Product Description
This book features most of the common insects, spiders, and other arthropods of North America, plus exotic species that are available at pet shops. It includes discussions of mantises, caterpillars, tarantulas, millipedes, hissing roaches, and much more--covering more than 50 species in total. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good place to start
This is a good introductory book to keeping arthropods as pets.It gives basic caging, food, and humidity requirements for many families of arthropods, as well as focusing on a few of the more popular individual species.It also does a good job of discouraging people from the more difficult pets to keep, which I think is very responsible. ... Read more

Product Description

This expert guide provides up-to-date information on keeping goldfish healthy in home aquariums.It covers a wide range of common issues with goldfish care, and contains identifying photos for many of the most popular and easily obtained goldfish species.
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Customer Reviews (1)

Very informative for our gold fish we are trying to take care of for our kids.
I think this book has become very handy with trying to learn more things on how to keep our fish alive longer and help them be healthy..Very good book. I would highly recommend gold fish lovers to get this book here. ... Read more

Product Description
Titles in the Let's Take Care of ... color-illustrated series introduce younger boys and girls to the fun and responsibility of pet ownership. Each book tells the story of a boy and girl who get a pet and learn how to care for it. These charming books emphasize that acquiring a pet is an exciting adventure for children, and it often makes little difference whether the new pet is as tiny as a frog or as large as a hound. Kids who read these books will share the excitement of the stories' children as an introduction to getting a pet of their own. A Guidelines section supplements each story with advice and information on pet care that is geared to children's capabilities. Parents and kids will want to read that section together. ... Read more

Product Description
Reptile and amphibian owners add a new dime nsion totheir hobby when they design and build terraria that simulate thenatural h abitats of their companion animals. This book givesdirections for a variety of terr arium options. You can buildenclosures in spare rooms, glass tanks, greenhouses, ou tdoor pools,or virtually any other available space. With this book's help, you canalso transform your terrarium into a scaled-down replica of desert,rain forest, sem iaquatic, or woodland environment.

You'll find basic carpentry instructions, along with advice on usingscreening material, glass panels, rocks, logs, and plants that fitinto the newly created environment. If you own snakes, lizards, frogs,gec kos, turtles, or other animals suitable for terraria, you'll finda design in these pages to fit your needs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

TERRARIUM AND CAGE
I found this book very useful and informative. I have buildt terrariums since I was a child, collecting all kinds of scaly pets and the number one rule my mom made me follow was making them escape proof. These did not always work out well with missing snakes turning up in the laundry and a toothy alligator taking a bite of my hand when I first started out collecting such wonderful creatures. Boy do I wish that I had this book when I was a kid. This is a great book for both beginner and someone like me who's always looking for goood ideas on the subject.

Terrarium & Cage Construction and Care
The book wasnt everything I had hoped for.It did not cover the false bottom method for terrarium/vivarium construction.Seemed out dated and very very basic.Great for ideas, not for construction.Would maybe recommend book for reference but not a single resource.

A great disappointment
The title of the book is absolutely misleading!
I ordered this book together with 7 others and my hopes in this book was totally smashed the moment I opened and browsed through. It contained very little information on what I thought it should and many of the books I already owned had more info. The terrarium set ups were very unexciting. I tried going through amazon.com again trying to look for more books pertaining to "this subject" but much to my dismay, this was the only book recommended. This book contains more on recommendations of terrarium inmates rather than cage construction.

Not about the cage about the animal
I bought the book being a person who loves zoos and was expecting it to cover the materials, chemicals, theorys, and design/setup of the cage and what plants to use with what lighting but none of the above really appeared in the book a completely misleading title and poor purchase.

More and less
For each setup, a lot of space devoted to different types of animals and each types general care. Would have liked to have more information on design ideas, construction tips, and maintenance of actual terrariums. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

My Review of "Turtles- Junior Pet Care"
The book "Turtles-Junior Pet Care" by Zuza Vrbova contained very helpful information for someone who is interested in getting a turtle or if they just want to learn more about turtles. I liked the book because it had all of the information needed about owning a turtle. I also liked the way the chapters were organized. Each chapter would lead into what the next chapter was about. Another thing I liked was the Table of Contents. It helped me find the major information that I needed, for example, "Feeding your land turtle" and "Chosing a water turtle." I thought the chapter that gave the most usefull information was "Feeding your land turtle" because it said what turtles liked and disliked. It also said what they were alergic to and what gives them a tummy ache. I would would recommend thisbook to anyone who wants to own a turtle. ... Read more

Product Description
How to buy and choose koi and how to feed them so that they grow well and their luster and colors are enhanced. ... Read more

Product Description
Information on choosing a turtle for a pet with instructions for caring for and feeding it. ... Read more

Product Description
Provides information about turtles and how to feed and care for, house and handle them, and keep them as pets. ... Read more

Product Description
Freshly updated with new photos, new data, and newly included species, this pictorial identification guide and basic husbandry manual covers more than 250 species, subspecies, and color morphs of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. The authors advise on what to look for when purchasing these animals and discuss proper caging and feeding. Each profile includes the animal's original natural habitat, its size from hatchling to adult, its lifespan, and its general behavior traits. The wide array of animals covered includes snakes, lizards, skinks, geckos, turtles and tortoises, frogs, toads, salamanders, tarantulas, scorpions, mantids, crabs--and even cockroaches. Hundreds of color illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

never received my order
I would like to review this book but it never arrived.
Have sent multiple emails to source but no success.

Bible for herpers
GREATEST book ever written for herpers. I call this my bible for reptile buying, keeping or just plain informational. So many uses and so quick for referencing a reptile before buying.

Pass on this book
Although I wasn't expecting much from this book beyond some quick simple information on various species, I was still dissappointed. The care information is poor in many cases when I compared it to several other expert sources. Basic care info is missing like temperature and humidity requirements. My main reason to get this book was for the photos and species identification and in some cases that was incorrect. For example the what is supposed to be a photo of a Forest Hinge-back Tortoise looks more like a Home's Hinge-back Tortoise [...] I can't recommend this book to anyone looking to provide good quailty care to their pet. Or to help identify a species. Pass on this book.

Great to Have if You Go to Reptile Shows
If you really like to go to reptile shows to get your pets, this book is really great to carry with you. It consists of numerous one page entries on individual species. It includes nearly all of the reptiles (including snakes) and amphibians that you would encounter in the pet trade. Although I wish it had more information on whether or not a certain animal was easy to handle or good for beginners/experts, etc, it's a good "shotgun" herp book to have since it details lots of different species not just a select few. So if you ever have wondered how long a long-tailed lizard gets when you are at your local herp show, you can easily look it up in this book.

Reptiles, Amphibians, and Invertebrates An Identification an
I liked nearly everything about this book. The format of one species per page with a high quality color photo made it wonderful to use.This info is for all the popular animals kept in captivity.The content of information was great, with one exception.I wish the temperature ranges for species were given, but the author directs the reader to other book titleswith this and more detailed information. ... Read more

Product Description
Written with a true completist approach, this book is a tour de forceaccount of the elegant Trans-Pecos Ratsnake of the Chihuahuan Desert.It is the first and only book ever written about the most divergent andbeautiful of all the many colubrid snake species of North America, the Desert Ratsnakes -- including the Trans-Pecos Ratsnake (Bogertophis subocularis) and their West Coast "cousin", the Baja California Ratsnake (Bogertophis rosaliae).  The Complete Suboc is a monograph ofthese beloved bug-eyed beauties of the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Hereis a sample of what is included:

• 288 full-color photos.
• 291 glossy pages of text.
• Range maps for all speciesand subspecies.
• Lengthy, detailed chapters on naturalhistory, captive history, choosing a Trans-Pecos Ratsnake, color andpattern morphs, geographic variation and localities, caging and housingrequirements, diseases, feeding, breeding, egg-laying, and incubation of eggs.
• Over one hundred full-color images displaying animals from more than 25different geographic localities, including specimens from Texas, New Mexico, Mexico, and representing all known color phases, with several rareimages of wild-caught Albinos, Axanthics, Green Blondes, and othervarieties.
• SPECIAL chapters on how to make exciting, zoo-quality naturalistic vivaria for Desert Ratsnakes, AND on providing zooenrichment methods for ratsnakes.
• BONUS chapter by award-winning authors, biologists, and snake breeders, David and Tracy Barker,detailing their special "no brumation" technique to breeding Trans-Pecos Ratsnakes -- an alternative breeding method sure to be a hit for thosewho do not or cannot hibernate their animals during the winter!
• A second BONUS chapter detailing the natural history, husbandry, captivecolor morphs, geographic variation, and breeding of all other species of North American ratsnakes unique west of the Pecos River, including Baja Ratsnakes (Bogertophis rosaliae), Baird's Ratsnakes (Pantherophis bairdi), and Western Green Ratsnakes (Senticolis triaspis). Over 41 pages in this chapter, alone.
  
• The first-ever color photos of the Trans-Pecos Ratsnake's onlysubspecies, the "Durango Suboc".
• An extensive 23-pagebibliography.
• "My Search for Subocularis",  a specialfield-herping chapter paying tribute to -- and in the style of -- thelegendary Carl F. Kauffeld.

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book for a great snake
I too was eagerly awaiting the completion of this book. It was certainly worth the wait. From the incredible wealth of knowledge to the beautiful photographs of every color and pattern of suboc you can imagine, this book is loaded. I can't tell you how many times I've opened it to get some quick advice or just to check out a particular locale or color morph. Of course, it's also a great read cover to cover.

If you keep subocs, like subocs or plan on keeping subocs, this book is for you. It's also reasonably priced considering the high-quality printing.

Something for anyone interested in Trans-pecos Rat Snakes.
This book is thoroughly enjoyable for anyone interested in Trans-pecos Rat Snakes.
It is easy reading and combines information for three major target audiences, whose concerns are usually addressed independently:
· Hobbyist concerns.
· Field herping concerns.
· Herpetological (taxonomic, physiologic, etc.) concerns.

This author has a friendly, "down to earth" discussion type style of delivery that gives you the impression that he is sitting right there with you. The author seems to be talking with you and not at you.
It seems I needed such a book 26 years ago when I kept my first Trans-Pecos Rat Snake. I would not have made as many catastrophic mistakes since then, had this book been available!

The Complete Suboc: A Comprehensive Guide to the Natural History, Care, and Breeding of the Trans-Pecos Ratsnake
After months of anticipation, I finally received my advance copy of Dusty Rhoads' The Complete Suboc: A Comprehensive Guide to the Natural History, Care, and Breeding of the Trans-Pecos Ratsnake.When my wife brought the mail in, I immediately opened the package and I was impressed with the book at first sight.Unlike many of today's paperback publications, The Complete Suboc was a nice sturdy hardbound text with a beautifully done dust jacket. But that was just the eye-candy to tease the reader with.What about the meat of the book?What did the inside really have to offer?

I sat down and spent the next four hours until dinner digging into the book.The more I read, the more I was hooked on it.After dinner, I again picked the book up and retired to my office/herp room and picked up where I had left off.Bedtime rolled around and instead of turning in, I continued to read and I read until 4:30 AM when I finished the book and finally hit the sack.Thankfully, I did not have to get up early the following morning.

If you have any interest at all in Trans-Pecos Ratsnakes or in the herps of the American Southwest, including the other species of ratsnakes native to this region of the country, you will enjoy this book.If you keep or breed the Trans-Pecos Ratsnake or any of the other southwestern ratsnakes you will find this book most useful, if not essential.

The book's 300 pages are crammed full of information and personal experiences. Oh, and did I mention the range maps and the some 288 full-color photographs by a cadre of well-known herpers and photographers.

The author devotes the first 30 pages to the natural history of the Trans-Pecos Ratsnake and then discusses the species history from back when it was first described by Arthur ErwinBrown, Director of the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens in 1901.Coluber subocularis, as it was originally known remained known from only a handful of specimens for the next several decades and was considered one of the country's rarest snakes.The State of Texas protected them from 1977 until 1987 when naturalists and herpetologists we able to show that they were actually one of the more common snakes within their range.

The book discusses how to choose a Trans-Pecos Ratsnake and describes the many color and pattern morphs of the species.Localities and races of the "Suboc" are also discussed in some detail.There are detailed discussions relating to basic caging and housing requirements for captives, the use of naturalistic vivaria, along with discussions about feeding, breeding, oviposition, and incubation of Suboc eggs.There is also a Bonus Chapter on reproductive husbandry written by David G. Barker and Tracy M. Barker.

Another chapter deals with the common diseases and disorders of the Trans-Pecos Ratsnake.A second Bonus Chapter, which actually could have stood alone as a work of its own, discusses the other ratsnakes of the American Southwest in some detail...the Baja Ratsnake, Baird's Ratsnake, and the Western Green Ratsnake.

In Appendix A, the author uses the style of the late Carl Kauffeld to describe his own search for subocularis in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas.

The book concludes with 16 pages of recommended reading and 8 pages of cited texts.

With the publication of The Complete Suboc: A Comprehensive Guide to the Natural History, Care, and Breeding of the Trans-Pecos Ratsnake author Dusty Rhoads has firmly established himself as one of the leading experts on Bogertophis subocularis.

On a rating scale of "1" to "5"I give the book a resounding "5".Job well done, Dusty!

Gerald Keown
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
... Read more

Product Description
The newest in Animal Planet s family-friendly pet care series, Hermit Crabs provides concise yet complete coverage of important crab care topics such as feeding, housing, and selecting shells. Using full-color photos and tip boxes that highlight essential topics, this book encompasses all the basics of hermit crab care and shows why these unique and exotic creatures are the perfect low-maintenance pet. ... Read more

Product Description
Many people believe that chameleons change their colors to blend in with their surroundings. They are part right. Chameleons are nature squick-changeartists. They can change their colors within a few moments. These color changes don t have anything to do with their surroundings. Chameleons change colors either to express their feelings or to help control the amount of heat they receive. This ability to change colors is only one of the things that make chameleons so interesting. Because they are so interesting, many people like chameleons and keep them as pets. Perhaps you can too. This book gives you lots of information about chameleons and what you need to do keep them as a pet. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Francois Le Berre's The New Chameleon Handbook is a must for the chameleon owner. Accompanied by more than 100 full-color photos and drawings, Le Berre's discussion of the chameleon is divided into 14 sections, ranging from such topics as physiology and behavior to the ideal terrarium, nutrition, and health and medical aspects. With "facts and advice to help you maintain healthy, active chameleons," The New Chameleon Handbook will make you and your chameleon very happy indeed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Good Info/Bad Info
I'm sorry, but I just had to counter the 5 star reviews for this book. Yes, there is a lot of good information and pictures, but there are far too many short-comings for this to be a reliable source. As another reviewer pointed out, Le Berre NEVER refers to species by their common name, only scientific name. This is very confusing for the beginner and beyond...you will need to go through and write all the common names down so you know what species he's referring to. Additionally, he rarely ever tells you the size of any of the chameleons. Considering chameleons range from 1 inch to 30 inches or so, this is an extremely important fact when considering species and housing needs.

He also rates each species on a scale of Beginner/Intermediate/Advances. However, Le Berre isn't quite clear as to the criteria he is using for this rating system, or explicit as to why a particular species is more difficult. He seems to possibly include difficulty of breeding into the equation, which I could not care less about, since I don't intend to breed. For example, he lists the Montium as being an "Advanced" species, but says it has similar needs to the Quadricornis, which he lists as being for "Beginners". I'm confused.

However, the biggest faux pas by far is Le Berre's suggestion of using a glass terrarium to house your chameleons! There is not a single reliable chameleon authority out there who suggests this (except for possibly babies/and certain pygmy species) and in fact pretty much EVERYONE else cautions that this is the worst possible idea and will probably lead to illness/death. Not only is glass conducive to stagnant air and bacterial growth, chameleons can often see their reflection in the glass, causing major stress (thinking it's a rival chameleon). They can also injure their tongues on the hard glass which can lead to serious eating issues.

It is unfortunate that these issues exist with this book because there are some excellent parts to it. If you do buy it, be sure to supplement it with others. The most complete guide out there seems to be the Linda Davison book. Check that out as well as the dozens of excellent websites that will give you better and complimentary information.

This is "THE BOOK"
What you need to know about chameleons is in this book! I enjoyed reading it and learning everything about this little creature. From it's history and evolution, to it's anatomy and manerisms. What I really wanted was abook which explained how to care for the chameleon and I picked the rightone.Francois LeBerre makes me feel comfortable caring for the chameleon.The size of the book is good for handling and storing. The print is largeand clear, easy to read and the pictures are messmerizing. When I browsedthrough other books on the topic, they seemed like a joke compared to thisinformative publication! I recommend this to beginners (which I am) becauseyou'll feel like an expert (LeBerre) when you're done. Enjoy!!!

it was great
The book gave me a lot of information and it had a lot of grate pictures.The book is easy to understand and they tell alot of info.

Best book on chameleons
My name is Nobu, I am from Japan. Here in Japan, Francois Le Berre is famous for his work on chameleons, this book is the best I have ever read on my favourite animals. Some Japanese publishers have found the picturesso good that they have been using them in some of the japanese magazinestoo. The information is very complete and the pictures astonishing, I amlooking forward for Francois Le Berre's next book. He is unsurpassed andreally is the Master of Chameleons!

This IS a good book, but can be improved.
In light of the two previous reviews, I felt compelled to add my own thoughts. It is a very good book, but lacks some information I think is essential for the beginner. The author makes little or no reference to common names of the organisms (where a common name is ascribed). This would make it difficult for the typical beginner to relate the scientific name of the organism with the common name that is usually available at the site of purchase. The author also fails to give adequate information regarding the size attained for a full grown adult specimen. This is especially important when a budding herptologist decides to embark on caring for a "beginners" specimen, but is not told that the animal will be two feet long as an adult. Thiscan be critical when one is designing a habitat.It is not at all uncommon to see beginners think of these wonderful animals as being "small and cute", when in fact many of the easiest to care for become quite large. That being said, LeBerre has certainly prepared an excellent guide, and the photos are wonderful. It is the best book out there for the layman, and does in fact rate five stars. ... Read more