Aquarist / Aquarium Specialist

1. 1
   Build Aquatics Knowledge and Animal Care Experience

   Aquarist positions at public institutions are competitive — successful candidates typically have: extensive personal aquarium keeping experience (freshwater and marine), volunteer or paid experience at an aquarium, animal shelter, or marine conservation organization, and formal education in biology, marine science, or a related field. Working at a local fish store (LFS) or aquarium installation company while building credentials is a common entry path.

   Animal care foundation + education
2. 2
   Earn a Biology or Marine Science Degree or Certificate

   Most aquarist positions at public aquariums list a biology, marine science, zoology, or related degree as required or strongly preferred. Community college marine science or biology AAS programs provide a lower-cost entry. Some aquariums hire experienced aquarists without degrees if the hands-on experience is exceptional. The biology foundation — water chemistry, aquatic ecology, animal physiology — is essential for understanding and troubleshooting complex aquatic life support systems.

   Biology or marine science education
3. 3
   Get SCUBA Certified

   Many aquarist positions at public aquariums require SCUBA diving for tank maintenance and exhibit cleaning. PADI or NAUI Open Water Diver certification is the starting point; commercial or scientific diver certifications (AAUS — American Academy of Underwater Sciences) are required for professional diving in many institutional settings. Being a confident, skilled diver is a significant competitive advantage in aquarist hiring.

   SCUBA / scientific diving certification
4. 4
   Volunteer and Work at Public Aquariums

   Paid aquarist positions are highly competitive. Volunteering at a public aquarium (fish care, feeding, educational programs) while pursuing education is how most aquarists build the institutional connections that lead to employment. The AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) institutional network means many aquarist jobs are filled through internal referrals and volunteer-to-hire pathways.

   Aquarium volunteer experience
5. 5
   Advance to Senior Aquarist or Curator

   Senior aquarists ($50K–$60K) are responsible for specific exhibit sections and may mentor junior staff. Aquarium curators ($60K–$80K+) oversee collections, manage staff, design exhibits, and coordinate with conservation programs. Both paths require years of institutional experience and demonstrated expertise in water chemistry, life support system management, and specific animal husbandry specialties.

   Senior aquarist or curator advancement

• 7:00 AMMorning rounds — check all exhibits before opening. Verify all animals present and normal behavior, check water clarity, check all life support system alarms. One filter alarm on the seahorse exhibit — clean the filter sock, reset alarm.
• 7:30 AMWater testing — collect water samples from 6 exhibits. Test: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, salinity, temperature. Log all results. The main reef exhibit nitrate has crept up — adjust the skimmer and schedule a water change.
• 8:30 AMMorning feeding — prepare and distribute food for all exhibits on the section. Different species require different diets: shrimp and silversides for the sharks, mysis shrimp for the seahorses, algae clips for the tangs, chopped seafood for the octopus. Target feeding to ensure each animal receives food.
• 10:00 AMTank dive — scheduled dive in the 20,000-gallon reef exhibit for algae scrubbing and coral inspection. Suit up with dive buddy, enter through the top. Scrub algae from the acrylic panels, inspect each coral colony for tissue loss or bleaching. Note one Acropora showing stress coloration — photograph and document.
• 12:00 PMLunch — 30 minutes.
• 12:30 PMAnimal health check — the veterinarian is conducting a health exam on a sea turtle. Assist with restraint, hold the turtle for blood draw, assist with the physical examination. Document all findings.
• 2:00 PMLife support maintenance — the UV sterilizer on the jellyfish exhibit is due for its quarterly bulb replacement. Shut down the unit, replace the quartz sleeve and UV bulb, restart, verify UV intensity with the test meter.
• 4:00 PMAfternoon feeding — second feeding round for species that require twice-daily feeding. Update the feeding log.
• 5:00 PMEnd-of-day checks — verify all life support systems normal, all alarms functioning, all animals present and behaving normally. Brief the evening keeper on any issues from today.

Aquarists manage living ecosystems — marine and freshwater exhibits at public aquariums, zoos, and research facilities. The animal husbandry, exhibit maintenance, and public education components require expert human presence. AI and sensor technology are entering through automated water quality monitoring, but the care and interpretation remain human.