Freshwater Fish Shipping & Ownership Restrictions by State
Last reviewed: August 25, 2026
Before purchasing a live freshwater fish, customers are responsible for confirming that the species is legal to possess, purchase, import, transport, and receive in their state and local jurisdiction.
Fish laws vary significantly from state to state. Some states prohibit specific species, while others require permits or only allow species appearing on an approved list.
How to Read This Guide
🚫
Do Not Ship
— Generally prohibited for ordinary private aquarium ownership, importation, sale, or live transport.
⚠️
Permit / Special Conditions
— May only be possessed, imported, transported, or purchased with state authorization or under specific conditions.
🔎
Verify Before Shipping
— State uses an approved-species, classification, or other system where a species may be restricted even if it is not on a simple prohibited list.
✅
Common Aquarium Fish Generally Allowed
— No broad prohibition on ordinary aquarium species was identified, but specific prohibited species and other laws still apply.
Important:
This page is provided as a general reference only and is not legal advice. Regulations can change at any time. State, federal, county, city, agricultural, fish-health, endangered-species, and invasive-species regulations may also apply. Always verify the scientific name of the fish with the appropriate state agency before ordering when there is any doubt.
Alabama
🚫 Restricted / Prohibited Fish
Alabama regulations restrict numerous nonnative fish, including:
Walking catfish and other Clarias
Piranhas
Nile perch
Asian seabass / barramundi and other regulated Lates or Macquaria
Black carp
Nonnative sturgeon
Chinese perch
Snakeheads
Mud carp
Rudd and roach, including certain hybrids
Zander
European perch
Eurasian minnow
Wels catfish
Prussian carp
Crucian carp
Nonnative freshwater eels in the family Anguillidae
Amur sleeper
Live silver, bighead, and related
Hypophthalmichthys carp are also restricted.
Alabama's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources identifies Rule 220-2-.26 as the applicable possession/import regulation. A proposed amendment was also posted in 2026, so Alabama should be rechecked before shipping an unusual species.
Alaska
🚫 Do Not Ship Listed Invasive Fish Alive
Alaska classifies prohibited invasive fish into different categories. Aquarium-relevant restricted fish include:
Nonnative/non-ornamental carp
Asian carp
American shad
Eastern and Western mosquitofish
Fathead minnow
Golden shiner
Redside shiner
Round goby
Yellow perch
Black crappie
White crappie
Bluegill
Pumpkinseed
Brook trout
Brown trout
Catfish
Largemouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Muskellunge
Walleye
White perch
Alaska Fish & Game states that permits are generally not available to individuals simply wishing to keep banned invasive species as pets. Ordinary ornamental aquarium fish are treated separately, but release is prohibited.
Arizona
⚠️ Restricted Wildlife — Special License May Be Required
Arizona has one of the broader restricted-live-wildlife lists. Aquarium-relevant groups include, among others:
Arapaima
Piranhas
Freshwater stingrays
Snakeheads
Walking and other regulated air-breathing catfishes
Electric eels
Electric catfishes
Gars
Many nonnative carp
Pike and pickerel
Tiger/wolf fishes
Certain tetras
Numerous perch species
Certain tilapias
Sturgeons
Paddlefish
Certain freshwater predatory fish
Arizona amended its restricted-live-wildlife regulations effective in 2026. Do not ship an unusual or predatory species to Arizona without checking its scientific name against current R12-4-406 and determining whether the buyer has the required authorization.
Arkansas
🚫 Prohibited Exotic Aquatic Fish
Arkansas prohibits live possession, importation, sale, purchase, trade, stocking, culture, or transport of:
Alewife
Blueback herring
Eurasian ruffe
Mexican banded tetra
Orfe
All piranhas in family Serrasalmidae
Roach
Round goby
Rudd
All snakeheads
All sticklebacks
All walking catfishes
White perch
Yellow perch
Prussian carp
Crucian carp
Wels catfish
Largescale silver carp
Eurasian minnow
Stone moroko
European perch
Nile perch
Amur sleeper
Zander
Arkansas's current regulations page directs users to the current AGFC Code, and the agency released its 2026–27 regulations effective July 1, 2026.
California
🚫 Restricted Species — Not Legal as Ordinary Pets Without Authorization
California Fish and Wildlife identifies the following aquarium-relevant restricted fish:
Snakeheads
Piranhas
Grass carp
Northern pike
Silver carp
Bighead carp
Gars
Black carp
Freshwater Stingrays
Restricted species generally may not be imported, transported, or possessed without a CDFW Restricted Species Permit. CDFW states that restricted-species permits are not issued simply for keeping restricted wildlife as ordinary pets.
Colorado
🔎 Verify Species Before Shipping
Colorado regulates possession of live aquatic wildlife through approved and authorized species provisions. Live aquatic wildlife that is not authorized under Colorado's wildlife regulations should not automatically be assumed legal for aquarium possession or importation.
Certain aquatic nuisance species are specifically prohibited, and special provisions apply to species such as Asian carp and tilapia.
For unusual aquarium fish, verify the scientific name with Colorado Parks and Wildlife before shipping.
Connecticut
🚫 Prohibited Fish
Connecticut identifies prohibited fish including:
Piranhas
Walking catfish
Black carp
Silver carp
Bighead carp
Gizzard shad
All snakeheads
Diploid grass carp are prohibited; triploid grass carp require specific state authorization.
Connecticut DEEP states that common aquarium species generally do not require a fish-import permit, but prohibited species remain illegal and aquarium fish may never be released into Connecticut waters.
Delaware
🚫 Restricted Without Written Authorization
Do not ship the following to Delaware without written DNREC authorization:
Snakeheads
Walking catfish
White amur / grass carp
Delaware also prohibits unauthorized stocking of live fish in public waters.
Florida
🚫 Prohibited Freshwater Fish
Florida's prohibited freshwater fish include:
Green sunfish
Electric catfishes
African tigerfishes
Electric eels
Piranhas and pirambebas
Snakeheads
Trahiras
Air-sac catfishes
Most tilapias
Walking catfishes, subject to listed exceptions
Lampreys
Parasitic catfishes
Florida also has a separate Conditional Species category that includes fish such as:
Dorados
Certain tilapias
Grass carp
Silver carp
Bighead carp
Black carp
Clarias batrachus
Nile perch and related fish
Arowanas / bonytongues, with an exception for the silver arowana
Conditional species are not ordinary pet-trade fish and require compliance with FWC authorization and facility requirements.
Georgia
⚠️ Wild Animal License Required for Certain Fish
Georgia requires authorization for several regulated freshwater fish, including:
Banded tetra
Piranhas
Grass carp
Silver carp
Bighead carp
Air-breathing catfishes
Certain parasitic catfishes
Snakeheads
Freshwater stingrays
Georgia DNR provides exemptions for many ordinary exotic aquarium fish kept in secure systems, but regulated species require appropriate licensing.
Hawaii
🔎 STRICT APPROVED-SPECIES SYSTEM
Hawaii is one of the most important states to verify before shipping any live fish.
Hawaii divides imported animals into categories such as:
Conditionally Approved
Restricted List A
Restricted List B
Prohibited
Species that are not on an applicable approved list may be considered prohibited.
Animal importation is administered primarily by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, rather than simply by the state's wildlife agency.
Do not ship an uncommon freshwater fish to Hawaii until the exact scientific name has been verified with Hawaii's current import lists and any required permit has been obtained.
Idaho
⚠️ Import / Transport Rules Apply
Idaho does not provide a simple aquarium-fish blacklist covering every pet species.
However:
Importation and transportation of live fish are regulated in various fishery and pond situations.
Grass carp require authorization.
Grass carp must meet triploid certification and fish-health requirements where authorized.
Releasing aquarium fish is illegal.
Ordinary aquarium species are treated differently from fish intended for stocking or aquaculture, but unusual species should be verified with Idaho Fish and Game before shipment.
Illinois
🚫 Injurious / Harmful Fish
Illinois identifies harmful aquatic fish including:
Bighead carp
Black carp
Eurasian ruffe
Rudd
Round goby
Silver carp
Snakeheads
Tubenose goby
Walking catfish
Illinois regulations prohibit unauthorized possession and other activities involving listed injurious species.
Indiana
🚫 Prohibited Invasive Fish
Indiana's prohibited fish list includes:
Bighead carp
Black carp
Round goby
Rudd
Ruffe
Silver carp
Snakeheads
Stone moroko
Tubenose goby
Walking catfishes
Wels catfish
White perch
Zander
Do not ship these fish alive to Indiana.
Iowa
🚫 Prohibited Aquatic Invasive Fish
Iowa identifies the following as prohibited:
Bighead carp
Black carp
Round goby
Rudd
Ruffe
Silver carp
Snakeheads
White perch
Iowa DNR states it is illegal to possess, introduce, purchase, sell, or transport prohibited aquatic invasive species.
Kansas
🚫 Prohibited Without Authorization
Kansas restricted fish include:
Amur sleeper
Bighead carp
Black carp
Common roach
Crucian carp
Diploid grass carp
Eurasian minnow
European perch
Largescale silver carp
Nile perch
Prussian carp
Round goby
Silver carp
Snakeheads
Stone moroko
Walking catfish
Wels catfish
White perch
Kansas restricts importation, possession, and release of listed prohibited species unless appropriate authorization applies.
Kentucky
🚫 Prohibited / Restricted Aquatic Species
Kentucky restrictions include:
Piranhas and related prohibited serrasalmids
Mexican banded tetra
Sea lamprey
Walking catfish
Snakeheads
Round goby
Silver carp
Bighead carp
Black carp
Grass carp
Special provisions exist for authorized triploid grass carp.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife specifically notes that certain aquatic nuisance species may not be imported, bought, sold, or possessed in aquaria.
Louisiana
🚫 Restricted / Prohibited Fish
Louisiana restricts live possession, sale, or importation of fish including:
Tilapia
Many nonnative carp
Freshwater electric eel
Rudd
Asian swamp eels
Snakeheads
Walking catfishes
Pencil/parasitic catfishes
Piranhas
Rio Grande cichlid
Exceptions exist for certain commonly established carp such as koi/common carp/goldfish under applicable regulations.
Written permission may be available for some otherwise restricted species, but ordinary customers should not receive them without authorization.
Maine
🔎 APPROVED / UNRESTRICTED LIST SYSTEM
Maine does not operate solely from a simple prohibited-fish blacklist.
Maine law generally regulates the introduction, importation, and transportation of live fish, while MDIFW maintains provisions allowing specified tropical aquarium fish and other species through an Unrestricted List.
If a fish is not clearly covered by Maine's current unrestricted aquarium provisions, verify it with Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife before shipping.
Maryland
🚫 Snakeheads
Maryland prohibits unauthorized live importation and transportation of:
Snakeheads
Viable snakehead eggs
Additional rules restrict movement of invasive fish such as blue catfish and flathead catfish between bodies of water.
For normal aquarium shipments, snakeheads are the primary statewide DNR concern identified here.
Massachusetts
🚫 Fish That Cannot Be Kept as Ordinary Aquarium Pets
MassWildlife lists the following as fish that cannot ordinarily be kept as pets:
Native or established Massachusetts fish, except where separately authorized
Tilapia
Grass carp / white amur
Piranhas and related species
Rudd
Walking catfish and related species
Snakeheads
Bluntnose minnow
Ordinary aquarium-trade fish such as goldfish, koi, guppies, and other qualifying aquarium fish are generally allowed.
Michigan
🚫 Prohibited Live Fish
Michigan restrictions include:
Bighead carp
Black carp
Silver carp
Grass carp / white amur
Snakeheads
Wels catfish
Bitterling
Stone moroko
Zander
Ide
Japanese weatherfish
Rudd
Tench
Eurasian ruffe
Tubenose goby
Round goby
Michigan also restricts live transgenic fish and other regulated organisms.
Minnesota
🚫 Prohibited Invasive Fish
Minnesota's prohibited fish include:
Amur sleeper
Bighead carp
Black carp
Crucian carp
Eastern mosquitofish
Western mosquitofish
Eurasian minnow
European perch
Grass carp
Largescale silver carp
Northern snakehead
Oriental weatherfish / dojo loach
Prussian carp
Roach
Round goby
Rudd
Ruffe
Sea lamprey
Silver carp
Stone moroko
Tench
Tubenose goby
Wels catfish
White perch
Zander
Minnesota separately classifies some fish as regulated invasive species, including common carp/koi, goldfish, tilapia, rainbow smelt, and alewife. Regulated does not mean the same thing as prohibited, but release is unlawful.
Mississippi
🚫 Prohibited Fish
Mississippi prohibits live:
Walking catfish
Piranhas
Snakeheads
Swamp eels
Missouri
🚫 Prohibited Fish
Missouri prohibits or tightly restricts possession of:
Black carp
Round goby
Tubenose goby
Snakeheads
Walking catfish
Montana
🚫 Prohibited Fish
Montana identifies the following as prohibited:
Bighead carp
Black carp
Eurasian ruffe
Grass carp
Round goby
Silver carp
Snakeheads
Tilapia in genus
Oreochromis
Prohibited classification generally prevents possession, sale, purchase, exchange, or transport except under authorized circumstances.
Nebraska
🚫 Do Not Ship Alive
Nebraska's aquatic invasive fish categories include:
Round goby
Snakeheads
Black carp
Silver carp
Bighead carp
White perch
Yellow bass
Live transportation of designated aquatic invasive species is prohibited.
Nevada
🚫 Extensive Restricted Fish List
Nevada restricts many live fish, including aquarium-trade groups such as:
Lampreys
Freshwater stingrays
Bowfin
Gars
Certain herring and shad
Mexican banded tetra
Piranhas
South American parasitic catfishes
White perch
Freshwater drum
Grass carp, except where specifically authorized
Pike killifish
Snakeheads
Walking catfish
Tiger/wolf fishes
Sticklebacks
Certain tilapias
Nile perch
Bighead carp
Black carp
Crucian carp
Silver carp
Rudd
Northern pike
Swamp eel
Round goby
Flathead catfish
Peacock bass
Nevada has one of the broader state lists, so verify unusual fish by scientific name before shipping.
New Hampshire
✅ Ordinary Ornamental Aquarium Fish Generally Allowed
New Hampshire's current rules classify ornamental freshwater and marine aquarium fish kept in closed systems as non-controlled for ordinary possession/import purposes.
This does not authorize release, native protected species, or any species separately classified as controlled or prohibited.
New Jersey
🚫 Potentially Dangerous Fish
New Jersey's current Fish & Wildlife page states that the Fish Code designates 14 potentially dangerous fish species/categories and prohibits their possession and/or release.
Freshwater species currently shown by NJ Fish & Wildlife include:
Bighead carp
Blue catfish
Brook stickleback
Flathead catfish
Freshwater drum
Diploid grass carp
Green sunfish
Northern snakehead
Oriental weatherfish / pond loach
Round goby
Silver carp
Swamp eel
Warmouth
Because New Jersey's list was updated recently and the Fish Code refers to fourteen designated species/categories, customers and sellers should use the state's current Fish Code/table rather than relying on older 10-species lists found elsewhere online.
New Mexico
🔎 CLASSIFICATION / APPROVED-SPECIES SYSTEM
New Mexico classifies non-domestic wildlife into groups.
Generally:
Group I
species have fewer restrictions.
Groups II and III
may require permits.
Group IV
pecies are generally unavailable for ordinary private importation/possession.
Unlisted non-domestic species may default to the restrictive classification.
For unusual aquarium fish, verify the exact scientific name against the current New Mexico Department of Game & Fish species importation list before shipping.
New York
🚫 Prohibited Fish
New York prohibits:
Northern snakehead
Bullseye snakehead
Giant snakehead
Walking catfish
Western mosquitofish
Eastern mosquitofish
Largescale silver carp
Silver carp
Bighead carp
Oriental weatherfish
Black carp
Round goby
Sea lamprey
Tubenose goby
Tench
⚠️ Regulated Rather Than Completely Prohibited
New York separately lists regulated fish including:
Goldfish
Red shiner
Common carp / koi
Ruffe
Asian swamp eel
Blue tilapia
Nile tilapia
Zander
Rudd
Regulated invasive species may be subject to possession, sale, transport, and release requirements different from fully prohibited species.
North Carolina
🚫 Prohibited Fish
North Carolina restrictions include:
Piranhas
Walking catfish
Snakeheads
Redtail catfish
Asian swamp eel
Shortfin eel
Red shiner
Yellow bass
⚠️ Grass Carp
Grass carp are regulated; authorized triploid grass carp may be used under specific circumstances.
North Dakota
⚠️ Class I Species — Special Permit Required
North Dakota's restricted Class I fish include:
Snakeheads
Black carp
Grass carp
Prussian carp
European rudd
Round goby
Tubenose goby
Eurasian ruffe
Class I wildlife possession/importation is limited and generally requires special state authorization.
Ohio
🚫 Injurious Aquatic Invasive Fish
Ohio's list includes:
Alabama bass
Amur sleeper
Bighead carp
Bitterling
Black carp
Crucian carp
Diploid grass carp / white amur
Eastern banded killifish
Eurasian minnow
European perch
Florida bass
Ide
Largescale silver carp
Nile perch
Prussian carp
Roach
Round goby
Rudd
Ruffe
Sea lamprey
Silver carp
Snakeheads
Stone moroko
Tench
Three-spine stickleback
Tubenose goby
Walking catfish
Wels catfish
White perch
Zander
Triploid grass carp may be allowed under specific authorization.
Oklahoma
🚫 Illegal to Import or Possess Without Authorization
Oklahoma's prohibited fish include:
Alewives
Bighead carp
Black carp
Blueback herring
Bony-tongue fishes
Electric catfish
Electric eel
Freshwater stingrays
Pike killifish
Houri
Parasitic South American catfish
Peacock bass / pavon
Piranhas
Rainbow smelt
Rudd and hybrids
Silver carp
Snakeheads
Walking catfish
Because Oklahoma includes broad taxonomic groups such as bony-tongue fishes, verify arowanas and other unusual species before shipping.
Oregon
🚫 Prohibited Live Fish
Oregon's prohibited or controlled fish include:
Bowfin
Piranhas
Walking catfish
Oriental weatherfish
Ide
Rudd
Gars
Snakeheads
Round goby
Ruffe
Zander / pike-perch
Pike and pickerel
Black carp
Bighead carp
Silver carp
⚠️ Grass carp and certain tilapia are separately controlled and may require authorization.
Pennsylvania
🚫 Prohibited Fish
Pennsylvania prohibits live possession, sale, barter, or transportation of:
Bighead carp
Black carp
European rudd
Round goby
Ruffe
Silver carp
All snakeheads
Tubenose goby
⚠️ Triploid grass carp are regulated through Pennsylvania's permit program.
Rhode Island
🚫 Prohibited Aquarium Fish
Rhode Island prohibits possession of:
Grass carp / white amur
Rudd
Walking catfishes
Snakeheads
Black carp
Round goby
Tubenose goby
Ruffe
Other qualifying aquarium-trade fish may generally be kept without an exotic-animal possession permit, subject to native, endangered, nuisance-species, and other restrictions.
South Carolina
🚫 Restricted Fish
South Carolina restrictions include:
Candiru / carnero catfish
Freshwater electric eel
Grass carp / white amur
Walking catfish
Piranhas
Sticklebacks
Mexican banded tetra
Sea lamprey
Rudd
Snakeheads
SCDNR may issue special authorization for limited purposes such as research or education; this does not make the fish ordinary pet-trade species.
South Dakota
🚫 Aquatic Invasive Fish — Do Not Ship Alive
South Dakota identifies aquatic invasive fish including:
Rudd
Snakeheads
Common carp
Grass carp
Black carp
Silver carp
Bighead carp
Western mosquitofish
Round goby
White perch
Prussian carp
Ordinary ornamental aquarium fish have separate import provisions, but designated AIS may not be possessed, transported, sold, or propagated alive except as authorized.
Tennessee
🚫 Banned Fish
Tennessee's banned aquatic species include:
Silver carp
Bighead carp
Black carp
Blueback herring
Round goby
Rudd
Ruffe
All snakeheads
All swamp eels
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency states these species may not be possessed or transported alive.
Texas
🚫 EXTENSIVE PROHIBITED / CONTROLLED EXOTIC FISH LIST
Texas has one of the most extensive aquarium-related restricted fish lists in the country.
Texas Parks & Wildlife prohibits or controls fish including:
Air-sac catfishes
Certain African lute fishes
African pike fishes
African tiger fishes
Arapaima
Asian pikeheads
Numerous Asian and Old World carp/minnow groups
Bighead carp
Black carp
Grass carp
Silver and largescale silver carp
Stone moroko
Payara / vampire tetras
Dorados
Electric eels
Electric catfishes
Wels catfish
Freshwater eels other than American eel
Amur sleeper
Freshwater stingrays — all Potamotrygonidae
Most lampreys
Nile perch and other Lates
Pike killifish
Certain pike-perches
Ruffe
European perch
Piranhas
Round gobies
Snakeheads
Candiru and other parasitic catfishes
South American pike characins
Swamp/rice eels
Certain temperate basses
Certain temperate perches
Tilapia in multiple genera
Trahiras
Walking catfishes
Whale catfishes
Texas states that a person generally may not possess, import, transport, sell, purchase, propagate, or culture a listed harmful or potentially harmful exotic fish without applicable authorization.
Texas orders should always be checked by scientific name when the fish is unusual.
Utah
🚫 Prohibited Fish
Aquarium-relevant Utah prohibited species include:
Alewife
Asian swamp eel
Bighead carp
Black carp
Bowfin
Brook stickleback
Burbot
Eurasian ruffe
Flathead catfish
Gars
Diploid grass carp
Ide
Piranhas
Nile perch
Northern snakehead
Red-bellied pacu
Red shiner
Round goby
Rudd
Sand shiner
Sea lamprey
Silver carp
South American parasitic catfishes
Tiger fish
Tench
Tilapia
Walking catfish
Zander
Utah also uses classifications under which aquatic wildlife not affirmatively authorized may be presumed prohibited, making scientific-name verification important for unusual species.
Vermont
🔎 APPROVED / CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Vermont Fish & Wildlife uses classifications such as:
Unrestricted
Restricted
Prohibited
Species that do not qualify under Vermont's unrestricted or restricted classifications may fall into the prohibited category.
Do not assume an unusual tropical fish is legal merely because it is absent from a short prohibited-species list. Verify the scientific name with Vermont Fish & Wildlife before shipping.
Virginia
⚠️ Special Permit Required for Listed Nonnative Fish
Virginia's regulated nonnative fish include:
Piranhas
Oriental weatherfish
Bighead carp
Grass carp
Red shiner
Silver carp
Black carp
Rudd
Tench
Tubenose goby
Round goby
Alabama bass
Snakeheads
Tilapia
Possession, importation, sale, or other activities involving listed species generally require authorization.
Other nonnative exotic species not listed may be possessed or sold subject to Virginia's other laws and release prohibitions.
Washington
🚫 Prohibited Invasive Fish
Washington's prohibited classifications include fish such as:
Snakeheads
Walking catfishes
Bighead carp
Black carp
Silver carp
Largescale silver carp
Northern pike
Bowfin
Diploid grass carp
Ide
Fathead minnow
Rudd
Round goby
Gars
Piranhas
Washington distinguishes different prohibited levels and regulated aquatic animal categories. Do not ship a listed prohibited invasive fish without Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife authorization.
West Virginia
⚠️ FISH IMPORTATION PERMIT STATE
West Virginia is particularly important for online sellers.
West Virginia DNR's Fish Importation Permit materials state that permits are required for the transport of fish into West Virginia and require the species, source, and shipment information to be identified.
Grass carp have additional permit requirements.
For store purposes, do not assume that a normal aquarium shipment is exempt. Verify current WVDNR requirements before sending live fish into West Virginia.
Wisconsin
🚫 Prohibited Invasive Fish
Wisconsin's NR 40 prohibited fish include species such as:
Snakeheads
Grass carp
Red shiner
Silver carp
Bighead carp
Black carp
Zander
Rudd
Tench
⚠️ Restricted Aquarium-Trade Fish
Wisconsin also separately regulates aquarium-trade fish including:
Sterlet
Goldfish
Koi
Ide
Weather loach
Chinese high-fin banded shark
Bitterlings
Wisconsin DNR states that prohibited invasive species generally cannot be possessed, transported, transferred, or introduced without a permit. Restricted fish and crayfish are also subject to stricter possession rules than many other restricted invasive organisms.
Wyoming
🚫 Prohibited Aquatic Invasive Fish
Wyoming's prohibited aquatic invasive fish include:
Bighead carp
Silver carp
Largescale silver carp
Black carp
Snakeheads
Wyoming also restricts diploid grass carp.
⚠️ Brook stickleback is classified separately as a regulated aquatic invasive species.
Wyoming Game & Fish generally does not issue ordinary import/possession authorization for species classified as prohibited aquatic invasive species.
Important Customer Notice
It is the buyer's responsibility to know and comply with all state and local laws before purchasing live fish.
We reserve the right to cancel or refuse any order when:
A species is prohibited in the destination state.
A state permit or authorization is required and has not been provided.
The legal status of a species cannot reasonably be confirmed.
Shipping the fish would violate federal, state, county, or local law.
Restrictions can apply to a species, genus, family, hybrid, egg, juvenile, or other viable form, depending on the jurisdiction.
Never Release Aquarium Fish
Never release aquarium fish, plants, water, or other aquatic organisms into lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, drainage systems, or other natural waterways.
If you can no longer care for an aquarium fish, contact a local aquarium store, aquarium club, rescue organization, or appropriate wildlife agency for responsible options.
Legal Disclaimer
This information is provided for general informational purposes only. Laws and regulations change frequently, and this page may not reflect emergency rules, newly adopted regulations, local ordinances, federal restrictions, agricultural requirements, fish-health certifications, or other requirements.
The customer is responsible for verifying that any fish ordered is legal to possess and receive at the destination before placing an order.
When there is any question regarding legality, contact the appropriate state fish and wildlife agency before purchasing.