The Most Complete Colored Lexicon of Cichlids: Every Known Cichlid Illustrated in Color

By Herbert R. Axelrod

It was the author's dream in 1952 to collect specimens and photographs of every cichlid that existed in nature. Now, in 1993, he realizes that he may not be able to complete the project, so he decides... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0793800269
• ISBN13: 9780793800261
• Release Date: December 1996
• Publisher: Tfh Pubns Inc
• Length: 864 Pages
• Weight: 9.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 12.8" x 2.3" x 9.8"

Customer Reviews

A good resource for the cichlid lover.

I have to admit I was a bit disappointed when I got this book. It wasn't that the book wasn't good, but it simply wasn't incredible, which is what I expected.The book does a good job of describing the major families of cichlids. Detail is provided about where they come from, what the environment there is like, and general information about the temperment of that family of fish.Unfortunately there isn't always details about each individual fish. The book provides a color picture of most fish, although the quaility is sometimes lacking. Unfortunately many fish are featured with only a color drawing, which in my opinion simply doesn't do the fish justice.This is definetely a great gift for the cichlidiot!

An important book for the cichlid specialist

I purchased the first edition of this book as soon as it was available. It contains photos and drawings of as many cichlid species as possible. It attempts better than any other book to include every known cichlid. If you have purchased a cichlid species and want to identify it or confirm the name you purchased it under, this book is useful. There is a wealth of information on the hobby history of species and husbandry information on some. General information from introductory books about cichlids is seldom repeated here. There are species covered that have not been bred, or even never imported as aquarium subjects. Information will of course be sparse. Well known information about common species is omitted, but little-known information is here . If you will have only one cichlid book in your library, and want basic information, this is not that book. If you want several cichlid books, this should be one of them. And of course if you want the one book with the most cichlid pictures and the most cichlid listings, THIS IS IT. I enjoy Dr. Axelrod's observations and opinions. I've read a number of books and magazine articles by him, and you may have to reread and read other works of his to appreciate them fully. Dr. Axelrod has been very influential in the development and directions the aquarium hobby has taken since the fifties. I would give this book another star, but the first edition which I have is already missing some newly imported species and there are some cichlid photos I'd like to see replaced . That's probably not fair of me since there will always (I hope) be new species introduced to the hobby and better photos taken. If you want a good introductory book, I suggest THE CICHLID AQUARIUM by Dr. Paul Loiselle. I prefer the organization and index of the first edition of Dr. Loiselle's book, but either one is a find for the new cichlid enthusiast.