FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I don't have pirahnas, but I am facinated by them. I was just wondering which ones are leagal/illeagl in the US?

Also (Really, really stupid question) has anybody kept a group of pirahnas outdoors? like a koi pond only with pirahnas?

Any info would be useful, and greatly appreciated, and sorry if Im asking stupid questions ^_^

Inky

It depends on what state you are in whether pirahna's are legal or not. Some states alow them (mainly those with just cold water lakes, reservoirs, etc.) while many don't allow them to come in. You can probably check with your local fish & game department to find out.

I lived in Arizona for a couple of years (and yes pirahna's are illegal there), but a LFS received a large shipment of pirahna by mistake. I was able to obtain a couple that I kept for several years in an aquarium, but I had a friend that acquired a couple dozen which he kept in a large pond he had in his backyard. If I remember correctly he never had any problems with stray cats in or near the pond

Jim

---

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

My roommate wants a pond... or a moute

Im in Indiana. I read that certain species are illeal, like black dimond, but the info I found was 4 yrs old....

Inky

piranha are illegal in most if not all the eastern and western seaboard states. also a large amount of the southern states where they could possibly create a viable population in local waterways.

I know they are illigal near lake Michigan. I remember a news report about some fisherman who caught one and thought it was a bass Im on the oppisite end of the state now though.

Inky

if i remember right i was told that there are only two states that you can leagaly have them one is Rhode Island and i don't remember what the other one was i think it was new york

psg

http://www.kencofish.com/states.htm

This list should help. It doesn't specify which types of piranha are legal or illegal, but I would assume that all piranha and pirambeba fish are included without any distinction between species.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

There legal according to this list ^_^

I don't think she could get a pond though... We'd be liable if anyone fell in or something....

Inky

I would still check with the Fish and Wildlife people. That info is 6 years old. Things may not have changed in 6 years...but it could. I would check to make sure.

*Kristin*

also i know personally, i have never returned any fish, or brought them back if they die within a few days, or release them into the wild, and i dont understnad why people would do tih,s it is a responciblity that you will make(not inplying you) and i dont understand why people dont take care of it, and they ruin it for others who like different fish like pirhanas.

In the LFS's around here you see pirahnas all the time, as far as i know they are not illegal at all over here, i guess it's because they couldn't survive in our waters?

Most commonly you see red-bellies but i have seen others as well

I don't see any in shops around here. The closesed we have are Pacus

Inky