The Handbook of Fish Diseases authored by Dieter Untergasser has much in common with German engineered cars - it is solidly designed and executed. In my estimation it is one of the best reference books on aquarium fish disease that the home hobbyist can get. From the easy to follow diagnosis flowcharts, to the disease descriptions, to the treatment options, this book covers the full range of information that the beginner or expert fish keeper needs.
Well Organized
Dieter Untergasser has shown both superb organizational skills and excellent photographic ability in putting together his handbook. The book begins with a flowchart, which can be used to trace symptoms to possible diseases and ultimately to treatment options. Disease and treatment sections are numbered for ease of location, and contain more than enough information to both determine the disease and the proper course of treatment.
Sandwiched between the flowchart, disease, and treatment pages is a chapter on recognizing and preventing disease, as well as a chapter on fish anatomy. The anatomy chapter is geared for performing a dissection (aka: necropsy), and is primarily of interest to those who want more a in-depth understanding of the inner workings of a fish. Vet techs, science students and anyone who liked dissecting frogs in school, will find this chapter fascinating.
The chapter on recognizing and preventing disease is recommended reading for all aquarium owners. Included is a section explaining how to humanely euthanize fish, something I've rarely seen addressed in print. Had I been the author, I would have placed that chapter at the beginning of the book. Interestingly enough, many reviews of this book make no mention of this chapter, which leads me to believe it is often missed by readers.
Dieter Untergasser has shown both superb organizational skills and excellent photographic ability in putting together his handbook. The book begins with a flowchart, which can be used to trace symptoms to possible diseases and ultimately to treatment options. Disease and treatment sections are numbered for ease of location, and contain more than enough information to both determine the disease and the proper course of treatment.
Sandwiched between the flowchart, disease, and treatment pages is a chapter on recognizing and preventing disease, as well as a chapter on fish anatomy. The anatomy chapter is geared for performing a dissection (aka: necropsy), and is primarily of interest to those who want more a in-depth understanding of the inner workings of a fish. Vet techs, science students and anyone who liked dissecting frogs in school, will find this chapter fascinating.
The chapter on recognizing and preventing disease is recommended reading for all aquarium owners. Included is a section explaining how to humanely euthanize fish, something I've rarely seen addressed in print. Had I been the author, I would have placed that chapter at the beginning of the book. Interestingly enough, many reviews of this book make no mention of this chapter, which leads me to believe it is often missed by readers.
Flow Charts
Quite a few books present flowcharts for diagnosing disease, but this one is the most detailed one I've seen. It encompasses 46 pages that are packed with information and photos. The chart is broken into groups based on the physical part of the fish where the symptom(s) appears. Although some reviews cite it as cumbersome, I found it to be well organized and highly detailed.
Included in the flowcharts are: behavior changes, locomotion changes, physical changes, coloration changes, skin, fins, gills, and feces, to name a few. Once you follow the symptoms to a possible disease, the chapter number and section is listed so you can jump directly to specific information instead of have to rummage through the index to find where it is. The same is true for the treatment options.
Disease Chapters
Diseases themselves are ordered by Viral and Bacterial Diseases, Fungal and Algal Diseases, Pathogenic Protozoa, Worm Diseases, Arthropods, and Diseases Not Caused by Specific Pathogenic Organisms. The reader need not know anything about these diseases, as the flowcharts will direct the reader to the correct chapter based on the symptoms the fish displays. However, for those who are studying fish disease, having diseases separated by chapters allows the student to browse specific types of diseases at their leisure.
Quite a few books present flowcharts for diagnosing disease, but this one is the most detailed one I've seen. It encompasses 46 pages that are packed with information and photos. The chart is broken into groups based on the physical part of the fish where the symptom(s) appears. Although some reviews cite it as cumbersome, I found it to be well organized and highly detailed.
Included in the flowcharts are: behavior changes, locomotion changes, physical changes, coloration changes, skin, fins, gills, and feces, to name a few. Once you follow the symptoms to a possible disease, the chapter number and section is listed so you can jump directly to specific information instead of have to rummage through the index to find where it is. The same is true for the treatment options.
Disease Chapters
Diseases themselves are ordered by Viral and Bacterial Diseases, Fungal and Algal Diseases, Pathogenic Protozoa, Worm Diseases, Arthropods, and Diseases Not Caused by Specific Pathogenic Organisms. The reader need not know anything about these diseases, as the flowcharts will direct the reader to the correct chapter based on the symptoms the fish displays. However, for those who are studying fish disease, having diseases separated by chapters allows the student to browse specific types of diseases at their leisure.
Students will also enjoy the wealth of microscopic images of various organisms. There is also a chapter dedicated to Microscopy that gives detailed instruction for taking photographs using attachments to the microscope. Although the information is somewhat dated, it is still useful.
Treatment Information
The treatment chapter addresses how to mix and administer drugs, baths, and dips. Each method of treatment is given a letter and number designation, which is referenced in the disease section. Use, dosage, duration and and precautions needed are included for each method.
In addition to the treatment methods, there is also a Pharmacology section. This section includes the chemical name as well as alternate names, what it is used for, composition, and where it can be purchased. I have not seen any other publications that contain this type of information.
Treatment Information
The treatment chapter addresses how to mix and administer drugs, baths, and dips. Each method of treatment is given a letter and number designation, which is referenced in the disease section. Use, dosage, duration and and precautions needed are included for each method.
In addition to the treatment methods, there is also a Pharmacology section. This section includes the chemical name as well as alternate names, what it is used for, composition, and where it can be purchased. I have not seen any other publications that contain this type of information.
Beginner and Expert Appeal
Although this book contains a lot of information for the more serious hobbyist, it is still quite useful for the beginner who is seeking help in diagnosing and treating disease. Professionals will find the sections on diagnostic procedures such as dissections and microscopic examinations useful when nailing down a difficult diagnosis before a large inventory of fish are affected. Although the book was originally written recommending drugs available in Germany, Dr. Herbert Axelrod has substituted drugs that are available in the United States. He has even included the names and addresses of pharmaceutical companies that carry them.
This book is a valuable resource for anyone who keeps aquarium fish. Although other good books are on the market, this is the most comprehensive one available on the topic of disease diagnosis and treatment. It compares well to publications that cost I highly recommend it.
Although this book contains a lot of information for the more serious hobbyist, it is still quite useful for the beginner who is seeking help in diagnosing and treating disease. Professionals will find the sections on diagnostic procedures such as dissections and microscopic examinations useful when nailing down a difficult diagnosis before a large inventory of fish are affected. Although the book was originally written recommending drugs available in Germany, Dr. Herbert Axelrod has substituted drugs that are available in the United States. He has even included the names and addresses of pharmaceutical companies that carry them.
This book is a valuable resource for anyone who keeps aquarium fish. Although other good books are on the market, this is the most comprehensive one available on the topic of disease diagnosis and treatment. It compares well to publications that cost I highly recommend it.
