Aquariums Assistant
Newport News, Va
• Responsible for the daily care of over 100 species of fish and invertebrates located across 40+ systems (exhibits and holding) including diet selection, preparation, feeding, and tank maintenance such as sand filter backwashing, plumbing tank systems, and providing enrichment for a Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)• Tested water quality on all systems weekly for pH, salinity, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite• Performed twice daily feeding programs for public groups of 10-100 and maintained knowledge of each animal’s natural history and biology to answer questions• Helped the VLM achieve the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation by upgrading and maintaining systems to a higher standard, organizing acquisitions in a database, and maintaining animal records as well as updating all care and recordkeeping activities where necessary for AZA’s thorough on-site inspection• Acquired wild specimens for display throughout Virginia in both freshwater and marine environments using dip nets, seine nets, and cast nets, acclimated and quarantined all specimens which spanned vastly different groups of teleosts, elasmobranchs, syngnathids, chondrosteans, and sensitive invertebrates• Supervised, trained, and directed a team of daily volunteers in accomplishing aquarium tasks such as water chemistry, food prep and feeding, exhibit cleaning, and performed these tasks when volunteers were not available• Identified sick or injured individuals and gave treatment where appropriate. Performed necropsies on deceased individuals where appropriate