College Course In Aquatics?

[Fishkeeper2004]

Does anyone have any information on course in aquatics taken at college? I am only 14 but I would like to pursue a career in fishkeeping when I reach 16. So far I have found a college called Sparholt or something like that, which have the necassry course and they are located in hampshire.

I have sent them an email asking for further information, but so far I have read you need at least 4 GCSE passes from A-C. They say a 12 month during-college job is recommended related to the course you take - IE working in a petshop etc etc.

So anyone with more information I would be grateful, cheers.

 

[jacblades]

unless you want to do MARINE biology, there usually aren't many choices. at least in the US... i dont know about UK.
i was thisclose to enrolling in auburn university to do the fisheries program (which is more about raising food fish-which personally i don't agree with. i am veg-but still about fish nonetheless) but i didn't make the cut grade-wise.

i have never heard of just plain old icthology courses though...
good luck

 

[Lance76]

I was at Sparsholt about 10 years ago doing fish farming,,and while i dont remember any warm water fish caurses at the time,, as fish collages go there are bloody good!!!
good luck!

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Sparsholt definately have a course for marine/tropical fish. Someone at wharf aquatics is currently taken it. 'Fella' on this forum has suggested the course PFK offer so I will be looking into that when I am older.

 

[Lance76]

Sparsholt definately have a course for marine/tropical fish. Someone at wharf aquatics is currently taken it. 'Fella' on this forum has suggested the course PFK offer so I will be looking into that when I am older.

have a look.

http/www.sparsholt.ac.uk/schwww/fish/ndfmo.htm

 

[fishing4exotics]

unless you want to do MARINE biology, there usually aren't many choices. at least in the US... i dont know about UK.
i was thisclose to enrolling in auburn university to do the fisheries program (which is more about raising food fish-which personally i don't agree with. i am veg-but still about fish nonetheless) but i didn't make the cut grade-wise.

i have never heard of just plain old icthology courses though...
good luck

Universaty of Florida has graduate programs for fishkeeping. The university has a lot of fish related courses.

 

[john5748]

Sparsholt college have three courses coming up shortly which are:

1. Fish Biology 4 & 5th Feb
2. Fish Health 25 & 26th Feb
3. Water quality and Filtration 4 & 5th Mar

These are all weekend courses held at their college in Winchester. The fees are £160 - £180 per course and if accomodation is required that works out at approx £30 per night.

The reason I know is that I have made enquiries about these courses myself. They do seem to be the centre of excellence in the Ornamental fish trade within the UK with a new purpose built fish house.

I will give you an update at the end of Feb as to exactly how good they are.

 

[Dart]

well it depends if you want to be an agricultural fish keeper or just a tropical one.

I go to Guelph, and they have aquaculture courses and marine biology courses, course it's a university not a college.

 

[john5748]

Exactly right you enrol on a course that you want. The reason I am going on these weekend courses is just to increase my knowledge for my hobby.
Personally if I wanted to be a marine biologist I can think of far nicer and warmer places to do my studies than in the UK.

 

[sylvia]

There's also some Open University courses relating to fish (though not all freshwater), aquatic life and their environment and, of course, biology and zoology-related cources. 4 GCSE passes are not all that difficult to get if you seriously want to go to that college you mentioned though. I'm sure there are subjects you are good at that you know you'll get good grades on...

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

There's also some Open University courses relating to fish (though not all freshwater), aquatic life and their environment and, of course, biology and zoology-related cources. 4 GCSE passes are not all that difficult to get if you seriously want to go to that college you mentioned though. I'm sure there are subjects you are good at that you know you'll get good grades on...

Maths, English, Science & French should get me A's or B's, with the other sujects im currently predicted C's and a few D's.

 

[ncjharris]

Look into a College called Merrist Wood too.
They are like sparsholt, and its a damn good place, but they may only offer agricultural and husbandry courses.

Its worth noting too that there are several routes that can be taken here.
If you want to dedicate your life to the study of fish as a liveform, their part in their ecosystems and their behaviour, then I suspect Marine Biology is the way to go. In the UK, Southampton Uni is one of the best in the country for this.

If you want to further yourself as a fishkeeper, with the posibility of training to enable you to pursue a career working in an LFS, then the course John has listed will, I imagine, be good.

If its the money you are after ;-0 then I think the first one!!