Source: QLD Newsletter, Volume 2 No. 5, September 1986, page 4. Author: Gilbert Whitley, Jacaranda Press, Brisbane, 1960, 127 pages. Reviewer: Bruce Hansen. View original scan (PDF)

I bought this little book 25 years ago when I was a young fellow studying at the University and breeding tropical fish for fun and pocket money. It showed local aquarists that there was a whole new range of freshwater fish out there besides Rainbows, Blue-eyes and Gudgeons that may be suitable for aquarium care and culture.

The small pages, each headed by a black and white drawing and with a page of text, are arranged roughly in families and each fish is described under headings such as features, colour, size, range etc. Since then, much has been learned about these fishes and taxonomy especially has changed greatly. I find it historically interesting and still glean the occasional “pearl” from it.

I’m quite sure it is no longer available as I haven’t seen one in the bookshops for many years but it still maintains a firm place on my bookshelf.