Books About American Cichlids

The second of two Baensch Atlases that cover South American Dwarf Cichlids, this volume will appeal largely to the advanced aquarist who is looking for a definitive work on Apistogrammas. Originally written in German it suffers a bit in the English translation, but is still a worthwhile reference book. However, keep in mind that this is a reference book rather than a practical use fish-keeping type of publication. For that reason, as well as the fairly steep price, I would not recommend it for most fish owners. This is definitely a niche book that will be best appreciated by the Apisto enthusiast.

Publish Date: 2006
Author(s): Uwe Romer
Publisher: Mergus Verlag GmbH.; 1st. edition
Hardcover: 1320 pages

This is an additional publication that covers the Apistogrammas that were not in the 1996 publication, AQUALOG: South American Cichlids II. Although it does not cover care information, it does have splendid photos which aide in species identification. For the Dwarf Cichlid aficionado, it is a good reference book.

Publish Date: 2005
Author(s): Dieter Bork
Publisher: Hollywood Import & Export, Inc.
Paperback: 48 pages

The first, and in my opinion, the best of the two Baensch Cichlid Atlases published. This volume covers every Apistogramma species known at the time the book was written. It's packed with a wealth of information about care and breeding, as well as factors determining sex ratios. The author has first hand experience with hundreds of spawns under controlled conditions, encompassing dozens of different species of Apistogrammas. Unfortunately, due to the small number of copies published and the reported loss of many of those copies in a fire, it is difficult to find an English version. Keep your feelers out at the various used books sellers, and eventually you'll find a copy.

Publish Date: 2001
Author(s): Uwe Romer
Publisher: Mergus Verlag
Hardcover: 1310 pages

Addressing the most commonly available Central American Cichlid species, this book covers all the basics of their care and breeding. A decent book for beginners, but you can also find much of this information in a general cichlid book, so shop around for an inexpensive used copy

Publish Date: 2001
Author(s): Richard F. Stratton
Publisher: TFH Publications
Paperback: 64 pages

This is one of those older is sometimes better types of books. It covers all the fish at the time it was published, which means newer discoveries and taxonomy changes are not reflected in this book. However, it has excellent photos and information about about habitat and care of Dwarf Cichlids. I have it in my library and recommend it for yours. As with all books, if price is an issue, do some shopping around to see if you can find a used copy.

Publish Date: 1996
Author(s): Dieter Bork, Hans J. Mayland
Publisher: Hollywood Import & Export Inc.; 1 edition
Hardcover: 190 pages

The second of four Aqualog publications in a series about South American Cichlids. This volume focuses on the dwarfs, and includes photos of all dwarf species that were identified at the time of publication. The book is somewhat outdated due to name changes, but one of the benefits of Aqualog series is that you receive update stickers that can be placed in the book to keep it more current For the Dwarf Cichlid owner or lover, this is a good publication for your library, particularly for the reasonable price. One thing to keep in mind about Aqualogs, if you purchase a new publication the update stickers are free. When purchasing a used version, you have to hope the updates are already applied, as you will not receive free ones.

Publish Date: 1996
Author(s): Ulrich Glaser, Wolfgang Glaser
Publisher: Aquaristik - Consulting & Service GmbH; 1 edition
Paperback: 112 pages

Publish Date: 1996 Number 3 in the Aqualog series about South American Cichlids. This volume focuses on the cichlids of South and Central America, with the exception of Discus and Angels, which are covered in the fourth volume. Due to the age of this publication, there are quite a few species that have undergone name changes, while other species are missing entirely. However, it is a good reference that is relatively inexpensive (particularly a used copy).

Publish Date: 1996
Author(s): Ulrich Glaser, Wolfgang Glaser, Frank Schaefer
Publisher: Hollywood Import & Export Inc.; 1 edition
Paperback: 144 pages

This is another older publication about Dwarf Cichlids, but is written by well respected German authors Horst Linke and Wolfgang Staeck. The book covers tank setup, care, breeding and general identification of the various species. Maps are used to visually indicate where the species originate from. I have a copy and have used it regularly over the years. Used copies are under twenty dollars, and are worth having.

Publish Date: 1995
Author(s): Horst Linke, Wolfgang Staeck
Publisher: Tetra Press
Hardcover: 232 pages

This book compliments the first Tetra Press book "Dwarf Cichlids", by covering the larger American Cichlids. It is an older publication, but does contain a lot of good information. Do not pay a huge price for a new one, instead do some searching for a used volume. I've seen them used for as low as twenty five dollars

Publish Date: 1995
Author(s): Horst Linke, Wolfgang Staeck
Publisher: Tetra Press
Hardcover: 200 pages

An older, and rather outdated, book about Dwarf Cichlids written by Hans-Joachim Richter. Despite its age, this is a visually stunning book that does cover quite a few species. In addition to outstanding photos, it includes distribution maps as well as care and breeding information. Used copies are inexpensive, making it quite feasible to add this to your library for a very small investment.

Publish Date: 1989
Author(s): Hans-Joachim Richter
Publisher: Tfh Pubns Inc; First Edition edition
Hardcover: 208 pages