Bonjour from Rva (804)

Hey guys, name's Delaney. Just found out about this forum from a coworker (Axolotl Girl) and have to say I'm pleasantly surprised at some of the great information on here. I have a small collection currently including a Bearded, Uri, three Leos, and a BP. No one ever warned me that reptiles are like tattoos or I probably would have steered clear altogether, but alas, I've caught the bug. Just picked up the BP this past December at the Hamburg, PA show and trying not to add anything for a while (currently moving). Dream herp is an albino RTB, but I'm trying to convince myself to hold off on one until I'm out of school. I also volunteer at an aquarium teaching people about various animals including some really cool reptilians (Monitor lizards, Death Adder, crocodilians, ETB, various poison dart frogs, etc.) which helps to further curb the impulse to collect.

That's it in a nutshell. Looking forward to being a member!

Welcome Delaney!!

Welcome!

Welcome! Where is the aquarium? I never knew we had one close to Richmond.

Welcome Delaney. Glad you're here.

Welcome, your volunteer work sounds like a great place.

welcome!!

ClarkeReptiles wrote:

Welcome! Where is the aquarium? I never knew we had one close to Richmond.

Thanks for the welcome, guys! I actually volunteer at the Baltimore Aquarium on a weekly/bi-weekly basis. I'm an aspiring marine mammal trainer, and they're the closest facility around housing bottlenose dolphins. We have a huge collection of lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles, and tortoises. If you guys ever find yourself up there, take a look!

Now thats a job I would love to have.

What does it take to volunteer there? I would love to work in marine biology (working in an aquarium) but I need to get my butt back into college first. I've never been to that aquarium. I'll definitely have to make a trip up there some weekend.

smd58 wrote:

Now thats a job I would love to have.

Haha, talking about reptiles or playing with dolphins? Jesse, they interview/hire volunteers every fall and then there's a month-long training program where you go in twice a week. Once you pass your test after training they send out acceptance letters and you can begin volunteering. It's a little extensive, but it is the National Aquarium and they have a lot of influential and international guests come through. You have to commit to one 3.5hr shift a week for the first year. It's a huge commitment for me, seeing as I live in Rva, but if you live closer it's totally worth it.

You can find out more about it at the website here.

Thanks so much for the info! I'm also in Richmond, Va so it would be quite the drive for me too. But I bet it is such an experience! Do they have any specific requirements (training or education level?) to apply?

Hi Delaney, glad to see you decided to join!

Jesse, there are no prerequisites to volunteer. Our staff consists of everything from retired firefighters to doctors and lawyers, teachers, high school students, biologists, etc. We have a smorgasbord of backgrounds at the aquarium. It is a long drive, but I look forward to it each week. It's always nice to get out of Richmond for a day!

Hey Amanda! Yeah, it took me long enough!

We are now planning a trip to go up and see the aquarium. I have two dream jobs. Become a professional reptile breeder and work as a Marine Biologist at an aquarium.