Becoming an aquarist is more than caring for animals. It is a hands-on profession that combines biology, environmental science, technical skills, and daily responsibility for living ecosystems. Aquarists play a critical role in aquariums, zoos, research centers, and conservation facilities by ensuring aquatic animals are healthy, environments are stable, and habitats thrive.
What Does an Aquarist Do?
Aquarists are responsible for the daily care, monitoring, and long-term wellbeing of aquatic animals and their environments. While responsibilities vary by facility and specialization, most aquarists work at the intersection of animal care, life-support systems, and observation. Core responsibilities include:
Animal care and feeding
Preparing species-specific diets, feeding on strict schedules, and monitoring appetite and behavior to detect early signs of illness. Aquarists often collaborate with veterinarians and marine biologists to adjust diets, feeding methods, and care plans based on species needs, age, and health conditions.
Health monitoring and veterinary support
Observing animals for abnormal behavior, assisting with captures, and supporting veterinary examinations or treatments when needed. This work is typically done in close coordination with veterinary teams, especially during medical procedures, quarantine protocols, and long-term health monitoring.
Water quality management
Testing and logging parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate to prevent stress and disease. Aquarists frequently work alongside other aquarists, marine biologists, and life-support technicians to maintain stable aquatic environments and troubleshoot system-wide issues.
Habitat and equipment maintenance
Cleaning enclosures, maintaining filtration systems, pumps, and life-support equipment, and troubleshooting mechanical issues. This responsibility often involves collaboration with divers, engineers, and facilities teams, particularly in large exhibits where underwater work, structural maintenance, or complex systems are involved.
Aquarist Specializations
Many aquarists specialize as their careers progress. Common paths include:
Freshwater vs. Saltwater Aquarists
One of the most fundamental distinctions within the profession is between freshwater and saltwater aquarists. While many core principles overlap, the organisms, systems, and operational complexity differ significantly between these environments.
Freshwater aquarists typically work with fish, plants, and invertebrates that thrive in rivers, lakes, and streams. These systems often allow for greater biological flexibility, but still require careful monitoring of parameters such as temperature, pH, hardness, and nutrient levels. Freshwater exhibits frequently emphasize ecosystem balance, aquatic plant integration, and long-term environmental stability.
Saltwater aquarists manage marine environments that demand far stricter control. In addition to maintaining precise salinity, temperature, and water chemistry, they are responsible for operating complex life-support systems that support sensitive marine species. Saltwater systems often involve advanced filtration, protein skimmers, and continuous monitoring to prevent rapid imbalances. Many saltwater aquarists also work closely with divers, veterinarians, and life-support technicians, especially when maintaining large or immersive marine exhibits.
Aquatic Plant Specialists
Aquatic plant specialists focus on the cultivation and maintenance of freshwater and, in some cases, marine plant life within aquarium exhibits. Their work plays a key role in both the biological health and visual design of aquatic environments.
These aquarists manage planted tanks and large-scale exhibits that require precise control of lighting, nutrients, and water chemistry. Responsibilities typically include selecting appropriate plant species, designing balanced layouts, monitoring growth patterns, and addressing issues such as nutrient deficiencies, algae outbreaks, and plant disease. Aquatic plant specialists often collaborate with other aquarists and marine biologists to ensure plant life supports animal welfare and overall ecosystem stability.
Coral Specialists
Coral specialists focus on the care and husbandry of corals within reef systems and marine exhibits. Although corals are animals, their care overlaps heavily with environmental management, making this one of the most technically demanding aquarist specializations.
These specialists maintain reef systems that require extremely stable conditions, including precise control of lighting intensity, water flow, nutrient availability, and water chemistry. Responsibilities include selecting and positioning coral colonies, monitoring growth and coloration, preventing disease, and managing interactions between corals and other marine organisms. Coral specialists frequently work alongside marine biologists, veterinarians, and life-support teams to maintain healthy, resilient reef environments that support both animal life and long-term exhibit sustainability.
Education and Training Requirements
There is no single one path to becoming an aquarist, but most employers look for a combination of formal education and proven hands-on experience. Academic training provides the scientific foundation needed to understand aquatic systems, while practical experience demonstrates the ability to apply that knowledge in real-world environments.
In hiring decisions, aquariums often value candidates who can show both an understanding of biological principles and the practical skills required to work safely and effectively with living systems. For many roles, education helps candidates stand out, but it is rarely sufficient on its own without field experience.
Common Degree Paths
Many professional aquarists hold degrees in scientific or environmental disciplines that align closely with aquatic life management. Common degree paths include:
Marine Biology
Focuses on marine organisms, ocean ecosystems, and species-specific care, making it especially relevant for saltwater and reef-based roles.Biology
Provides a broad understanding of animal physiology, ecology, and scientific methods that apply across freshwater and marine environments.Zoology
Emphasizes animal behavior, health, and taxonomy, which are critical for monitoring welfare and supporting veterinary care.Conservation or Environmental Science
Centers on ecosystem management, sustainability, and environmental protection, often aligning well with public aquariums and conservation-focused institutions.
While these degrees are common, employers typically assess how well candidates can apply their education in practice, particularly through internships, volunteering, or entry-level roles within aquariums, zoos, or research facilities.
Internships and Volunteering (Critical for Getting Hired)
Internships and volunteering are some of the most important factors in securing an aquarist position. In certain cases, employers place greater value on relevant hands-on experience than on academic credentials alone.
Aquariums and related institutions use internships to evaluate candidates in real working conditions. These roles allow aspiring aquarists to demonstrate reliability, attention to detail, safety awareness, and the ability to work as part of a team. Many full-time aquarists begin their careers through internship or volunteer pathways that later lead to paid roles.
What internships typically involve
Internship responsibilities may include assisting with daily animal care, preparing diets, cleaning and maintaining exhibits, monitoring water quality, and supporting senior aquarists during routine operations. While some tasks may be repetitive or physically demanding, they are essential for building trust and gaining exposure to how aquariums function behind the scenes.
Volunteering as an entry point
For candidates without formal experience, volunteering at aquariums, zoos, wildlife rescue centers, or conservation organizations can serve as a critical entry point. Volunteering demonstrates commitment, builds practical skills, and provides valuable references from professionals already working in the field.
Why this experience matters to employers
From a hiring perspective, internships and volunteering show that a candidate:
Understands the physical and routine nature of the work
Can follow protocols and safety procedures
Communicates effectively within multidisciplinary teams
Is genuinely committed to the profession
For many aquariums, internships and volunteer programs also serve as a pipeline for future hiring, making them one of the most effective ways to transition into an entry-level aquarist role.
Advanced Degrees: Are They Necessary?
Master’s or PhD programs can be valuable for candidates who want to work in research, conservation science, or leadership roles within aquariums and related institutions. Advanced degrees allow aquarists to develop deeper expertise in specialized areas such as species conservation, reproductive biology, ecology, or environmental management.
These programs often provide access to research projects, grant-funded work, and collaborations with universities or conservation organizations. For aquarists interested in contributing to scientific studies, managing conservation initiatives, or shaping institutional policy, an advanced degree can open doors that are not typically available through hands-on experience alone.
That said, advanced degrees are not required for most operational aquarist roles. Many aquariums prioritize practical experience, reliability, and teamwork over academic credentials. Candidates considering graduate study should weigh their long-term goals carefully and pursue advanced degrees when they align clearly with research, conservation, or leadership ambitions rather than as a general requirement for employment.
I’m in High School. How Can I Prepare?
If you are still in high school, you can already begin building a strong foundation for a future career as an aquarist. Early preparation helps you confirm your interest in the field and makes you more competitive when applying for internships and education programs later on.
Key steps include:
Focusing on biology, chemistry, and mathematics, which provide the scientific foundation needed for marine biology, zoology, and related fields
Volunteering with aquariums, zoos, or wildlife centers to gain early exposure to animal care and daily operations
Applying for student or youth internship programs, which offer structured learning and hands-on experience in professional environments
Attending aquarium summer camps or educational programs to deepen your understanding of aquatic life and connect with peers and professionals
Starting early allows students to build experience, develop relevant skills, and gain valuable references before entering higher education or the job market.
Can You Become an Aquarist Without a Degree?
Yes, although it requires persistence and planning. Candidates without degrees typically succeed by gaining practical experience and demonstrating reliability over time.
Common strategies include:
Accumulating extensive hands-on experience through volunteering or internships
Starting in entry-level or assistant roles to build trust and skills on the job
Completing workshops, certifications, and training programs to supplement practical knowledge
Networking within the aquarium and zoo community to learn about opportunities and receive recommendations
While this path may take longer, it remains a viable route into the profession for motivated candidates.
How to Get Hired as an Aquarist (What Employers Look For)
Many candidates struggle not because they lack passion, but because they misunderstand how aquariums make hiring decisions. Employers look for individuals who can operate safely, follow procedures, and contribute reliably to a team-oriented environment. Reviewing real aquarist openings and requirements can help candidates better understand what employers expect.
What hiring managers prioritize:
Hands-on experience, especially through internships or long-term volunteering
Reliability and teamwork, including the ability to follow schedules and protocols
Strong observation and record-keeping skills for monitoring animal health and system stability
Skills that improve employability:
Scuba diving certification, particularly for large or immersive exhibits
First aid training, demonstrating preparedness and safety awareness
Experience with life-support systems, filtration, and water quality monitoring
Clear communication with keepers, veterinarians, and supervisors, especially during routine care and medical situations
Candidates who combine practical experience with strong work habits and communication skills are typically the most competitive in the hiring process.
Final Thoughts
A career as an aquarist is demanding, physical, and deeply rewarding. The work requires patience, attention to detail, and a commitment to the care of living systems. While the path into the profession is not always straightforward, it is accessible to those who are prepared and persistent.
Success comes from combining education with hands-on experience, continuously building practical skills, and understanding how aquariums evaluate and hire candidates. By approaching the career with realism, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, aspiring aquarists can build a sustainable and fulfilling professional path within the aquarium industry.
