For anyone in the Eastern region of the US who enjoys keeping snakes (or anyone who might end up keeping a snake native to this region), this book is a must-have. It gives good solid information for anyone from novice to zoo level of expertise. All the basics are covered (eg housing, choosing, transporting, lighting, feeding, etc. ad infinitum)as well as many specialized topic like making "swamp tea" for keeping crayfish snakes healthy. You can tell when you read the book that much of it is based on personal experience and not just someone regurgitating what they read in other books. I have used this book many times to find information on how to keep the species that I have caught at various times and wanted to keep for a little while. Every time the advice in this book proved helpful, if not indispensable.

If you like snakes and live in the eastern US, buy it. If you like snakes and live in the western US, buy volume II (which seems to be just as good, if not better, but I have not actually tried any of the information in.) If you love snakes and live anywhere in the world, buy both of them.

This book would be a good starter book for new iguana owners. It tells you things from their eating habits, changing colors, injuries, temp setting and and so forth.

If you are a new iguana owner or are considering to buy one of these reptiles I would recommend this one to start you off.