Page 9 - lukhaup_pekny_invertebrates

FOREWORD

Twenty years ago, our enthusiasm for freshwater invertebrates was
triggered by crayfish. In the following years, we went on
numerous expeditions searching for them, and we discovered many other inverte­
brates along the way. Shrimp, anomurans, crabs, snails and mussels soon cast their
spell over us as well.

Many aquarium keepers became interested in these so far rather unknown inverts,
and pet stores soon started offering a constantly growing, and more varied range
of these fascinating animals. In the wake of this trend, people kept asking for clos­
er identification of species, requiring more information about the conditions they
needed to create for keeping and breeding these inverts in their aquaria. In our
aquaria and breeding tanks we have kept hundreds of species ourselves, and we
have bred many of them. Not all the inverts we collected or acquired through the
trade turned out to be suitable for a decorative aquarium. Some species require
more or less specialist care, but others are great for hobbyist keepers, too.

Unfortunately, we are unable to present in this book each and every species that
has fascinated us in the course of time. However, we are proud to present to you the
most beautiful and relevant ones. One of our main criteria is that the species can
be kept in a tank with relative ease. It is our hope that this book will gain lots of
new fans for this fantastic hobby as they succumb to the fascination of freshwater
inverts – just the way we did.

Chris Lukhaup and Reinhard Pekny

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