Patrick Moore

Patrick is an aquarist at the San Antonio Zoo where his main duties are to oversee the care and development of a wide variety of aquatic animals, including crustaceans, anemones, corals, jellyfish, a variety of bony and cartilaginous fishes, and reptiles. His daily and weekly tasks including feedings, tank cleaning and maintenance, and water chemistry testing. Patrick also regularly interacts with many different people. Through keeper chats and the zoo’s summer camp for children, he provides education opportunities for guests.

Patrick has been interested in the world around him since he was a little boy, and he enjoyed visiting a creek near his house to look for animals and fish. After graduating from high school Patrick attended Texas A&M University in College Station, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences with a focus on Animal Behavior Management and a minor in Psychology. Patrick worked as an unpaid intern and volunteer in the Herpetology Department at the San Antonio Zoo for six months in 2016 before being hired in his current position.

Patrick’s favorite part about being an aquarist is getting to work with so many kinds of life. Not only does he work with a large variety of fish, but he also works with reptiles, invertebrates, and even aquatic plants. The most surprising thing about his job is how many different skills he needs- Patrick is required to be knowledgeable about electrical systems, HVAC, plumbing, chemistry, pest control, and more in addition to his animal husbandry knowledge. For aspiring aquarists, Patrick advises that hands on experience is one of the most important things that employers look for- the best way to learn things is to go out and do them! His favorite animal is the Giant Pacific Octopus because they’re so intelligent and can solve complex puzzles and even use tools.