Are arapaima legal?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

fishyman1

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 2, 2006
5
0
0
nj
Does anyone know what the true situation is with the giant Arapaima? (Arapaima Gigas)
Supposedly it is an endangered species, listed on CITES Appendix 2. So how can some people be selling them?
 
Welcome to MFK!!!

Wow!! Post these questions as different threads so you can get the most coverage.

Pimas are legal. The CITES II classification simply means that proper permits are required for exporting that species. Since pimas are now farmed commercially, these farms routinely offer pimas to the world pet trade.

Check with Wes (of Rarefish) and our other sponsors for bagarius cats.

Redtail cats are not hard to find lately. You must be looking in the wrong places.

Veiltail oscars? Try our sponsors.

B. filamentosum are occassionally available. Again, check our sponsors. A few of them have awesome connections with south american collectors/exporters

You must have some huge setups to be looking for pimas, RTCs, and B. filamentosums in the same thread.
 
I just noticed something. You inadvertently posted your "wanted" thread in a sponsors forum. In the future, place these threads in the general classifieds section. Hopefully a mod will move this to its rightful place.
 
They (arapaimas) also show up in the buy and sell here.
 
vtnamezeboi said:
they are legal but...you need a certificate to own one

The exporter is required to have an export permit from the animal's country of origin. The Lacey Act stipulates that CITES listed animals will have the export permits inspected upon arrival to the US. The importer needs an import license, tax license, and proof of the legitimate business (usually the import license). The CITES certificate may be made available to the end customer on chipped animals for ID purposes. But, it is not required (example: Australian lungfish). Pimas are not chipped so, the certificate is not usually made available to buyers once they're in the states. A seller may make copies available as a courtesy.
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com