What should I study?

[Barry Tetra]

Hi TFF, first of im going to say I wanted to open an aquarium (its my dream, been to every month since i was 5) the thing is I wanted to learn about
Fishes species, diseases, how to treat them but
I also have tons of ducks which I need to learn about vaccines so what should I chose?
Vet or Aquaculture?
@Colin_T @Byron What are you two studied about? i have seen in your profile about ANGFA thing.

 

[Colin_T]

Veterinary science is more practical for a professional career but it takes longer than Aquaculture. Vet take 4? years of study, whereas aquaculture is 2 years.

Vet science covers a wide range of animals, birds and fish, and includes general care, diseases and surgery. Fish health is briefly covered but further study is required to be a fish health specialist.

Aquaculture covers the care and keeping of farmed food fishes (not aquarium fish), and sometimes covers diseases, but it doesn't cover surgery or any other species of animal.

If you have a choice, go for vet sciences and then study aquaculture after or even while you are studying vet science. Aquaculture can be done easily any time but vet science needs you to focus on the subject.

------------------
I haven't officially studied anything and am self taught. I read books and worked in pet shops and learnt about fish and diseases the hard way.

ANGFA is the Australian New Guinea Fishes Association and consists of scientists and hobbyists that keep native freshwater fishes from Australia and New Guinea. It's basically a fish club that specialises in rainbowfishes and a few other natives fishes. It doesn't have much to do with diseases but is interesting if you like rainbowfish.

There's more info about ANGFA at the following link.

Home

The Australian and New Guinea Fishes Association - ANGFA

www.angfa.org.au

 

[Barry Tetra]

Veterinary science is more practical for a professional career but it takes longer than Aquaculture. Vet take 4? years of study, whereas aquaculture is 2 years.

Vet science covers a wide range of animals, birds and fish, and includes general care, diseases and surgery. Fish health is briefly covered but further study is required to be a fish health specialist.

Aquaculture covers the care and keeping of farmed food fishes (not aquarium fish), and sometimes covers diseases, but it doesn't cover surgery or any other species of animal.

If you have a choice, go for vet sciences and then study aquaculture after or even while you are studying vet science. Aquaculture can be done easily any time but vet science needs you to focus on the subject.

------------------
I haven't officially studied anything and am self taught. I read books and worked in pet shops and learnt about fish and diseases the hard way.

ANGFA is the Australian New Guinea Fishes Association and consists of scientists and hobbyists that keep native freshwater fishes from Australia and New Guinea. It's basically a fish club that specialises in rainbowfishes and a few other natives fishes. It doesn't have much to do with diseases but is interesting if you like rainbowfish.

There's more info about ANGFA at the following link.

Home

The Australian and New Guinea Fishes Association - ANGFA

www.angfa.org.au

Thanks Colin, Its a really hard choice.

I have a friend that’s successful with the zoo but the thing is she never know how to care animals properly, now she had to hired ton of vets to take care of sick animals. I dont want to make the same mistakes like her so I think vet is the best choice.

 

[Lajos_Detari]

Good points by Colin.

I think whenever you study a subject /course, you have to consider the following:
1)Career path/growth
2)Job market/ job availability
3)Your interest
4)Salary scale (might be optional, depending on the person personal choice)

Sorry, just my two cents as I am not an expert in this.

 

[Barry Tetra]

Good points by Colin.

I think whenever you study a subject /course, you have to consider the following:
1)Career path/growth
2)Job market/ job availability
3)Your interest
4)Salary scale (might be optional, depending on the person personal choice)

Sorry, just my two cents as I am not an expert in this.

I’m still thinking about the job, I know for the fact that we need lots of money to open and aquarium or zoo, it’s hard to find a job that you like and make money of it.

 

[Colin_T]

You don't want to open a zoo, they cost heaps of money to open and maintain. Most of the expenses associated with zoos include land, cages, animals, food and medical/ vet care. If you study to be a vet, you can at least have a vet on call (yourself) and save on vet bills.

Public Aquariums cost a lot to set up too and they don't make a lot of money. They are usually owned by a group of people or by a big company or millionaire.

If you want lots of fish and fish tanks, become a vet or some other profession, save money and build a fish room for yourself.

The following professions are worth training in and qualified people can get a job anywhere in the world. Baker, Builder, Electrician, Mechanic, Plumber, Doctor, Vet, Nurse.

The main thing is to get a job that you enjoy. There is no point doing something that you hate because you either give it up or do a lousy job.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Thanks Colin, Its a really hard choice.

I have a friend that’s successful with the zoo but the thing is she never know how to care animals properly, now she had to hired ton of vets to take care of sick animals. I dont want to make the same mistakes like her so I think vet is the best choice.

If you dont want to do 4 years of veterinary, do 2 years of veterinary technician

 

[Barry Tetra]

This thread is almost a year old and I still can’t figure out what I do for job.

there’s only a year left for me to figure this out.

The vet seems like a good idea at first but I can’t stand people put betta in a cup or arowana in a 30 gallon tank.

@Colin_T
If I want to discover new species of fish and their biotope, what should I do as a career?

What does marine biologist and ichthyologist do?

 

[Colin_T]

Marine Biologists study aquatic creatures like fish, crabs, corals, seals, whales, dolphins, etc. Basically if it lives in a river or ocean, they study it. Marine biologists spend a lot of time in the lab but also in the field.

Ichthyologists study fish and identify and reclassify fish. Ichthyologists spend most of their time in a room looking at preserved fish under a microscope.

----------------------

If I want to discover new species of fish and their biotope, what should I do as a career?

Ichthyologists, Marine Biologists, and Biologists all spend time in the field and can find new species, but so can anyone who walks around the bush.

I am not trained in anything and I found a new species of plants when I was wondering around the bush. I also found a new species of plant when I was looking at plants on land that was about to be cleared for housing. I extended the known habitat range of a fish and found a new species of fish down south, which was later identified by someone else who named it.

If you want to look for or try to find new species, just go out and have a look around. You don't need any qualifications, just take a camera, some bags or buckets, and go look.

----------------------

This thread is almost a year old and I still can’t figure out what I do for job.

there’s only a year left for me to figure this out.

The vet seems like a good idea at first but I can’t stand people put betta in a cup or arowana in a 30 gallon tank

Why is there only 1 year left for you to find a job?

Vets don't normally deal with fish unless you specialise in fish health. If you do get to deal with fish, it will break up the monotony of cats and dogs.

The fact you keep ducks and fish would suggest a vet is a good choice. At least you would be able to treat your pets if they get sick.

 

[Barry Tetra]

By that I mean 1 year to the university, I actually wanted to be the fish vet at first but the fact that I have to see sick fish, betta wound from gambling seems to discourages me.