Manual of Fish Health

Everything You Need to Know About Aquarium Fish, Their Environment and Disease Prevention
By Chris Andrews - Firefly Books Ltd. (2003)

The title for Manual of Fish Health is accurate but just seems to diminish what is actually included in this excellent manual. The anatomy of fish is first introduced giving you a solid understanding of what makes a fish a fish. Water topics are presented in an easy to understand way and will expose you to the most important water parameters that you will need to monitor. The last half of this book is devoted to fish diseases and pests. External disease or pest symptoms are presented in the form of full color photos and the treatment and control of each disease is given.

Topics Covered:

The Balance of Health - Talks about the responsibility that aquarists must accept in order to provide the optimal environment for the fish they keep. Fish and many disease pathogens often exist in the same environment and environmental changes can often trigger problems. Fish stress and the role it plays in the onset of disease is also discussed.
Living in Water - A very detailed chapter that covers the anatomy of fish and the different types and forms of fish. Topics include fish body shape, the vital senses such as sight, sound, smell, taste and electroreception. The cardiovascular system and nutrition requirements such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals as well as metabolism are presented. You will learn how freshwater and saltwater fish differ in their osmoregulation systems and how fish respire (very detailed). An explanation of the immune system and what happens with the internal organs of fish when disease pathogens are introduced.
Understanding Water Chemistry - You're going to learn everything you ever want to know about water in this chapter. pH, water temperature, acidity, alkalinity, water hardness, salinity, carbon dioxide, oxygen, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, chlorine, chloramine, pesticides and other metals. You will also learn how to control all of these parameters.
Planning for Health - This chapter presents ideas on how best to approach keeping fish in the home aquarium. Stocking levels, compatibility issues, filtration, aeration, circulation and quarantine are all discussed at length.
Recognizing Ill-Health - This is a primer on how to recoginize problems in your fish and determining whether they are acute (quickly forming) or chronic (slowly forming) problems. Tips on making a diagnosis are given as well as laboratory preparation which is probably beyond the scope of your average home aquarist.
An A-Z of Common Pests and Diseases - This was the main reason for us purchasing this book and we were not disappointed. Each disease or "pest" includes a color photo, what causes it, symptoms, treatment and control. Hopefully this part of the book will give you the confidence needed in accurately diagnosing and treating whatever ails your fish.
A Guide to Treatment - The final chapter gives tips, ideas and hints on how to approach the treatment of your diseased or affected fish. Treatments for algae, bacteria, fungi, external parasites, internal parasites and a note on treating snail infestations.

The Manual of Fish Health will make an excellent resource for any hobbyist, beginner or advanced. Get this book, you'll be glad you did. We give this book 4.5 stars

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