California Stingray Laws

[ichthyogeek]

I've been in California for two years, and I'm really liking the state. Buuut...is it really illegal to keep freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygon sp) in the state? I'd love to keep P. motoro or henlei someday (just like one or two), but from the looks of oddball's thread:
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/restricted-species-lists-by-state.36365/
it seems like it's impossible to keep them without a permit....therefore leading me to ask two questions:
How hard would it be to get a permit to keep such rays (for private and not commercial i.e. breeding reasons)?
If not amazonian Potamotrygon rays, are there any other species that are similar in terms of care?

 

[Bigfishnut]

Not going to happen bro

 

[ichthyogeek]

Why not?

 

[Bigfishnut]

If it was doable, people would be keeping rays in California. As far as I know, only research facilities can obtain these permits and it's still very difficult.

 

[Dixon81]

Why do you think you would be able to figure this out but the other 10's of thousands of people who live in California can't?

 

[Bigfishnut]

Probably your best bet is to pick up some hillstream loaches. Like mini stingrays. Really neat little fish....and legal. Risking getting in trouble for keeping restricted or banned species is not a good idea and does not represent MFK. The permits are nearly impossible to acquire under even the best circumstances, definitely not happening for the average hobbyist

 

[Dieselhybrid]

You could always consider going salt, blue spot rays are wicked cool and pretty darn easy all things considered. I'm pretty sure they are still legal in California.

 

[Bigfishnut]

You could always consider going salt, blue spot rays are wicked cool and pretty darn easy all things considered. I'm pretty sure they are still legal in California.

That's a pretty good idea

 

[Oddball]

St John's River atlantic rays are a population of SW rays living completely in FW. These Dasyatid rays are not listed on the restricted species list.

Dasyatis sabina:

 

[Woefulrelic]

St John's River atlantic rays are a population of SW rays living completely in FW. These Dasyatid rays are not listed on the restricted species list.

Dasyatis sabina

Could you get Mekongs? I was gonna mention the Florida rays but I'm not sure how well they do in captivity.