It's Star Trek. we're talking about whales swimming around a starship hybrid for marine and land based earth-life. I would have to assume they've learned how to use tools- and make tools that are appropriate for their anatomy. (maybe along the lines of telepathically controlled robots a la David brin's Startide Rising.)

The Captain (real ass Captain, ze French one) gets Borged and is gone for an unspecified length of time. It was a season ending and beginning 2 parter so we can build head canon about what happened to Livingston during The Jellico Jihad and after Picard was rescued and resumed his post. I like to think he was living in a huge, fancy tank at Picard's chateau on Earth with his own tank peasant to look after him. Tropical fish tanks are a ton of work, making that little fish a job creator!

I think so? it was in the ready room in First Contact. apparently it died in the crash for Generations. (and Moore joked that Spot had to eat something before Data could get back.)