Tropical Aquarium

For anyone keen on starting or maintaining a tropical aquarium, selecting the right fish is of vital importance. Not only do you need to select fish that will thrive in your aquarium, they need to coexist with other species, remain healthy and offer a pleasing visual display. "Tropical Aquarium" will provide sound advice on selecting and caring for over 180 species of freshwater tropical fish. The first part of the book will cover the basics of setting up and maintaining an aquarium, to ensure that it will provide a happy home for your fish. Topics to be covered include water quality and chemistry, filtration, choosing the right tank size, providing adequate heat and light, selecting plants, feeding, adding fish and breeding as well as health care and general tank maintenance. Part II will cover individual species, arranged by family. Families to be covered are: Characins, Cyprinids/Loaches, Catfish, Cichlids, Killifish/Egg-Laying Toothcarps and Live-Bearing Toothcarps, Anabantids and Rainbowfish. For ease of reference, species are ordered by scientific (Latin) name, with common names also provided. Each species entry will include a photo accompanied by detailed information on place of origin size, recommended tank size, compatibility, favoured temperature, ideal water chemistry, feeding, health and sexing/breeding.

About the Author
Dr Sean Evans trained as a biologist and biochemist and has held various technical and scientific posts in pharmaceutical and biotech companies. He currently works at Wharf Aquatics, a specialist aquatic store in Nottinghamshire, UK. Wharf Aquatics has been consistently voted best aquatic store in the UK by the readers of Practical Fishkeeping magazine. He is also a member of the magazine's 'Expert' panel, and has contributed a number of articles to the magazine. He cuurently maintains around 30 freshwater and brackish aquaria at home and also runs a non-commercial hobbyist website - www.thetropicaltank.co.uk - aimed at advising beginner to intermediate fishkeepers.