illegal to sell mosquito fish?

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Warborg

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Sep 2, 2009
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Austin, Texas
I was at my lfs last week and asked about mosquito fish for my pond. The owner told me it was illegal to sell them because they are a local fish.

Is this true? I've seen them for sale online. Would it be illegal to buy them there?
 
I have never heard of that personally and I find it a bit confusing since I've seen local seminole killifish at one of my LFS's.

I have caught thousands upon thousands of mosquitofish before. In fact, I probably catch about 75 per week to feed my CA/SA tank. If you ask me you should just go to a local pond or ditch and take some home. They will breed and fill your pond quickly.

Hopefully you can get some of those cool melanistic ones!
 
It is illegal to sell native fish without and commercial liscense. They are very pricey, that's why you do not see many people who sell natives. That's also why if you have natives that you want to get rid of, you have to give them away and cannot accept money.

LFS have native mostly as bycatch in shipments of feeder fish and ghost shrimp. They sell the natives quickly and whether they know what it is or not. They let them go for dirt cheap (usually as feeder price) to get rid of them no questions asked. I have gotten numbers of bluefins, seminole killies, swamp darters, etc in ghost shrimp tanks. If you get a chance, check out those tanks and you'll get some nice treasures!
 
Warborg;3515422; said:
I was at my lfs last week and asked about mosquito fish for my pond. The owner told me it was illegal to sell them because they are a local fish.

Is this true? I've seen them for sale online. Would it be illegal to buy them there?
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Ok I read the thread, and it's up and down and all around.... one say no the says yes, another so go out and catch.

Question is your pond outdoors? If the answer is yes, then you may call any place that sell them and buy them period. Here's the problem in doing this, these places keep a record of whom they sell to and where there lake or pond is located. Why, two reasons come to mind (1) if theres ever an outbreak or anything and (2) does the words Taxes, Zoning and insurance sound familiar. If you think I jest go out an ask around.

I don't believe that you will be required to to have any special license for them either, though you maybe required to show that your lake or pond is registered with the local tax bureau. There not normally sold at LFS because they don't fall under the catagory of pets, that's why you don't see fish like salmon, chain pickerel, trout or large mouth bass, which fall under the catagory of sport fish or in the case of the salmon and trout fall under the catagory of food.

If I where you I would just run down to my local pond, lake or stream with a dip net and bucket and scoop up a few say 50. Note that most fish at fingerling size or less will consume mosquito lava, dragonfly lava and anything else they can find to eat. But if you feel they aren't living up to what you believe mosquito fish will do then by all means get yourself some.
:popcorn:
 
I think there has been some confusion. The way I read the question was more or less "is it illegal to sell native fish?" and "can I buy them online?"

Warborg, what the LFS store owner was telling you, is that he cannot sell you native fish b/c he does not have a lisence. People you see on the internet are commercial dealers and have a license, and you can purchase from them.

As mentioned, if you want, you can go out and catch them yourself. Gambusia affinis is now widespread after mass introduction across the country. You shouldn't have to go too far at all to find them.
 
Whether or not it's illegal to sell native fish has to do with local state laws. One state may very well be different from another. native fish are often for sale in my state in pet shops.

Most pet shops will try to tell you they are illegal in some way shape or form because they don't want the competition from often beautiful native fishes. Sometimes they just don't want to spring for a permit to sell them even though the permits are often very cheap. many of the big box type pet stores cannot sell them because the big box suppliers do not carry them.

If they are native to your area call your local fish and game people and find out what permits you need to catch them and go catch your own. In most states all you need is a fishing license to catch non game fish for your own use.

In my state I need a special devices permit and a fishing license to catch non game fish with nets. the special devices permit is $10 for a year. Don't be too rough on your local pet shop, many times even they don't know they can sell natives that have been caught or bred by legal means.
 
Check with an EPO or a DFG officer. In MA it is illegal to transport fish off of a body of water alive. That may be the case for you too
 
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