Herpetologist / Turtle & Tortoise Care Specialist (Part-Time)
Location:
Port Richey, FL (Onsite – must be able to reliably commute)
Schedule:
Sunday–Thursday
Fridays & Saturdays Off
Closed most major holidays
Average 20-25 hours per week (hours may vary seasonally)
Pay Rate:
$18–$20 per hour, based on experience
Position Overview:
We are seeking a hands-on, hardworking Herpetologist / Turtle & Tortoise Care Specialist to support the daily care, maintenance, and husbandry of our turtles and tortoises. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about reptiles, comfortable with physical labor, and not afraid to get dirty, wet, or hands-on with animals and their environments.
This is an onsite, physically active role involving animal handling, enclosure maintenance, facility upkeep, and seasonal breeding support. Flexibility, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic are essential.
Key Responsibilities:
Animal Care & Husbandry
- Daily care of turtles and tortoises, including feeding, handling, and health observation
- Cleaning and sanitizing tanks, enclosures, tools, and equipment
- Maintaining clean, safe, and enriched habitats (indoor and outdoor)
- Harvesting and incubating eggs during breeding season
- Pulling, preparing, and staging turtles and tortoises for shipment
Habitat & Facility Maintenance
- Building, repairing, and improving enclosures as needed
- Maintaining outdoor turtle yards and seasonal environments
- Winterizing outdoor habitats and systems
- Maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing water piping and filtration systems
- General upkeep of work areas to maintain biosecurity and sanitation standards
Shipping & Inventory Support
- Preparing shipping containers and materials
- Assisting with proper animal packing for shipment
- Updating inventory counts and animal records accurately
Team Support
- Assisting in other operational areas as needed related to animal care and habitat maintenance
- Following established safety, sanitation, and animal welfare protocols
- Willingness to assist the Logistics Manager as needed
- Willingness to be in social media content
- Willingness to take customer consultations as scheduled by the our Customer Care Rep
Physical & Work Requirements:
This role is physically demanding and requires:
- Ability to lift 50+ lbs regularly
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, squat, and perform labor-intensive tasks for 5–8 hours per shift
- Comfort working outdoors in varying weather conditions
- Willingness to get wet, muddy, and dirty
- Comfort handling live animals (turtles and tortoises of varying sizes)
Qualifications Required:
- 1-2 years of hands-on experience with reptiles, turtles, tortoises, or similar animal care (professional or extensive personal experience)
- Strong comfort level with physical labor and animal handling
- Mechanical aptitude or willingness to learn basic plumbing and filtration systems
- Reliable transportation and ability to commute to Port Richey
- Dependable, punctual, and detail-oriented
Preferred (but not required)
- Background in herpetology, zoology, biology, animal science, or wildlife care
- Experience with breeding programs or egg incubation
- Facility or habitat maintenance experience
Work Environment
- Onsite warehouse, breeding, and outdoor habitat environment
- Exposure to water systems, outdoor elements, and animal enclosures
- Small team, hands-on operation with a strong focus on animal welfare and care standards
Why Join Us
- Work directly with turtles and tortoises in a specialized care environment
- Consistent Sunday - Thursday schedule with Fridays and Saturdays off
- Closed most major holidays
- Meaningful, mission-driven work focused on animal care and ethical husbandry
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Shift availability:
Ability to Commute:
- Port Richey, FL 34668 (Required)
Work Location: In person
