Aquarist

Key Facts & Information

Overview	A summer day at the beach can be very relaxing. The sand is warm and the waves lap gently on the shore. But beneath the water's surface is a world that is teeming with rich plant and animal life. For many of us, it isn't possible to experience this world firsthand. But at a public aquarium, we can take a peek and examine close up the beautiful fish and coral. An aquarist cares for the animal and plant life that you see in those aquarium displays. Aquarists make sure that all of the animals and plants in their displays are well fed and free of disease.
Key Requirements	Strong swimming ability, deep interest in animals, keen observational skills
Minimum Degree	Bachelor's degree
Subjects to Study in High School	Chemistry, biology, physics, algebra, geometry, calculus; If available: statistics
Median Salary	Aquarist   $32,000 U.S. Mean Annual Wage   $49,630 Min Wage   $15,080 $0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000
Projected Job Growth (2014-2024)	Average (7% to 13%)
Interview	Meet Hannah Ban-Weiss, a Sea Otter Aquarist II at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. Chris Wade is senior aquarist at Oahu's Sea Life Park Hawaii. Read about Chris's less-traditional path to becoming an aquarist.
Related Occupations	Marine biologist Zoologist and wildlife biologist Aquaculturist Aquacultural manager Aquarium curator Aquatic veterinarian

Training, Other Qualifications

Nearly all aquarists need to be certified scuba divers before they can take their first aquarium-related position. Certification classes are available at many two- and four-year colleges, private fitness organizations, and diving companies. Candidates interested in becoming aquarists must first intern at an aquarium, zoo, or research lab.

The salary range is quite large depending on location and experience. Starting salaries can be as low as $18,000 to $22,000 but for more experienced people at top institutions the salary can rise to nearly $50,000.

Education and Training

The minimum degree required for an entry-level aquarist position is a bachelor's degree in marine biology or zoology.

Nature of the Work

Aquarists are just like zookeepers, except their charges live under water. Aquarists take care of fish and other aquatic creatures at large aquariums. They feed and monitor animals and maintain exhibits. Aquarists check the temperature and conditions of fish tanks. They look for any medical problems with the animals, such as injuries, sluggish swimming, and lack of interest in food. Aquarists also prepare food with vitamin supplements for all the fish under their care.

Aquarists' duties include cleaning tanks so that patrons can fully enjoy the creatures within. They take water samples and analyze them with pH strips and laboratory equipment to make sure that the water filtration and temperature systems are in working order. Clean water keeps fish healthy.

Many animals come directly from the wild. Aquarists collect creatures and plants from freshwater and seawater a few times each year. They must be prepared to travel internationally and have travel documents such as a passport. Scuba certification is also a must in order to collect interesting specimens.

Some aquarists train seals, dolphins, and other marine animals to perform tricks and interact with humans. They are responsible for keeping their animals mentally engaged and do so by creating stimulating environments. Training can make caring for the animals easier.

Work Environment

Aquarists work in a variety of industries, including public aquariums and zoos, education centers with aquariums, marine research labs, state and federal agencies for natural resources, theme parks, and pet and aquarium stores. Aquarists have variable work schedules and often must be willing to work on weekends and holidays.

Some positions require travel to local and international sites for specimen collection.

On the Job

• Preserve exhibit aesthetics by cleaning viewing surface regularly, adding and removing specimens, maintaining proper lighting, and removing unwanted materials.
• Maintain aquarium tank-life support by monitoring equipment performance and troubleshooting, repairing, and replacing equipment as necessary.
• Test aquarium water quality and make adjustments as necessary.
• Acquire specimens after identifying sources and obtaining permits. Oversee specimen transport, acclimation, and introduction into exhibits.
• Determine the dietary needs of specimens. Prepare meals and feed specimens.
• Maintain and record animal health by observing and diagnosing health issues, and applying appropriate treatments.
• Design exhibits after determining theme and focus and after conducting feasibility study. Design appropriate life-support system.
• Locate and order materials, prepare location, and construct exhibits.
• Assist with training, education, and media relations. May include training volunteers and interns and preparing presentations for tours.

Companies That Hire Aquarists

• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• The National Aquarium
• The Walt Disney Company

Explore what you might do on the job with one of these projects...

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Many people routinely use fertilizer for crops, gardens, and lawns. What people don't know is that each time they apply fertilizer, the fertilizer seeps through the soil into the water table. This can eventually lead to the contamination of a local water source, like a stream, pond, lake, bay, or ocean. This is an especially big problem for agricultural practices that frequently use large amounts of fertilizer on fields that are connected by irrigation channels. The run-off of fertilizer… Read more

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Have you seen plankton? I am not talking about the evil villain trying to steal the Krabby Patty recipe from Mr. Krab. I am talking about plankton that live in the ocean. In this experiment you can learn how to collect your own plankton samples and see the wonderful diversity in shape and form of planktonic organisms. Read more

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During metabolism, organisms experience physical and chemical changes. All animals need some way to exchange chemical waste generated during metabolism for fresh nutrients. One way that these metabolic chemicals are exchanged is during respiration, the process by which used carbon dioxide gas is exchanged with fresh oxygen and circulated throughout the body. How do organisms living underwater respirate? They use gills, which filter oxygen from the water and pass the oxygen into the… Read more

Ask Questions

Do you have a specific question about a career as an Aquarist that isn't answered on this page? Post your question on the Science Buddies Ask an Expert Forum.

Additional Information

• Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Sources

• O*Net Online. (2016). National Center for O*Net Development. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium. (2011). Teen Career Resources - Meet Hannah Ban-Weiss Sea Otter Aquarist II. Retrieved June 21, 2019, from https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/education/teen-career-resources/sea-otter-aquarist-ii
• # Link Name="Aquarist.5" Value="HtmlAnchor" HtmlText="OceanCareers.com" #]. (n.d.). Chris Wade - dive safety officer & senior aquarist. Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
• MianaKenobi. (2009, May 19). Aquarist - Birch Aquarium of Scripps. YouTube.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
• Crosby, O. (2001). Wild jobs with wildlife: jobs in zoos and aquariums. Occupational Outlook Quarterly. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
• # Link Name="Aquarist.10" Value="HtmlAnchor" HtmlText="OceanCareers.com" #]. (n.d.). Aquarist: tasks and duties. Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
• # Link Name="Aquarist.11" Value="HtmlAnchor" HtmlText="Glassdoor.com" #]. (2011, February 28). Aquarist salaries. Glassdoor, Inc. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
• Sea Grant Marine Careers. (2009). Salaries. NH Sea Grant Program. Retrieved January 19, 2017, from https://www.marinecareers.net/salaries