Aquarium Maintenance School
If you are passionate about fish and marine life, have you considered enrolling in an aquarist school? With the percentage of aquarium owners who engage the services of an aquarium maintenance professional growing by the year, it is a solid career choice. You can study aquarium maintenance online at Animal Behavior College and be working in your new career in just eight months!
Are you interested in learning more about freshwater fish, saltwater fish and aquariums? Have you ever visited a restaurant, hotel or office that had a saltwater aquarium stocked with beautiful tanks on display and thought how cool it would be to know about sustaining a large marine habitat? 
The aquarium industry is more complicated than just picking out pretty fish at the store and setting up a tank. The industry is made up of professional aquarists, fish breeders and distributors, independent fish store owners, aquarium maintenance professionals and aquarium cleaning services. These industry professionals provide support for both households and businesses that have aquariums.
The percentage of households owning fish has risen over the past few years.1 According to the 2017/2018 American Pet Products Association (APPA) survey, the percentage of all fish owners that hire an aquarium maintenance service to maintain their tanks is 21%. This is a drastic increase over the 2015/2016 APPA survey which reports only 8% of all fish owners use a service. With the growing demand for fishkeeping services, the business potential in the industry is on the rise.
This is your opportunity to have a successful career as an Aquarium Maintenance Professional. With Animal Behavior College’s Aquarium Maintenance Program, you will acquire the education you need to make this career a reality.
What You Will Learn in ABC’s Aquarist School?
Our Aquarist School consists of 10 stages – nine online modules plus a final exam. The course is packed with information to educate you in the art, science, and business of aquarium design, fishkeeping and aquarium maintenance. The course will include hundreds of pages of written materials that will walk novices through everything they need to begin maintaining freshwater aquariums and saltwater aquariums, and ultimately build a business model around aquarium maintenance service.
- Starting and maintaining fish tanks
- Freshwater tanks
- Saltwater tanks
- Aquascaping and planted tanks
- Ponds
- Commcercial aquariums
- Fishkeeping and fish breeding
- Aquarium maintenance business building
- And more!
Learn About Maintaining Fish Tanks From A Professional Aquarist
Meet our Aquarium Maintenance Program writer, Ethan Mizer.
Ethan Mizer was born in Upland, California and he took an interest in the aquarium hobby and fishkeeping at a young age. From his first goldfish tank to his now more intricate freshwater and saltwater fish systems, Ethan took his love for the hobby and transformed it into his career.
Over the last 14 years Ethan has worked in the pet industry, with an emphasis on aquariums. He started his career in journalism for Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine, eventually becoming the managing editor. He has also covered the aquarium industry in a wider capacity for Pet Product News, both as managing editor and as a freelance writer. He has built relationships with many independent local fish stores and maintenance professionals and regularly attends trade shows, aquarium club meetings and special events such as Reef-A-Palloza in Orange County, California.
Ethan’s interest in aquariums and fish truly blossomed as he worked directly with aquarists, experts and leaders in the fishkeeping industry – such as David Lass, Bob Goemans, Robert Fenner, Charles Delbeek, Tim Hayes and many others. It is from these aquarists that Ethan learned the intricacies of fishkeeping and aquarium maintenance and began keeping more advanced tank systems, such as aquascaped aquariums and biotype systems. One day, Ethan aspires to design and maintain a truly massive freshwater planted aquarium system.
Now, Ethan continues to write about the aquarium industry and hopes that his work will help support the growth of the fishkeeping industry and educate new aquarists and aquarium maintenance professionals.
How Much Does It Cost to Become an ABC Certified Aquarist?
Tuition for our Aquarium Maintenance Program ranges from $1995 $1595 USD
to $2,695 USD, depending on your payment plan.* This price is all-inclusive and covers your learning materials, certification and student support.
Speak with an admissions Counselor and see what payment plan is right for you. Contact Admissions at 800-795-3294
*Ask about our discount for Active Military and Veterans who enroll in our distance learning courses
Aquarium Maintenance Professional Certification
Upon successful completion of your Aquarium Maintenance Course you’ll receive your professional certification as an Animal Behavior College Certified Aquarium Maintenance Professional (ABCAMP). Your certification will demonstrate to your clients that you have extensive aquarium maintenance, aquarium cleaning and fishkeeping knowledge.
Student Support
After you enroll in our Aquarium Maintenance Course, you will be assigned a Program Manager and receive their contact information. Your Program Manager will grade your exams and be your guide throughout your studies. You will be able to contact them directly if you need assistance or have questions.
Flexible Online Course
ABC’s Aquarium Maintenance Course is structured to allow you to keep your current job while pursuing your education. Our course materials and tests are all online, which means you can access your program at any time of the day, no matter where you are. This format gives you the flexibility to set your own studying schedule. Completion time for our Aquarium Maintenance Course is approximately 8 months.
