Re: Books?

[Erik Olson <eriko@wrq.com>]

Ah, I hadn't even considered some of these. Some annotations. :)

On Fri, 12 Sep 1997, Darren J. Hanson wrote:
> 
> In the back of The Apisto-Gram (The Official Newsletter for the Apistogramma
> Study Group) there is a page of 'Books for the Dwarf Cichlid Enthusiast'.
> Here is the list it may help.
> 
> 1.  The Cichlid Aquarium
>         1985, Paul V. Loiselle, Tetra Press

Not too useful once you get into the grit of Apistos, but a great general
cichlid book. This was the first one I bought and read cover-to-cover
several times before starting my first cichlid tank.

> 2.  Dwarf Cichlids
>         1988, Jorge vierke, T.F.H. Publications

Kurt Zadnik said at a talk I videotaped "The first dwarf book, and for a
while, the definitive one. A little out of date now."  I'm assuming the
1988 date is a reprint? 

> 3.  Complete Book of Dwarf Cichlids
>         1989, Hans - Joachim Richter

I have this book.  It's big in format and has lots of photos, and some
neat color drawings I see lifted from time to time (Aqualog seems to 
have used them in their introductary section).  I kinda despise it for
its mis-id'd fish, lack of particularly good information, and that they
consider convicts to be a dwarf cichlid. :)

> 4.  Amerikanische Cichliden 1
>         Kleine Buntbarsche, 1984, Linke, Horst & Staeck, Tetra Verlag

Out of date reference, this has been translated as "American Cichlids I:
Dwarf Cichlids".  Annotated in my last post... BUY THIS BOOK.

> 5.  Die Zwergcichliden Sudamerikas
>         1982, Schmettkamp, W., Landbuch - Verlag

Out of print.  Mike wise has a translation if you have the book.

> 6.  Die Buntbarsche Der Neuen Welt - Zwergcichliden
>         1992, Koslowski

Supposedly out of print as well.  Same deal with Mike Wise.  Someone on
this list said it goes into the evolutionary relationships between species
like no other... I want this book.  If anyone knows where it can be
located, drop me a line! 

> 7.  The Optimum Aquarium
>         1986, Horst & Kipper, AD aquadocumenta - Verlag

No info on apistos, or cichlids at all, but rather how to keep a high-tech
Dupla-style planted tank.

> 8.  The Cichlids of Surinam
>         Kullander & Nijssen

Hmm... This sounds most intriguing... anyone care to annotate this one?

> 9.  The Cichlid Aquarium
>         Revised 1994, Dr. P.V. Loiselle, Tetra Press

Twice as many photographs as the first printing!

> 10. Tetra's Popular Guide To Tropical Cichlids
>         1994, David Sands, Dr. Paul Loiselle, Dr. Wayne Leibel, Tetra Press

Have not seen this one.  Good authors. :)

> 11. The Biotope Aquarium
>         1993, Rainer Stawikowski, T.F.H. Publications

I *think* this is the book where they present ten or so tank setups, each
with a different biotope in mind (plants, fish, rocks, water, other
decorations). 

> 12. African Cichlids I
>         Cichlids From West Africa, 1994, Linke & Staeck, Tetra Press

Excellent reference (perhaps the only good one right now) for the riverine
dwarf cichlids.  Has all the zillion color forms of Pelvicachromis
taeniatus.  BUY THIS ONE too.

> 13. African Cichlids II
>         Cichlids From East Africa, 1994, Linke & Staeck, Tetra Press

For some reason, people I know don't consider this one as up to par as a
reference on the rift lake cichlids, so it doesn't get bought along with
the other two Linke & Staek books.

> 14. Dwarf Cichlids
>         1994, Tetra Press, Author unknown at this time.

Perhaps this is referring to Linke & Staek's translated version.  

> 15. South American Cichlids II
>         1996, Ulrich Glaser Sen., Wolfgang Glaser, Verlag A.C.S. GmbH, 	Germany

This is the "Aqualog" book we keep referring to.  If you've never seen
this book, think of an Axelrod atlas that has nothing but apistos and
other south american dwarfs.  OK, now imagine the id's are somewhat
better, :) and it's softcover and about 100 pages long.  This is your best
bet in finding a picture of an apisto.

I just did this so I can add it to my little archive; I wish I'd known
some of these things before I bought HJ Richter's (kinda expensive) book,
for instance.  Anyone else like to make additional comments on books, I'll
add them too. 

   - Erik

- ---
Erik D. Olson					         amazingly, at home
eriko@wrq.com