Why am I still able to buy illegal fish?

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weston

weston

Candiru
MFK Member
Jun 14, 2015
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So I read this page: http://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/exotic/prohibited_aquatic.phtml
It's stating here arapaima, piranha, African tiger fish, vampire tetras, any freshwater stingray as well as any freshwater eels and a bunch of other fish are illegal to own in Texas is this true? It also lists bass, perch (including Nile perch), pike, and tilapia I see these fish for sale all the time especially for aquaponic systems? So people can Get these fish still on this list but will they or will they not get in trouble if caught? Is it a rule that isn't enforced or what because I can walk into my LFS and get 3 of these fish today if I want and I've talked to multiple individuals online and a guy who was going to trade me some fish locally who sell some of these guy? Any thoughts? I'd really like to know. Another obvious fish I didn't list is the Asian aro I was talking to a guy at my LFS just the other day who's boss has one in his office. WTH??? How do people get away with it or does parks and wildlife just not care about fish keeping? Because they even have apple and giant ram-horn snails on this list as well as any type of crayfish and they sell these as feeders all over the place
 
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That does not seem accurate. If this was true then a local store would not get away with it most likely.

It sounds like you need to call and ask them directly about banned species. Maybe it is true but I have my doubts about some of those species being banned.
 
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I agree with pharmaecopia. It's all about the money. Same question is why we can still get drugs. There is a market for a product and it is worth a lot of money.
For the right price you can get anything. I can get an Asian aro, stingray, poly's, whatever I want. They are here and I have been offered. But no matter how much I wish or want my dream fish. I choose not to mess around and risk the fines, time, and freedom.
 
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HarleyK said:
One thing is a fact:
MFK does not tolerate illegal activity. And I expect members to share the same highest ethical standards.
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I understand this isn't a black market website or anything but is this list even FOREAL? I mean no peacock bass? No fire or tire track eels? No pike? These are supper common around me and they have a state run website saying it's illegal? I don't know what to beleive.
pharmaecopia said:
Simple answer is money. If there is money to be made some people are willing to risk potential fines or worse.

This coupled with the fact that people tend to want what they can't have.
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Yeah I know that happens I feel like that's honestly the only reason most people keep Asian arowana that and the stigma surrounding them but I wanted some of these fish before knew they were banned. lol they aren't even illegal most places why would they be illegal in Texas? I just need to know if this is real or not and if I'll get in trouble or if it's a thing like jaywalking where if no ones getting hurt or in this case as long as I'm not "releasing them into the wild" or keeping them in a cramped 55 gallon they turn the other way. Also how does this work What if someone unaware buys a fish they see in the store without researching it? Are they liable or is the seller? Because I've been guilty of this in the past.
 
weston said:
I understand this isn't a black market website or anything but is this list even FOREAL? I mean no peacock bass? No fire or tire track eels? No pike? These are supper common around me and they have a state run website saying it's illegal? I don't know what to beleive.
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Yeah. I wouldn't believe a state run website at all, they're just out there to spread propaganda about invasive species and laws that fish keepers don't want.

Frank Castle Frank Castle J jaws7777 am I wrong?
 
State run websites are accurate unless they are outdated. Fish stores should not be selling illegal species no matter how common they are or of they are banned in other states. I have found illegal species in fish stores. Sometimes the fish store is just misinformed, other times they are selling a specifies that they know is illegal just to make profit. State run websites are not propaganda. If a fish store is selling a fish that you know is illegal, DON'T BUY IT.
 
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