The Complete Idiot's Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians

If you're considering purchasing a reptile or amphibian pet, get this book first, and read it. The author instructs both on reptile and amphibian husbandry basics, as well as provides a LOT of good information which will help you decide if a herp pet is right for you. The species specific sections are more of an overview and mostly useful for helping the reader decide what kind of reptile/amphibian pet is right for them; a book specific to the chosen species (such as the VMS Herpetological Libray Series) should be chosen to complement this, as the care information is too brief to be an exclusive source.