Weekend Reflection #2

 Weekend reflection #2

5-22-22

This week I learned a bit more about what an aquarist does and different aspects of animal care from more of a long-term perspective. We had a few fish pass, as well as one of the oldest birds, so I learned about what happens to those animals after the fact, and how the environment they’re in is affected. I learned a lot about nutrition in a more in-depth manner, specifically about the reptiles. Last week I had a brief overview of the water system but this week Brittany walked me through it and had me do the backwashing for a lot of the tanks. She also taught me how salt water is made and showed that process. I enjoyed this week a bit more, because it was more hands-on and because I had a deeper understanding of mechanisms and life in the aquarium, they gave me bigger responsibilities. I spent a lot of time in the tanks with the marine life which was a pretty unique experience. The days the aquarium was open were pretty long because I was doing the same thing all day (usually with the lorikeets) however that wasn’t many days I worked. I was a little surprised by how much marine life we lost. For how many fish we have it wasn’t a huge amount in comparison and considering all of them were somewhat expected, it was understandable. There were six guitarfish that were unexpectedly born which was a fun surprise. In terms of customers, I was surprised at how relentless some of them could be when it came to being around the birds. This week helped me reach my final goals. My goals were to have a comprehensive understanding of the requirements needed for the upkeep and care of freshwater and marine species and to have a well-rounded perception of what an aquarist does, and their role around the aquarium. The first week gave me some basic background knowledge, but this past week I delved deeper into everything and feel like I have a solid understanding of the essential processes.