Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is the Completely Illustrated Atlas of Reptiles and Amphibians for the Terrarium really worth buying? You know, that famous big red textbook about all the herps you can possibly keep (although I bet it is short on a few anoles and maybe some geckos), written in 1989, but in Germany, where the herp trade is about ten years ahead of America.

Yeah, I think so. I have a copy and before that I used to check it out regularly from my university library and then keep it until it was recalled then check it out again. It's a fantastic book, unlike most stuff printed by TFH, and that's because it's a translation and not something their writers put together. The stamp of TFH comes in how many photos and other miscellany they crammed into the book which is apparently not found in the original European version. Oh well, still a great book to have simply because it does contain virtually everything ever kept in captivity. Some taxonomy is starting to get dated though and TFH is not likely to issue newer editions.

Matt Campbell

Thanks, but does it cover odd things, like Uroplatus and rare anoles?