Angelfish: Understanding and Keeping Angelfish, by David A. Lass, 2008
Mr. Lass has bred and raised Angelfish for years, and is knowledgeable on the subject. This book covers angelfish in detail. It gives an overview of their native habitat, scientific species and hybrids. Anglefish: Understanding and Keeping Angelfish also covers all aspects of raising angelfish including breeding, feeding, water conditions and selecting.
Much of the information is applicable to any aquarium fish. The section on diseases and parasites, equipment and other sections that can be used for any aquarium fish. This book has a bibliography and glossary with enough depth to answer any question the reader may have remaining. Angelfish is nicely illustrated on glossy paper and easy to read. It is a book worth having even if the aquarist doesn’t have angelfish.
Breeding & Raising Angelfishes, by Ed Stansbury, 2005
The title of this book is a bit misleading. It’s much more than just a book about breeding angelfish. It’s a comprehensive book that includes information on the care, reproduction, and diseases of freshwater angelfish. It’s a quick and easy read that gives you all the information you need to take care of two angelfish in a community tank or start your own breeding business. It’s well organized and has quality vibrant pictures for reference. Although the title makes is seem like it’s only for serious angelfish breeders, it really should be in the library of any angelfish owner as a good basic angelfish care book.
Exotic Tropical Fishes, by Herbert Axelrod, et al., 1996
This is a general book about fish that is divided into four sections; management, plants, raising fish commercially, and fish. The management section contains information on setting up and maintaining a freshwater aquarium. The plants section is devoted to plants. The commercial section is the smallest section of the book and gives advice on running a commercial tropical fish operation. The fish section is the largest section. Each page has a color photo of a fish with the scientific and common name, water preference and other information to keep the fish.
Axelrod is one of the best-known names to fish hobbyists, and the author of many books on the subject including some specifically about angelfish. This book has been updated and still in print. Exotic Tropical Fishes is a good general reference for angelfish and their tank mates and is on many professional and non-professional fish fanciers bookshelves.
Illustrated Dictionary of Tropical Fishes, by Hans Frey
Frey Hans was editor of an East German aquarium and terrarium magazine. The East German title of this book was The Aquarium for A to Z without many photos. When it was published in English in 1961 the publisher added photos.
This is an old book about fish that has gone into several editions after its initial printing. It is over 700 pages and covers all aspects of aquarium fish. Even though it is an old book, it is worthwhile, as the content is detailed and comprehensive. As with all older tropical fish books, the information on equipment such as pumps may be outdated, but the information on fish and their care is good. The Illustrated Dictionary of Tropical Fishes is a worthwhile book and used by experienced aquarists, if not as a primary reference, as a backup source.
The Perfect Aquarium by Jeremy Gay, 2005
This is an elementary to intermediate book for aquarists. It’s not about angelfish specifically, but covers a wide range of topics with enough depth for someone to successfully set up an aquarium and select fish.
The Perfect Aquarium covers selecting an aquarium locating and setting it up, and decorating it. It covers fish health, water quality, basic care and reproduction. The book has photo sections on plant and fish species with a brief description, origins and habits.
The Perfect Aquarium is primarily focused on freshwater aquariums. It has some articles on marine aquariums, but the best use for the marine sections are to see what would be needed to convert to a marine aquarium. There are better elementary books to set up a marine aquarium.
This is a good book for the beginner. The Perfect Aquarium covers a wide range of subjects with enough depth to be useful. It goes through establishing an aquarium and provides information as the aquarist becomes experienced. It has enough reference detail in water management, diseases and parasites that it can be uses as a reference book for the more experienced aquarium keeper.
Aquarium Atlas by Hans A. Baensch
Hans A. Baensch has written a 5 book series of fish encyclopedias with Rudiger Riehl, or Gero W. Fischer that have become popular among enthusiasts. Aquarists generally consider that if a person has one fish atlas or encyclopedia, Aquarium Atlas volume 1 is an excellent choice.
Originally written in German and translated into English the Baensch Aquarium Atlas is an impressive work. Volume 1 is a good basic book on fish keeping with superb color photographs of 600 individual fish and information on care, diseases, plants and aquarium management. It also contains plant photographs and information on their care. This is the one book to have for a general reference book for the casual aquarist. Volumes 2, 3, and 4 give additional information on fish and plants that get into the obscure range. The fifth volume is a photo index of the first four volumes and gives photos of the fish with scientific and common names. It lists the original volume and page for more detailed information concerning the fish.
Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscock
This book opens with a detailed overview of how plants grow and what makes them flourish. It contains detailed information about setting up and keeping an aquarium with healthy plants.
It contains more detailed information on each plant than a general aquarium book. The Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants gives the scientific and common name as well as other specific information on each plant. Hiscock includes a rating as to how hard they are to keep. This book contains illustrations to help identify the plant and information as to it’s water requirements and how to let it flourish in an aquarium. This is a technical book, but contains information for the average aquarist serious about their aquarium plants. Hiscock has written other books about aquarium plants, but most of that information is in Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants.