Reptiles and Amphibians

Care - Behavior - Reproduction This book is essential reading if you are even thinking of making the jump from just keeping a amphibian or reptile to actually breeding it or if you just want to know more about how to provide good care for a pet. Profusely illustrated in color, the book covers almost 100 species in detail, with basic information on dozens more. For the main species there are discussions of care, identification, and distribution, followed by detailed observations on the breeding behavior, incubation, and care of the young. The other species are grouped with the major species by their similarity in breeding behavior and listed with such essentials as number of eggs, incubation period, and temperature preference. In total, almost 350 species are covered. The book's great emphasis on providing usable information about breeding has special value because of the cost of good reptiles and amphibians and the growing number of legal restrictions on their importation and possession. Captive breeding not only helps to reduce the pressure on natural populations but also gives hobbyists the great satisfaction of being able to take pride in actually habing bred boa constrictors or marbled salamanders instead of just buying them.