[benblach]

how can i get a license to keep illegal fish

[Brooklamprey]

how can i get a license to keep illegal fish

In Florida your not going to get one........It is difficult for Zoos in many cases to get permits in Florida...
For a hobbyist it is downright just not going to happen.

[N-E CICHLIDS]

Actually you can get a Permit to sell and have Restricted fish in Florida. You have to apply for a permit to have/Sell illegal fish from the FWC. The catch is that when a wholeseller gets this permit They can only sell to someone who has the same permit within the state of florida. Now if you are an internet company like myself, I still need the permit to house the fish, even if I am not selling to anyone in the state of florida. I can house Pirahnas in my tanks as long as I have the permit. The only things I can not house even with the permit are fish that are banned in the U.S. all together (Asian Arowanna, Snakeheads, Etc...) Black Arrowanas are illegal in the State of Florida, However I can house them in my facility under the permit. I would say it is hard to get a permit, But not impossible. The FWC comes out to your place to inspect the use for them. If you get caught selling to a non liscensed person, they will take your liscense and fine you. You can have some of the restricted species. It depends on the type. Like for instance the list states no Boney Tongued Fish, However you can sell and have Silver Arrowanas in Florida. Talapias are illegal in Florida. That only applies to certain types of Talapia. There are many different types of Talapia. Contact the FWC for a detail list. Most people stay away from restricted fish in general because they don't want to take the chance on what species is illegal and what is not. Safer that way

[lee]

Help me out with this why can you have a silver arowana and not a black?You can easily drive to al to buy rays but only can have atlantics in fl does not make sense.

[N-E CICHLIDS]

The silver Arowana is the only Boney tounged fish that can not survive in water below 58 degrees. Therefore if they are dumped into a lake they will die when the temp goes below 58 degrees, whereas the black arowana can survive low temps.

Florida is a natural habitat for the Atlantic stingray. They won't destroy the eco system because they are apart of the natural eco-system in florida. Talapias are illegal because they their main food source is plants and vegetation. If they were released in lakes they would eat the littoral shelfs and the littoral shelfs filter the water before being released out of the lake.

[lee]

The silver Arowana is the only Boney tounged fish that can not survive in water below 58 degrees. Therefore if they are dumped into a lake they will die when the temp goes below 58 degrees, whereas the black arowana can survive low temps.

Florida is a natural habitat for the Atlantic stingray. They won't destroy the eco system because they are apart of the natural eco-system in florida. Talapias are illegal because they their main food source is plants and vegetation. If they were released in lakes they would eat the littoral shelfs and the littoral shelfs filter the water before being released out of the lake.

Did not know that about b arowanas assume they are the same as the silvers.What about the sa stingrays I would not think they would fair well in cooler water.

[N-E CICHLIDS]

FW Stingrays are not bad for the Eco-system. They are a potential threat to humans. The FWC don't want People in lakes and rivers to step on them and get stung. The ban has nothing to do with the eco-system, it is based on the safety of the public. The FW atlantic stingray is actually the saltwater stingrays in the atlantic ocean. The Atlantic Stingray swims up the the rivers (mainly the St. Johns River) to breed and reproduce, then goes back into the Atlantic. It's kinda neat that a SW Animal can tolerate FW for long periods of time.

I have to correct myself. Snakeheads are only banned in 13 States right now. The federal government is trying to ban them all together in the states. Snakeheads are extremly dangerous. They can live out of water for up to 3 days. They have been known to attack anything that gets in their way including humans.

[lee]

FW Stingrays are not bad for the Eco-system. They are a potential threat to humans. The FWC don't want People in lakes and rivers to step on them and get stung. The ban has nothing to do with the eco-system, it is based on the safety of the public. The FW atlantic stingray is actually the saltwater stingrays in the atlantic ocean. The Atlantic Stingray swims up the the rivers (mainly the St. Johns River) to breed and reproduce, then goes back into the Atlantic. It's kinda neat that a SW Animal can tolerate FW for long periods of time.

I have to correct myself. Snakeheads are only banned in 13 States right now. The federal government is trying to ban them all together in the states. Snakeheads are extremly dangerous. They can live out of water for up to 3 days. They have been known to attack anything that gets in their way including humans.

Thanks for the info.I personally would not own a atlantic ray they sell them at petland I think they are kind of plain would love to own some true freshwater rays.

[Brooklamprey]

I have to correct myself. Snakeheads are only banned in 13 States right now. The federal government is trying to ban them all together in the states.

The Federal Government has effectively banned them by placing them onto the injurious wildlife list within the Lacey act. (50 CFR part 16)

Individual states can only regulate the fish currently in the country at this time. Many find it a symbolic act to now Ban them but in reality they are fully banned at a state level in all cases when it comes to importation or interstate movement.

[benblach]

i think that it is stupid that they ban the fw stingray, its just my opinion but, only idiots swim in the rivers and lakes here, because you have to be pretty stupid to swim in a lake full of alligators, water moccasins, and all that other stuff. i mean the lake down the road from me is a pretty small lake (1/3 of a mile long and wide) and it usually has 4 or 5 alligators in it at a time.

how can i contact the FWC? how much do the liscences cost? how lond do they last?