Have you ever wanted a career in fish?

[Redearsunfish]

Interesting thread. I am a veterinarian and practice mostly with dogs and cats. I do fish stuff on the side. Mostly for friends but I do have a small clientele and hope to soon branch out into ponds. People have always asked me why I never went the zoo/aquarium route. My answer then and now is that I don't want to loose my hobby. Those I know that went the zoo/aquarium route lost their love for keeping home aquariums (become work). That being said there are some great opportunities in vet med for someone interested in working with fish: zoo/aquarium, aquaculture, biosecurity etc.

This would never happen in my dream scenario - the love I have for fish is boundless. In my dream scenario, I am in charge, large and in charge. I would skip to work and birds would sing on my shoulder.

If you loose your love for fish because someone pays you to do it, I'd argue that love was never really there. Unless you are abused somehow at your fish job or lose everything or what not.

Otherwise, BRING ON THE FISH JOB!

Remember when Larry sang "to dream the impossible dream" in three's company - when he sang at Jack's Bistro? Jack thought the crowd loved him, but Larry filled the restaurant with his co-workers, friends and members of his soft-ball team, remember that?

I'd sing that song on my way into work.

 

[Redearsunfish]

I wish you a good luck because you need them....lots of luck. You do need a back up plan in case you cannot find a job that is related to fish biologists or fish specialist. Most of times, the fisheries dept are quite picky about who they will hire. Even if you graduated, you may not see your dream job for another 4 or 7 years.

Hey, let the kid dream! Let him live his dream if he can!

 

[Redearsunfish]

I can't see myself ever having a non-fish related job. I'm going to school to be either an Aquarist or Fisheries Biologist, no matter how long it takes to get one of those jobs.

Good luck to you and I hope you do it!

 

[Redearsunfish]

My obsession with fish lead me to pursue a degree in environmental science, which lead to a job as a filtration specialist in a drinking water plant, which lead to more course work in water chemistry and microbiology, leading to transfers into the lab as water chemist/microbiologist.

Although not really fish related, very satisfying work none the less, and allowed me access to high tech equipment to explore research into fish disease, and a deeper understanding of the significance of intricacies of water.

Cool!

 

[Redearsunfish]

I'm part time fish breeder wholesaler retailer and hobbyist all wrapped up in one! I've done my share of breeding and selling my fish. Growing aquatic plants and selling them. When you can make a little money doing what you love its not work to me.

Bingo! And i'm really happy for you!

 

[MN_Rebel]

Hey, let the kid dream! Let him live his dream if he can!

this is reality, don't need to give him a false hope. Hence that's why I said back up plan.

 

[Redearsunfish]

this is reality, don't need to give him a false hope. Hence that's why I said back up plan.

I like to be a bit more positive, that's all.

Why do you have a picture of a dead musky, with red eyes in your avatar?

 

[MN_Rebel]

I like to be a bit more positive, that's all.

Why do you have a picture of a dead musky, with red eyes in your avatar?

no need give him more false hope that's all.

My avatar isn't even a musky....I found a dead hogfish washed up on the beach when I was in Florida

 

[jstanley_06]

no need to dash all hope either I think there is a lot of people on here who has dreams of making fish into a career, just because it hasn't came true for them yet doesn't mean it never will happen either

 

[divemaster99]

I realize that my dream career is going to be very hard to achieve, however, I'm working my @$$ off in school in my science classes as well as stuffing my head with as much fish related knowledge as I can outside of the school. I also partially intern (what they allow at my age) at the zoo and aquarium during the summers and might get a paying job there this summer in addition to it. I plan on getting a full internship at the aquarium working with the native fish (if I had a choice, I'd be fine with anything though) when I'm in college to get my foot in the door and I'm already scuba certified so that's something to them as well. No matter how long it takes for me to get that job, I'm just going to let my work speak for itself and hope they see me as a worthy applicant for the position come time.