What Does an Aquarium Curator Do?
Teeming with all kinds of strange and wonderful marine life species, aquariums are institutions that entertain and educate visitors. It requires an army of staff to keep an aquarium operating smoothly. Among the staff is the aquarium curator who has a number of responsibilities, including the management of all aquatic exhibits, and animal husbandry duties, which encompass feeding methods, marine life health maintenance and other life support procedures.
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Oversees Feeding and Health Procedures
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An aquarium curator is responsible for overseeing the feeding schedules and determining the amount of food for each marine exhibit. This requires a knowledge of what food is most beneficial for different marine species, the optimal number of times to feed marine life and how often water needs to be changed. The curator must also know how to assess the health of aquarium animals such as fish, dolphins, seals and sharks, and what medicine to use in the event of an illness.
Maintains Inventory and Conducts Research
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Another duty of an aquarium curator is to maintain an accurate inventory of all marine life in the various exhibits and determine the future needs of the aquarium. Curators are also tasked with conducting scientific research projects that study different marine species to determine the most optimal conditions that will encourage propagation. They also conduct research to discover other types of marine life that could potentially be brought into the aquarium as a new exhibit.
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Oversees Exhibits
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Another important responsibility of an aquarium curator is to supervise all aspects of a marine exhibit, from the design and construction of new tanks, to the methods by which new marine life is transported to the aquarium. A curator must use his imagination to design eye-catching exhibits with rocks, plants and other aquarium accessories that will attract and excite visitors. Many curators are trained in underwater diving, and will explore their own exhibits to shift things around to ensure that the marine animals have enough room to swim comfortably, while also providing enough space for visitors to view the creatures.
Education
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Aquariums each have their own educational requirements, but in general a curator should possess a bachelor's degree in marine biology, marine science, zoology, oceanography, environmental studies or biology. Many curators spend years working in aquarium shops or as assistants to curators, gaining the experience necessary to apply for a curator position. Because of the hands-on duties required by the job, many curators also earn deep-sea or scuba diving certification.
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