Goldfish, Keeping and Breeding

this book was very helpful. Easy to find what you need to know, good photos. Extremely practical for goldfish owners or wannabes

An overview of goldfish and their needs for beginners, Spencer Glass' slim volume is written in a relaxed and sometimes amusing style, and gives one some of the basics for keeping goldfish healthy and happy. Though not a thorough guidebook, it is better than some other books I've seen, and has enough information to get one going and not make mistakes that could harm or kill your fish. As he states in the introduction, "The purpose of this book is not to turn you into a goldfish expert," but give one a start, and as a primer, it is quite good. Mr. Glass briefly describes 1: Natural History, and how goldfish became goldfish. 2: Keeping Goldfish, with all the proper and necessary equipment. 3: Water Quality and "new tank syndrome." 4: Feeding, and the dangers of overfeeding. 5: Goldfish Diseases, and the dreaded Ichthyophthirius. 6: Pondkeeping, with 2 photos of huge koi. 7: Varieties of Goldfish, with many nice photos, and 8, a short half page on breeding, which of course, if you intended to do, would take a lot more information. Like many before me have, I started out foolishly buying a gallon-sized bowl, and placing 4 tiny comet goldfish in it. 3 of them almost immediately went to fish heaven, and the fourth stayed at the bottom of the bowl, hardly moving. With the help of this book and some internet surfing, I have learned a lot in a short time, and that one surviving goldfish is now twice the size, a delight to watch, in a good sized tank with proper water conditions, and with a pretty companion fantail. Goldfish are intelligent creatures, and can be lively, aesthetically pleasing additions to the family and home.

This book provides excelent information in a very easy to understand and entertaining ways to those who wants to start their hoby with goldfish.

The goldfish photos are exceptional. The book gives a good history and origin of each goldfish. I expected to find a section on breeding goldfish, but it was nowhere in the book. The book is worth having thought because of the high quality and beautiful photos of the Lionheads, Ranchus, and Ryukins. (Thai Tran, reviewed on November 1998)