Snake Heads and The USA.......

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Kuda;485007; said:
ok they are banned in the states, BUT if you owned one before hand u may keep it, no selling no buying no trading, but there was nothing to say they have to be destroyed, thats crazy, if u had one prior, u can keep it

That's not true. It depends on each particular state's law. I just checked Illinois for another member and they have no grandfather clause. It's law states any snakehead in possession must be destroyed.
 
dang, do u know what started the snakehead ban in the us exactly? i heard some were it was somebody who got scared over them er su,thin
 
found this

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60754-2004Sep3.html

found this also its says somthin asbout there being a "grandfather" option

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=374


heres pennsylvanias news


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 29, 2002

Commission Moves To Ban snakehead fish IN Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission took steps to ban snakehead fish in Pennsylvania at its summer meeting July 26-27 in Harrisburg. While it is already illegal in Pennsylvania for anyone to release snakehead fish into the state’s waterways, the Commission voted to adopt regulations prohibiting the sale, possession, introduction, importation or transportation of live snakehead fish in the Commonwealth.

Snakehead fish are native to Asia and Africa but have been making headlines across this country in recent weeks following the discovery of a population of northern snakeheads (Channa argus) in Maryland. Voracious predators, they have the potential to disrupt ecosystem predator versus prey balance. Northern snakeheads characteristically have large mouths, grow to a weight of 15 pounds and can survive out of water for several days.

Three species of snakeheads have been found in open waters in seven states. It is believed that the introduction of this fish occurs when individuals purchase live fish and subsequently release them into the wild. While no snakeheads have been found in the wild in Pennsylvania, there have been reports of snakeheads offered for sale in pet stores across the state.

Thirteen states currently prohibit possession of snakehead species. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced a proposal to ban the invasive and voracious snakehead fish from importation and interstate transportation by classify them as injurious wildlife.

In taking steps to ban snakeheads from Pennsylvania, the Commission noted that the fish are similar in general appearance to the bowfin, which are native to Pennsylvania and which are considered a species of special concern with regard to their populations.



And i also read that from this point there are 13 states in all that have went through with the ban
 
I hope other states take a cue from Maryland's more level-headed views.


Associated Press
Sunday, September 5, 2004; Page SM07

Maryland officials have revised a ban on snakeheads.

Regulations that were scheduled to take effect later this month would have outlawed all 29 varieties of the fish, but the Department of Natural Resources said last week that it will ban only the northern snakehead.

The decision means residents will be able to keep tropical varieties as pets.

The DNR's director of fisheries, Howard King, said tropical varieties of the snakehead are not a threat to area waterways because they cannot survive the region's cold winters. Northern snakeheads were found in a Crofton pond two years ago and in a Wheaton pond this spring. In the past several months nearly 20 of the northern variety have been caught in the Potomac River and its tributaries.

The northern snakehead is an Asian import that preys on other species, can breathe air and survives for up to three days on land.
 
Kuda;485026; said:
found this

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60754-2004Sep3.html

found this also its says somthin asbout there being a "grandfather" option

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=374


heres pennsylvanias news


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 29, 2002

Commission Moves To Ban snakehead fish IN Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission took steps to ban snakehead fish in Pennsylvania at its summer meeting July 26-27 in Harrisburg. While it is already illegal in Pennsylvania for anyone to release snakehead fish into the state?s waterways, the Commission voted to adopt regulations prohibiting the sale, possession, introduction, importation or transportation of live snakehead fish in the Commonwealth.

Snakehead fish are native to Asia and Africa but have been making headlines across this country in recent weeks following the discovery of a population of northern snakeheads (Channa argus) in Maryland. Voracious predators, they have the potential to disrupt ecosystem predator versus prey balance. Northern snakeheads characteristically have large mouths, grow to a weight of 15 pounds and can survive out of water for several days.

Three species of snakeheads have been found in open waters in seven states. It is believed that the introduction of this fish occurs when individuals purchase live fish and subsequently release them into the wild. While no snakeheads have been found in the wild in Pennsylvania, there have been reports of snakeheads offered for sale in pet stores across the state.

Thirteen states currently prohibit possession of snakehead species. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced a proposal to ban the invasive and voracious snakehead fish from importation and interstate transportation by classify them as injurious wildlife.

In taking steps to ban snakeheads from Pennsylvania, the Commission noted that the fish are similar in general appearance to the bowfin, which are native to Pennsylvania and which are considered a species of special concern with regard to their populations.



And i also read that from this point there are 13 states in all that have went through with the ban



The article is 4 years old. Alot more states have jumped on the BAN bandwagon since then.
 
that sux
 
my LFS has some snakeheads for sale!!!!!!!!! they are legal and locally bred monster vodoo fish thinks they are channa gachua but i thin they are ceylon snakehead
Channa oreintalis
 
ZOO YORK 207;485088; said:
my LFS has some snakeheads for sale!!!!!!!!! they are legal and locally bred monster vodoo fish thinks they are channa gachua but i thin they are ceylon snakehead
Channa oreintalis

And to keep it on the down-low I wouldn't tell anyone which store it is unless you know them.:naughty:
 
I'm a relative newbee to the hobby and this site. All these laws seem kinda harsh, can a snakehead really thrive and reproduce in most of the US. What temperature extremes can they handle? I know this is a little off subject, but I'm just curious.
 
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