The karst landforms of China are renowned around the world for the beauty of their landscapes, but it is less well appreciated that they also contain extensive cave systems with very significant underwater habitats. China also has an extremely high level of biodiversity, including over 1,500 freshwater fish species. Unsurprisingly, some of these species inhabit the karst cave systems and have flourished and diversified under unique environmental conditions. As a result, cave fishes in China are particularly abundant and diverse when compared to those of other countries of the world. These remarkable fishes have received considerable research attention from Chinese ichthyologists and, for the first time, this book makes their resulting findings directly accessible to the English-speaking world through a remarkable endeavour of Sino-British collaboration.

Every serious aquarium hobbyist will want to buy this book. It's a quick-reference source of information on all aspects of aquarium maintenance and water chemistry, and also provides descriptions of the fish and other aquatic animals and plants common in home aquariums. Approximately 1,000 terms cover everything from Amyloodinium (a fish parasite) to Zooxanthellae (a variety of algae). Entries are supplemented with black-and-white line art, plus a 32-page insert of full-color photos. Appendices feature a wealth of practical information in chart and table form.

A newly-updated practical guide to pet-keeping, covering all aspects of choosing and caring for small mammals including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and jirds, chinchillas, rats and mice - plus birds, herptiles, invertebrates and fish. Each chapter features the most popular breeds in each species, based on general availability and suitability. Find out how to choose the best pet for your lifestyle plus practical tips on buying a pet; housing and exercise; foods for a balanced diet; pet health and what to do when your pet is sick. This is a perfect reference book on petcare for any owner. Expert advice on choosing and buying a pet, the breeds, housing, feeding, handling, showing and health care. Helpful information and fascinating insights about every aspect of caring for the most popular pet species. How to select the right pet for your lifestyle, including choosing exotic species and the most suitable pets for young children and families. Maintaining a pet's health, plus the equipment needed to house, feed and exercise pets correctly, and detailed advice on training, handling, showing and breeding pets.

Dive into the wonderful world of saltwater fish Setting up and keeping a healthy, thriving saltwater aquarium--and the gorgeous creatures that live within it--takes a lot more know-how than you might realize. Fortunately, this friendly and informative guide is here to make having a slice of the salty life in your own home easier than ever! This fully updated edition of Saltwater Aquariums For Dummies explains in plain English how to care for a variety of marine fish and invertebrates, upkeep a tank, feed your saltwater friends, and stay informed of the latest technology in luxury tanks! Understand aquarium set up best practices Maintain a thriving aquatic environment Build the luxury saltwater tank of your dreams Be inspired by a full-color insert Whether you're looking for basic information on how to set-up, start, and maintain a saltwater aquarium or already own one and want to whet your appetite with the latest tips, tricks, and design ideas, this book covers the gamut!

Known throughout the world for its beauty and personality, koi is one of the most carefully bred fish species around. Raising koi is especially time-consuming and requires more than just sprinkling little flakes in the fish bowl. But thankfully, you don't have to be an expert to maintain your own koi pond. Koi For Dummies shows you how easy and fun it can be to own and care for these delicate fish. Whether building a pond or aquarium for the indoors or outdoors, this easy-to-understand guide explores all of your options. Clear, concise advice helps you:* Appreciate your koi's beauty* Build, design, and maintain your koi pond or aquarium* Find and select koi and the proper supplies* Keep your koi happy and healthy* Treat your koi for parasites, bacterial infections, and viruses* Breed and care for baby koi* Show off your koi to other koi enthusiasts This fun, friendly guide also explains what to do during a power outage and how to check your koi for illness. Featuring 8 pages of full-color photos, Koi for Dummies is all you need to get started raising your very own koi. No matter where you live, you'll be able to care for and breed this beautiful fish!

The authoritative information and advice you need, illustrated throughout with full-color photographs--now revised and redesigned to be even more reader-friendly
Known as the ""Siamese Fighting Fish,"" the beautiful Betta, with vivid colors and long fins (in males), has enchanting elegance and grace. Yet Bettas can fight and bite, so it's best to keep just one in a tank. This guide helps you with everything from preparing for your Betta to maintaining an environment where it will thrive. It covers:
* Setting up an interesting aquarium
* Plants for the Betta tank
* Choosing non-aggressive tankmates
* Maintaining a healthy tank and healthy fish
* Feeding your Betta
* Breeding your Betta

Keeping a Betta is the perfect introduction to keeping tropical fish, a relaxing, rewarding hobby everyone can enjoy.

Saltwater aquariums bring the calming beauty of a tropical reef right into your home and make you feel attuned to nature. But when you're creating a saltwater aquarium, the key is choosing fish, invertebrates, seaweeds, and corals that are in harmony with each other. There are more than 500 species of reef fish to choose from, and some are not compatible. This book is your recipe for saltwater aquarium success. It gives you the basics of setup, maintenance, and design considerations, but it goes beyond that to include: More than 40 specific recipes for saltwater aquariums, including biotope designs (mimicking barrier reefs, atolls, lagoons, etc.) and designs emphasizing form and color A catalog of saltwater fish featuring more than 100 aquarium species A catalog of saltwater invertebrates, seaweeds, and marine plants, covering more than 150 invertebrate types A 16-page color catalog of fish, invertebrate, and coral varieties

In addition to ready-made model designs, this book helps you make your own choices of species that will coexist in harmony in your spectacular saltwater aquarium.

The authoritative information and advice you need, illustrated throughout with full-color photographs--now revised and redesigned to be even more reader-friendly
A saltwater aquarium provides a soothing, ever-changing mini seascape of color and motion. But saltwater fish require a constant, controlled environment. How do you set up and maintain a tank and select the right fish from more than 12,000 varieties? How do you care for marine fish? This updated guide provides the facts and advice you need and includes:
* Info on choosing, equipping, and setting up your aquarium
* Pointers on choosing compatible fish for a community tank
* The scoop on the best (and worst) fish for beginners
* Guidance on maintaining your aquarium and keeping your fish healthy

Living works of art, freshwater aquariums bring nature inside. They're fascinating, soothing, and mesmerizing, but designing and creating an aquarium can be time-consuming. This book shows you step-by-step and fish-by-fish how to create a beautiful, harmonious aquarium that mimics a natural habitat and fosters healthy fish and plant life. It includes: More than 80 detailed recipes for aquariums of different types and sizes, depicting a variety of natural freshwater environments from five continents Specific aquarium model designs in which fish and plants flourish, maintenance is easy, and the aquarium enhances the home Design considerations, including space limitations, backgrounds, and aquascaping ideas A 16-page color insert that's an inspiring catalog of fish and plant varieties The basics of aquarium setup and maintenance

With these model designs and this information, your fish and plants will coexist beautifully in their freshwater habitat and your aquarium will provide years of captivating, calming enjoyment.

The authoritative information and advice you need, illustrated throughout with full-color photographs--now revised and redesigned to be even more reader-friendly
Known as the ""Siamese Fighting Fish,"" the beautiful Betta, with vivid colors and long fins (in males), has enchanting elegance and grace. Yet Bettas can fight and bite, so it's best to keep just one in a tank. This guide helps you with everything from preparing for your Betta to maintaining an environment where it will thrive. It covers:
* Setting up an interesting aquarium
* Plants for the Betta tank
* Choosing non-aggressive tankmates
* Maintaining a healthy tank and healthy fish
* Feeding your Betta
* Breeding your Betta

Keeping a Betta is the perfect introduction to keeping tropical fish, a relaxing, rewarding hobby everyone can enjoy.