders or people just interested in amphibians and their care.


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