I think they are illegal but they might stool be legal in Jersey. We used to sell them when I worked at Fish town USA in Ramsey.
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Piranha legality question
I have always wanted to have a piranha tank and recently I have noticed people selling them online. I was curious if anyone know the up to date legality on buying , having them shipped and keeping piranhas in the state of New York.
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The few time I have encounter them in local fish stores in ny they weren't for sale. The stores had gotten them from some body who no longer wanted them.
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They are illegal to possess in New York.
From what I've heard they are illegal in NY but I believe they can be sold in NJ. I really dont know the specifics of whether or not you are technically allowed to posses one in NY. I assume so long as you dont release into the wild and you dont go around advertising ownership of it......
Yea they are illegal to posses, own, sell or try to,sell in NY. People that have them bring them in from out of state. Former DEC 
Here is a recent NYC case:
http://nypost.com/2014/01/29/fish-dealer-admits-he-illegally-imported-40000-piranhas/
Here is a recent NYC case:
http://nypost.com/2014/01/29/fish-dealer-admits-he-illegally-imported-40000-piranhas/
A little OT since I'm not in/from NY but this thread just reminded me of when I owned a few Piranha's when I was younger. Where did I get them? -the local Walmart of course.
LOL you won't find them there these days!
LOL you won't find them there these days!
NEW YORK
Statutory Authority: ECL 1117-03 (6)
No person shall import, export, own or possess, acquire or dispose of live pirhanna fish (Serrasalmus, Rooseveltiella, or Pyrocentrus) within the state without a license or permit issued at the discretion of the department for scientific, biological, or exhibition purposes.
Statutory Authority: ECL 1117-03 (6)
No person shall import, export, own or possess, acquire or dispose of live pirhanna fish (Serrasalmus, Rooseveltiella, or Pyrocentrus) within the state without a license or permit issued at the discretion of the department for scientific, biological, or exhibition purposes.
They're illegal is some states like California. Not sure about Florida because they're really liberal on that stuff, but it seems like they'd ban them in states they could potentially survive in. Naturally they'd died in California because it's like 2 degrees here, but they're still illegal because whoever made the laws is retarded.
I did talk to a lady in line at Petco who had a 10 gallon Piranha tank, and I also saw some in a fish store once... So I know they're around.
In New York, I don't see why they would be illegal. Then again people who make laws are uneducated, so you end up with stuff like tropical fish being illegal in fear they could survive -20F temperatures for like 6 months each year. It wouldn't bother me as much if they people making the laws actually did research... Like in Switzerland it's illegal to own just one guinea pig because they're social animals so you need at least 2, which wouldn't bug me because they probably did research to come up with that... But something like limiting collection of the most proliferate frog in North America to 4 tadpoles per person with a permit over the age of 16, while it is 100% legal for an 8 year old to capture living rattlesnakes without any sort of license or regulations on the issue.
Let's make orchids illegal in Michigan while we're at it because they could easily turn into a pest. There's no way they couldn't survive -40F in the winter.
I did talk to a lady in line at Petco who had a 10 gallon Piranha tank, and I also saw some in a fish store once... So I know they're around.
In New York, I don't see why they would be illegal. Then again people who make laws are uneducated, so you end up with stuff like tropical fish being illegal in fear they could survive -20F temperatures for like 6 months each year. It wouldn't bother me as much if they people making the laws actually did research... Like in Switzerland it's illegal to own just one guinea pig because they're social animals so you need at least 2, which wouldn't bug me because they probably did research to come up with that... But something like limiting collection of the most proliferate frog in North America to 4 tadpoles per person with a permit over the age of 16, while it is 100% legal for an 8 year old to capture living rattlesnakes without any sort of license or regulations on the issue.
Let's make orchids illegal in Michigan while we're at it because they could easily turn into a pest. There's no way they couldn't survive -40F in the winter.
Alright, sad news but appreciate those of you who posted the info. Maybe someday in future things will change in my favor.
legal here in PA, come get some.
Yeah definitely legal in NJ. They are at most every LFS.
Connecticut and Massachusetts also illegal....
there was a giant pacu caught in an iowa river last fall. the fish was near a foot long, caught on rod and reel.
scary really.
its not so much that these fish wouldn't survive winter but if released in spring they can still last 9 months in water that have children in them.
scary really.
its not so much that these fish wouldn't survive winter but if released in spring they can still last 9 months in water that have children in them.
So???They are illegal to possess in New York.
Piranha won't necessarily just attack a human. Even a child. There is just too much food in lakes that are more their size to go after.
I've got an old TFH where Axlerod and others were in the Amazon swimming with them.
And yes, our legislators are pretty ignorant. At one point they were looking to ban the sale and possession of the entire family. Imagine that. Banning the neon tetra. By the same token they were looking at one point to require a license for every pet including each aquatic animal. Think how expensive it would be to get licenses for all your sea monkeys.
I am not sure but I think it was in Lake Michigan someone let a piranha go. OK so that was a dumb move. They wanted to try to drain the lake to get rid of it. Go figure.
I've got an old TFH where Axlerod and others were in the Amazon swimming with them.
And yes, our legislators are pretty ignorant. At one point they were looking to ban the sale and possession of the entire family. Imagine that. Banning the neon tetra. By the same token they were looking at one point to require a license for every pet including each aquatic animal. Think how expensive it would be to get licenses for all your sea monkeys.
I am not sure but I think it was in Lake Michigan someone let a piranha go. OK so that was a dumb move. They wanted to try to drain the lake to get rid of it. Go figure.
To lazy to google the story but how did they know that someone had let a piranha go? By this I mean did someone just happen to spot a piranha while taking a dip lol?Piranha won't necessarily just attack a human. Even a child. There is just too much food in lakes that are more their size to go after.
I've got an old TFH where Axlerod and others were in the Amazon swimming with them.
And yes, our legislators are pretty ignorant. At one point they were looking to ban the sale and possession of the entire family. Imagine that. Banning the neon tetra. By the same token they were looking at one point to require a license for every pet including each aquatic animal. Think how expensive it would be to get licenses for all your sea monkeys.
I am not sure but I think it was in Lake Michigan someone let a piranha go. OK so that was a dumb move. They wanted to try to drain the lake to get rid of it. Go figure.
I was a piranha keeper for 12 years or so. A good site to see the legal states is opefe.com
Piranha's are very misunderstood fish. They would rather scavenge than attack. I put my arm in the tank all the time with 5 12" fish and they avoided me. They will rip any plants to shreds and pretty much sit in one spot all day so if you have plants and are looking for a lot of movement throughout out day, think of something else. Rhoms are solitary fish, attacking their own kind too. Red Bellies (pygocentrus natterreri) can be kept in groups.
Piranha's are very misunderstood fish. They would rather scavenge than attack. I put my arm in the tank all the time with 5 12" fish and they avoided me. They will rip any plants to shreds and pretty much sit in one spot all day so if you have plants and are looking for a lot of movement throughout out day, think of something else. Rhoms are solitary fish, attacking their own kind too. Red Bellies (pygocentrus natterreri) can be kept in groups.
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