Course Description

This course focuses on the husbandry of various aquatic organisms in an aquarium setting. Students will learn how to properly care for a diverse assemblage of freshwater and marine fish, invertebrates, algae, and aquatic plants. Course content will focus on common organisms’ natural history, nutrition, growth, reproduction, transportation, acclimation, disease diagnosis and treatment, and community planning. Students will be required to demonstrate proper aquatic animal husbandry skills, help care for a living collection of organisms, and perform critical evaluations of procedures in the OCC Public Aquarium. Field trips to local aquariums or to collect organisms may be required to demonstrate particular concepts.