Dr. Dave's Note:
I've been asked what I think are "essential" books. While "essential" can mean different things to different people, at the VERY LEAST, an owner needs as many of the specific breed books as s/he can afford (because different authors give different perspectives......and if any two agree on any one thing, you can bet they're both probably correct about that one thing), and also books on husbandry, nutrition and basic medical care. Below are the books in my library (with one exception, I do not own ALL the specific breed books, nor have I read ALL of them. The specific breed books below are from publishing houses, some of whose breed books I have read and own.).

Amphibians Today
A Complete and Up-To-Date Guide (Basic Domestic Pet Library)

Anoles, Basilisks and Water Dragons
A Complete Pet Care Manual (More Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

The Bearded Dragon
An Owners Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet)

Boas
Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

Chameleons
Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior (Barron's Pet Owner's Manuals)

The New Chameleons Handbook
Everything About Selection, Care, Diet, Disease, Reproduction, and Behavior (Barron's Pet Owner's Manuals)

The Consumer's Guide to Feeding Reptiles
All About What's in Reptile Food, Why It's There and How to Choose the Best Food for Your Pet

Corn Snakes and Other Rat Snakes
(Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

The Exotic Pet Survival Manual
A Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Snakes, Lizards, Other Reptiles, Amphibians, Insects, Arachnids, and Other Invertebrates

Frogs and Toads
An Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet (Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet)

The Gecko
An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet)

Geckos
Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

The Iguana
An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet)

Iguanas
Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

Iguanas in Your Home
A Complete and Up-To-Date Guide (Basic Domestic Pet Library)

Kingsnakes & Milk Snakes
A Complete and Up-To-Date Guide (Basic Domestic Pet Library)

Kingsnakes and Milksnakes
Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Breeding, Behavior, and Training (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

Lizards
An Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet (Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet)

Monitors, Tegus, and Related Lizards
Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

Newts and Salamanders
Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior (More Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

Pythons
Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

The Snake
An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet)

Snakes
Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

The Terrarium
A Complete Pet Owner's Manual (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)

Terrariums for Your New Pet

The Turtle
An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet)

Turtles and Tortoises
Caring for Them, Feeding Them, Understanding Them (Family Pet Series)

Turtles and Tortoises
Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Breeding, and Behavior (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

To go straight to Amazon.com, Press:

I hope that you will find this information helpful in building and maintaining an EXCELLENT pet reference library. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me. I will post as many of your reviews as I can to this document. As in any forum, I would like to hear from people who like the books AND from those who believe they aren't so good. We'll let the chips fall where they may.

David E. Hammett, DVM
and the Staff of All Creatures Veterinary Clinic, PC