Perhaps the most mysterious and alluring creatures kept by saltwater aquarists, sharks and rays are becoming increasingly popular among serious marine fishkeepers. In this long-awaited and much-requested guide, expert aquarist and elasmobranch enthusiast Scott Michael provides the definitive introduction to the biology and behaviour of home-aquarium-scale sharks and rays. This book includes: species selection and identification, buyers guide, shark aquarium setup and maintenance, and much more.

The cartilaginous fishes; sharks, rays, skates and the weird chimaeras have always fascinated humans; the sharks for over-blown fear of attack (more people are killed every year by falling aircraft tools, pigs, tripping over shoelaces...); all for their grace and beauty. I have personally campaigned for decades, trying to educate people; for their protection in the wild as well as for their careful selection and adequate care by folks who would take the plunge in caring for them in captivity. It is indeed a travesty that tens of millions of sharks are fished for their fins alone; the rest of the animal usually returned as waste to the sea. I have tasted the slimy, tasteless liquid that is shark fin soup... As unacceptable to me is the mis-stocking and inadequate care afforded sharks and rays placed in too small environments; improperly filtered/maintained, and/or mis-fed and lost prematurely. It is my fervent goat to help you avoid these major sources of mortality through this written work.

Our natural history series brings you closer to living marine and coastal communities, where you'll come face to face with some of the more interesting residents. Richly illustrated with color photographs and illustrations, these books make great references for amateur naturalists and students alike. Discover the secrets of these elusive fishes and explore how they live and why they behave the way they do.

Encourages a better understanding of these creatures, a chance to get closer to their real-life world, be it on a dive in their natural habitat or a visit to an aquarium.