Position Overview
If you have an inherent love for marine life, picking up a career as an aquarist may be just what the doctor ordered.
Aquarists work in facilities such as aquariums, and theme parks, where their primary duty is to make sure that marine life, especially fish, is well taken care of. The work of an aquarist is quite interesting, especially if the person performing it has respect for the work on many levels.
Position Requirements
To work as an aquarist, one has to possess a degree in marine biology. If you have had prior experience in this regard, you will know exactly what you have to do and will fit in well.
Some employers may hire you even if you do not have experience, but possess a degree. The primary skill that you need to work successfully at this position is knowledge of different fish species, and other aquatic animals, and their habitats.
As an aquarist, you will be required to perform a lot of activities, including monitoring aquariums to ensure that they are in good functional order, overseeing the wellbeing and health of marine life within tanks, and monitoring water quality. You will need to be insightful so that you can determine if a marine animal has any disease, and isolate it for investigation purposes.
Before you apply for a job as an aquarist, have a look at the following list of duties to see what the work is like:
Sample Job Description for Aquarist Resume
• Create aquarium exhibits, and ensure that fish and other marine life within is appropriately managed.
• Monitor marine life to determine signs of disease and isolate affected fish for treatment purposes.
• Clean water tanks, and ensure that they are refilled, by maintaining proper pH levels in them.
• Feed marine life on time, ensuring that any inconsistent eating behavior is identified and addressed.
• Collect and compare water samples for acid analysis, and ensure that water temperature is well-managed.
• Adjust thermostats to ensure that right water conditions are maintained on a consistent basis.
• Conduct periodic husbandry acts, including cleaning, maintenance, diet preparation, and systems check.
• Perform routine maintenance of life support systems, and report any issues to the supervisor.
• Report any abnormalities in marine animals to the supervisor, and take measures to handle problems properly.
• Assist in the maintenance of the inventory of supplies and equipment required to keep tanks in operational positions.
• Create and maintain logs of events and incidents regarding marine life, including disease detection, and system malfunction.