Review: PocketExpert Guide: Marine Invertebrates by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D.

[kwirky]

An excellent compilation of various reef invertebrates. It is comprehensive in alerting the aquarist to species best avoided due to either care requirements, or community tank compatibility. It isn't exact in it's listings, but it is comprehensive for it's small size.

The author covers a myriad of species, along with his own favorites, including snails, bristleworms and fanworms/featherdusters. It gives a heartfelt introduction to snails, recognizing them as "the most commonly kept and badly mistreated animals in the reef hobby," and identifies bristleworms as a valuable, and often looked over scavenger of the reef aquarium. He also recognizes the beauty of feather dusters, and alerts the aquarium hobbyist to some of the species' difficult husbandry requirements.

The cnidarian (coral/anemone) section is comprehensive, but uses too general of words for lighting and water flow requirements. It uses terms such as "bright lighting" or "medium flow," never giving the reader the author's view on what "bright lighting" and "medium flow" really is. It lists both toadstool soft corals and acropora SPS corals as requiring "bright lighting." It doesn't replace a book specializing on corals, but is a great place to start for those new to the hobby.

It's a comprehensive book in a great size that's easy to leave in the car's glove compartment or stash in a pocket and have handy when one heads out for an "impulse" purchases at the fish store.

Overall, it's an invaluable addition to anyone's aquarium book library, and it's unique size, despite it's comprehensive information, will make it a well used book for anyone.

5/5