Book Review 1 : Die Hechtlinge, by Dr Werner Neumann

[stormhawk]

Hi all,

This will be the first in a series of book reviews that I will do for all the killifish publications that I have at home right now. I'm starting off with this book that I newly acquired (thanks to Poh San's help ) as it deals with a group of under-appreciated killifishes, namely the Epiplatys, Aplocheilus and Pachypanchax species.

Book Details:

Title: Die Hechtlinge (Pike-like Killies), Science and Practice
Author: Dr Werner Neumann

First of all, this book was written originally in German as a supplement for the DKG Journal. Thanks to Edd Kray, it was finally translated into English for the AKA and subsequently for release to other parties.

Review:

This book is packed with colour pictures, drawings and location maps of these species and their subspecies. Each species or subspecies entry is given with as much detail as to habitat, ecology and even breeding notes if any. It deals with all species in the following genus:

Epiplatys, Pseudepiplatys, Episemion, Pachypanchax and Aplocheilus

I consider this an indispensable book for anyone who's serious about killies. Even if they're not Epiplatys fans, they're missing out on a very good publication. Its a very well-made book and well worth the price that its going for.

The diagrams in the book are easy to read and understand. They would be very good in helping to identify unknown imports via the commercial trade and even those within the hobby.

Conclusion? Go get yourself a copy of this book if you still haven't got one yet.

Shown below is an image of the book's cover page. If you look closely the title says Eierlegende Zahnkarpfen but the original title in German was Die Hechtlinge.

[Al Baldwin]

The book is available from the AKA online store for $13.50 USD for US and $15.50 USD for the rest of the world. The prices include postage.

http://www.aka.org

[keehoe]

According to my fishing buddy. Some of the fishes mention in the book can be found in Singapore naturally.

According to him, some restricted blackish water area of Singapore has fishes this colourful. They are not fish keeper. So had never spend enough time study/ breed them.

[stormhawk]

Kee Hoe,

I think what your friends saw was the common panchax Aplocheilus panchax or the introduced Aplocheilus lineatus from India. We certainly do not have any Epiplatys in this region.

By the way, I realised that you have two user accounts. Please restrict yourself to use just one user account. Multiple accounts are liable to be deleted. I hope you understand.