newbie question, why are piranhas illegal anyways?

[The TRUST]

Very interesting... I think I will ask them the next time I go by... "So, are this fish illegal?"

thay have it written right on the tank " PIRANHA - DO NOT TOUGH"

Where is this place??? Don't post the LFS name, just PM me.

 

[spryandspringy]

Very interesting... I think I will ask them the next time I go by... "So, are this fish illegal?"

thay have it written right on the tank " PIRANHA - DO NOT TOUGH"

It's probably just a Pacu.

 

[RhomBeusBoi]

some people release them after they are big and they breed often and thrive in their new surrounding, granted it is a warmer climate. and over bearing narrowminded politicians dont help either...

 

[RhomBeusBoi]

It's probably just a Pacu.

pacu are not piranha.

 

[sandtiger]

No but they look like them and store owners might be dumb enough to label them as priahna.

I talked to a LFS guy here who had red bellys but he did not sell them. He said pirahnas are illegal here and that did not make any sense to me. I live in NY...no way in hell they could survive our winters.

 

[RhomBeusBoi]

The fins, jaw and eyes are considerably different on a pacu versus a piranha. Does it have an underbite?

 

[spryandspringy]

pacu are not piranha.

I know that, but they are often used in the movies as "stunt doubles" for them.

 

[rweedon]

they are not illegal in all states. Just some. WA so happens to be one of the Northern states that ban them. they are legal in OR and ID.

hey trust they became illegal in washington oregon and idaho at the same time along with snakeheads and alligator gar... trust me the only place I have found them in either of the three was Bob's pet and pond in Lewiston Idaho he got them grandfathered in and then had them breeding...

 

[bosshawg]

I:ve said it before, and I'll say it agasin: Piranhas are illegal because of a bad 1970's movie.

Piranha (1978)

But this is about as ridiculous as fearing neon tetras.

that tetra movie messed me up for a couple yrs i wouldnt go swimming newhere!

 

[Tango374]

Whats really funny is that there is some New England states that deam them too dangerous. Even if they were released, there is no way they could survive the winter. Yet, any indvidual can go out and purchase a contrictor that could grow to sizes big enough to swallow a small child.