Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my birthday is approaching and i was trying to decide on a few useful books to add to my collection.. i am looking for the best identification guides (to exotics and native herps) and something that identifies diseases and illnesses of reptiles and amphibians...

so far my list includes

1. A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Eastern & Central North America (Peterson Field Guide Series) (Paperback)

2. The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians (Turtleback)

3. Firefly Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians (Hardcover)

4. Completely Illustrated Atlas of Reptiles and Amphibians for the Terrarium (Hardcover

and if i can convince someone to spend the money

Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry book by Wright and Whitaker

any comments on these books or other literature that you have found useful? greatly appreciated!!
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my pets: clown treefrogs, reed frogs, big eyed treefrogs, tiger leg monkey frogs, gray treefrogs, milk frogs, cuban treefrogs, whites tree frog, green treefrogs, squirrel treefrogs, blue webbed gliding treefrog, chameleon treefrogs?, dusky salamanders, tiger salamander, veiled chameleon, box turtles, mud turtle, map turtle, yellowbelly slider, florida softshell, two saltwater tanks, four cats, two chinchillas, and a boyfriend.

Unfortunately, I find too many of the books on the captive care of reptiles and amphibians should be included in the "Total Crap" category. Although I certainly haven't read them all, I've yet to find a book on captive care to recommend.

The Peterson Field guide is the Bible for herpetologists, unfortunately it is a little outdated when it comes to the taxonomy.

Contrary to what you may think, the national Audubon Field guides are practically worthless, including multiple pictures of one species and no pictures of another common species. I bought one a long time ago and had to give it away!

The Firefly Encyclopedia is decent, especially if you want to concentrate on non-North American species.

The Atlas you mentioned is ridiculously old (1988) and is made by the king of all Total Crap publishers, the now out of business TFH.

I can't say enough good things about the Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry book, although its usefulness will be dictated by your level of knowledge. It is the ultimate source of information we have right now for amphibians but don't expect to sit down and read it cover to cover because it was written by veterinarians for veterinarians. Despite my education and experience, I usually can not read much of the book without breaking open the veterinary dictionary I bought just for it! Although the cost of the book is more them what most people want to spend, if you are serious about keeping amphibians, and have the willingness to learn new words, you will be able to save yourself some money, and the lives of a few of your pet amphibians if you get this book. I can definitely imagine situations of having to visit the veterinarian and provide them with this book so that they have a source of information to draw from!

Other than that, depending upon your state, there are usually state specific field guides or books on reptiles and amphibians. Both Virginia and North Carolina have good reptile books. I also highly recommend the Amphibian Natural History book by Stebbins and Cohen.

http://forum.kingsnake.com/newt/messages/31363.html

My top three picks are the Peterson Field guide, the Amphibian Natural History book, and the Amphibian Medicine and Captive Husbandry book. If you get these, you are good to go.
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

do you happen to know of any books that focus on the old world treefrogs? i found one on amazon but it is out of print and i cant find it anywhere.. not to mention it was written a very long time ago, so probably not so useful anymore...

mainly i am looking for one really good book for species native to the US, one for exotics, and one on health and husbandry..
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my pets: clown treefrogs, reed frogs, big eyed treefrogs, tiger leg monkey frogs, gray treefrogs, milk frogs, cuban treefrogs, whites tree frog, green treefrogs, squirrel treefrogs, blue webbed gliding treefrog, chameleon treefrogs?, dusky salamanders, tiger salamander, veiled chameleon, box turtles, mud turtle, map turtle, yellowbelly slider, florida softshell, two saltwater tanks, four cats, two chinchillas, and a boyfriend.

For the most part I agree with your assesment of the books but where did you hear that TFH was out of business? They are still publishing their fish magazine.