Legality of payara or african tiger fish

[Push]

Ok well I hate to be a pain but I searched and really couldn't find anything. I just recently got back into the hobby and have a new 300 gallon tank that I am looking to stock soon. One of the possibilities that I was looking at were a few H. Tatauaias, however I was skimming around reading and stumbled on my states statute on pirahnas (I knew they were illegal here in Kentucky but never really cared as I have no interest in them) and was surprised that along with the pirahna they have this listed.

KENTUCKY
301 KAR 1:122

Importation, possession; live fish
Section 3. The following live aquatic organisms shall not be imported, sold, possessed in aquaria or otherwise: (1) Sub-family Serrasalminae - piranha, piraya, pirae, or tiger characins.


The last part is what has me worried as from what I have seen both the GATF (which I am not really considering) and the Payara are considered tiger characins.

Can someone please clarify this for me as to the legality of owning a payara in Kentucky?
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[Push]

To the top, does anyone know if payaras are legal here in KY?

 

[PayaraMan]

I don't think any species of Payara are illegal in the US, And I've never heard of Payara being classified as "Tiger Characins" But my advice would be to call the enforcers of Kentucky's hunting and fishing conservation and ask them. You would have to get to the head of the office to get a good answer tho since no one else will know what a Payara is, I've been through the same situation just with wolf fish.

 

[PayaraMan]

Ok so I looked up Tiger Characins and it says that Wolf fish and African Tiger Fish are classified as "Tiger Characins" So it looks like you are good but I still would make sure anyway since getting caught smuggling fish into a place where they are prohibited can get a pretty hefty fine. Good luck!

 

[jclyde13]

I was wondering the same thing months ago when another KY member was selling an atf, I figured that was what they were referring to as a "tiger characin," but the OP of that thread seemed to think they were legal, so IDK.

 

[dmopar74]

(1) Sub-family Serrasalminae - piranha, piraya, pirae, or tiger characins.​

Serrasalminae

there is no mention here of payara or atf.

 

[PayaraMan]

I was wondering the same thing months ago when another KY member was selling an atf, I figured that was what they were referring to as a "tiger characin," but the OP of that thread seemed to think they were legal, so IDK.

In states like Kentucky where solid information is scarce on what fish are legal and illegal it's pretty easy for someone to order a fish from another state where its legal and the seller think that they are legal since no legitimate information could be found.

 

[Push]

Serrasalminae

there is no mention here of payara or atf.

See that is what I thought, and only the piranha family of fish were banned. However I have seen payara and ATF both listed as sabretooth or tiger characins, that is why I figured I was better off asking here before commiting to what could possibly be an illegal fish.

In states like Kentucky where solid information is scarce on what fish are legal and illegal it's pretty easy for someone to order a fish from another state where its legal and the seller think that they are legal since no legitimate information could be found.

Exactly, I wish they would make this stuff clear and use only scientific names rather than throwing out common or slang names, makes things so much more difficult than necessary.

 

[jclyde13]

See that is what I thought, and only the piranha family of fish were banned. However I have seen payara and ATF both listed as sabretooth or tiger characins, that is why I figured I was better off asking here before commiting to what could possibly be an illegal fish.



Exactly, I wish they would make this stuff clear and use only scientific names rather than throwing out common or slang names, makes things so much more difficult than necessary.

+1 Especially when its coming from people who are supposed to know what they're talking about.

 

[Push]

+1 Especially when its coming from people who are supposed to know what they're talking about.

Drgnfrc what part of ky are you from? And I am just about on the verge to say the hell with it if I can't get a straight answer and go with keeping a single Esox Niger in place of the tats. Atleast then I know that fish is legal to keep.