Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to monitor illness and abnormal behaviour in aquatic animals; and to collect and analyse water samples and administer treatments.
This unit applies to individuals working in the companion animal industry sector. It relates to the maintenance of aquascapes and aquatic animals, including fish, amphibians and some reptiles. This unit applies to individuals who take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
NOTE: The terms 'occupational health and safety' (OHS) and 'work health and safety' (WHS) generally have the same meaning in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the national model WHS legislation has not been implemented, RTOs must contextualise the unit of competency by referring to current OHS legislative requirements.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Follow effective personal health management practices | 1.1 Maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness standards according to WHS and workplace policies and procedures 1.2 Identify disease agents and their impact on aquatic animals 1.3 Implement work practices to protect self from, and minimise spread of, zoonotic diseases |
2. Identify unhealthy aquatic animals | 2.1 Identify unhealthy aquatic animals and record information according to workplace policies and procedures 2.2 Identify injured aquatic animals and report to supervisors 2.3 Identify abnormal behaviour and condition in aquatic animals and report to supervisors 2.4 Maintain records for unhealthy aquatic animals according to workplace policies and procedures |
3. Sample, analyse and adjust aquascape water quality | 3.1 Collect water samples using appropriate equipment according to workplace policies and procedures 3.2 Test samples using appropriate equipment and according to manufactures directions 3.3 Record sampling results according to workplace policies and procedures 3.4 Adjust water quality to better suit the requirements of the aquascape and species 3.5 Maintain optimum water quality records for the aquascape and species according to industry requirements |
4. Administer aquatic animal treatments | 4.1 Identify broad categories of parasitic infestations and viral, fungal and bacterial diseases 4.2 Administer appropriate and authorised aquatic animal treatments 4.3 Implement preventative medicine programs for internal and external parasites 4.4 Store treatments and medicines appropriately 4.5 Maintain records for treatments and medicine programs according to workplace policies and procedures and legislative requirements |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Access information about aquatic animal disease and behaviour |
Numeracy | Use tables, graphs or other techniques to document trends and changes in sampling data over time Measure volumes and calculate ratios to achieve correct concentration of chemicals to adjust the aquascape |
Sectors
Companion Animal Sector (CAS)