i recently joined this forum and have been reading quite a few threads about people aquiring wildcaught cichlids from jeff rapps etc. and quite frankly, it's getting me really jealous, anyway i was wondering if anybody, even if your are from the US, has any idea about whether wild caught CA/SA cichlids get imported to australia or not. Wondering if there is an aussie version of jeff Rapps hiding anywhere in Aus?. Any details, anything at all, much appreciated.
Cichlid importers in australia???
- Thread starter badassmc
- Start date
It is my understanding that Aus is quite strict about what animals/fish/etc are imported into the country. It may only take a quick google search to figure out if they are even legal to bring in. I believe I've seen another poster from down under mention how limited the cichlid selection is down there because of import regulations. If you don't have any luck with that I'm sure someone will be along to spread some light on the issue.
I'll be frank to begin with: you're **** out of luck.
Essentially every Central American Cichlid is unable to legally be imported into the country.
Very few South American Cichlids are allowed in: Discus, Angels, Apistogramma and many other dwarves, and some of the bigger fish such as Oscars.
If you're chasing those allowable imports, I work for an LFS that handles their own importation (one of the very few in the country) - but by the sounds of things (mentioning Rapps name) you're probably after larger centrals; only the smugglers can help you (and most of them have no taste, bringing in rubbish large catfish and Arapaima etc. instead of trying to consolidate breeding stock of rarer cichlids).
Quarantine is a double edged sword. We have to make do.
Essentially every Central American Cichlid is unable to legally be imported into the country.
Very few South American Cichlids are allowed in: Discus, Angels, Apistogramma and many other dwarves, and some of the bigger fish such as Oscars.
If you're chasing those allowable imports, I work for an LFS that handles their own importation (one of the very few in the country) - but by the sounds of things (mentioning Rapps name) you're probably after larger centrals; only the smugglers can help you (and most of them have no taste, bringing in rubbish large catfish and Arapaima etc. instead of trying to consolidate breeding stock of rarer cichlids).
Quarantine is a double edged sword. We have to make do.
That really sucks, i wonder why they are so strict on it. Probably because a few invasives have managed to survive. Well, i would still like to know the location of this place you work for, i'm also in queensland, just outside of brisbane, would like to have a look