Axolotls not permitted in New Jersey and California

michael

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Michael Shrom
I've been peddling axolotls lately and have found out it is illegal to keep any ambystomas in New Jersey and California. I knew about New Jersey but only recently found out about California.
 
Thats bad news for some. There was someone on here in California looking for them.
 
Michael, if Axolotls are illegal in California, why did you tell me there was a breeder here that is your friend and if I couldn't get ahold of him then why did you also tell me you would sell me one if i couldn't get ahold of one? You also said that you have shipped Axolotls to California. Now i am really confused. Plus, there are places here that sell them, like Capital City Aquarium and Pet Connections, the crappy pet store. I called other pet stores, and They said that Water Dogs are illegal In california, but not Axolotls. Please get back to me. I just don't understand.~Rheann
 
I did ship to California before I new about the law . I just found out for sure today. I don't think they are hunting down axolotl owners or anything. I just can't send any their anymore.
 
Water Dog is another, common, name for Axolotls. Your pet store people don't seem to know as much as they think!
 
Thats one of the stupidest things I have ever heard! Is there any reasoning behind not being able to keep them?? (I bet it's ok to keep reptiles and snakes in California.)
 
There are lots of pet stores here in california that sell snakes and other reptiles. They also sell lost of different types of salamanders and frogs. I feel so bad. I was looking so forward to my new prodject. There are pet stores there that will be selling them in the next few months. I just don't trust pets stores. the animals are usually so unhealthy. It's terrible. does anyone happen to know of any local breeders in California breeding Axolotls? Any info would really make my day. Thanks so much guys
 
Rheann, you can still buy them from a pet shop. Mike doesn't want to get in trouble with the law, but I can't see the USDA/FWS/etc hunting you down for owning an axolotl. Just make sure you pick out healthy looking ones. Axolotls are not wild-caught, so you don't have to worry about that.
 
thanks you guys. I will try the pet shops then. even if they are sick when I buy them, the helpful advise that everyone gives here and quality information will help my little Axie to get better. I will let you guys know what happens. Michael is also trying to get in touch with his friend Tom. Michaels such a nice and patient guy. I appreciate his help and everyone else here.
 
Them being illegal in California is probably due to some of the things that have happened in some of the southern states. There are a lot of non-native species that have gained a foothold and disrupted the local ecosystems. In a certain area in California, for example, there is a large population of wild-living Veiled Chameleons, that are thriving at the expense of local insects, while there are no local predators suited to hunting and eating them. Unfortunately, reptiles and amphibians are being particularly targeted, even though they make up only about 1/3 of invasive species, the rest being mostly plants, insects, and fish.

Be aware of pet stores selling water dogs. This is a common name for Tiger Salamander larvae, which look nearly identicle to axolotls. Be sure to ask if they are tiger salamander larvae if they are labelled as water dogs.
 
I have a question if no one minds answering
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Is it illegal for pet stores here in California to seel Axolotls? I'm a little bit confused, sorry for the confusion, because i am wondering if they are selling them Illegally? I hope that when I go and check the store out, that they are Axolotls. The pet store that I called asked spacifically which colors I wanted, and I told them Luecistic with black eyes, and Black Melanoid. I wasn't spacific on Gender. They told me to call back on tuesday, which I will. I know i'll have a bunch more questions and comments before then, and I am crossing my fingers hoping they are Axolotls, and not something. Yes, pet stores employees don't seem to know a great deal about the animals. I think most are there for pay checks. thanks again guys. Any comments are most helpful. You sure are all a bunch of cool people.
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sad? i work for my best friends mom at a "pet store" more like a herp shop, anyway im not dumb i don't know that much about axolotls, but i am rapidly learning and am well qualified in other fields. and it's not the money? its kind of a pain dealing with all the dumb customers. I stupidly applied to petco, no afence to anyone, and they said I am over qualified? lol
 
I didn't mean for it to sound like ALL pet store employees don't know what they are doing. I'm sorry if it sounded that way. I only meant the ones I have delt with, or the pet store owners who hire highschool students who are just trying to get a pay check. I'm serious! There are pet stores out there like that. The ones down here are like that, and the one in my home town in montana was like that too! It was so sad. They hired lots of kids from my highschool, and it didnt seem like a lot of them knew what they were doing. It was sad, because the pet store owners wree jerks! I watched so many times as costomers would come in to look at the igaunas, and the owners would reach in so fast and scare the iquanas, and tear there claws on the wire caging so they bled. It made me sick! i would ask them, "Why do you handle the iguanas like that?" and they would say, because they are skiddish, they need to grab them fast to catch them before they whip their tails." That isn't anyway to handle iquanas! They could have easily been gentle, and calmly reached their hands or put in a towel to calm the poor thing. I mean, who's going to buy iguanas in a small mountain town? They had pets in there in my opinion, they shouldn't have, and weren't taking proper care of. Thats all I meant. Please don't take offense. I believe that people that are educated in the care of animals should work at pets stores. They are the ones who earn the pay check, when They know what they are doing, or at least properly take care of the critters. They also had Axolotls at the pet store in my home town, but that was so long ago, and they were kept in a shallow tank with an over run snail population and goldfish, and I think a hermit crab, or some kind of fresh water crab, not sure what the species was. I don't know much about crabs. sorry about the spelling.
 
Perhaps in place of pet stores, you can go to aquarium shops if you have them. There is a distinct difference here anyway, between the knowledge of their respective staff. Aquarium shops seem to know a lot more in general about axolotl keeping. But then of course, some are better than others.
 
Oh and I meant to mention about Brians info on invasion of non native species. Seems valid, although a little harsh on the genuine axy keeper. Cane toad, anyone?
 
I've been talking with some folks in a chat room on kingsnake.com and they have said that it is not illegal to ship to California. A few pet shops here though they might be, and others said they weren't. One guy told me that a friend of his down east has Axolotls and that he could have them shipped with no problems, but I am very confused by all of the different comments I am getting about Axlotls being outlawed. Michael Shrom is a really nice fella, and I wish that I could purchase some from him, but i understand his concerns and not wanting to with the outlaw business. Does anyone know how I can find out for sure if they are illegal or not? I hope I'm not upsetting anyone with my presistance. i'm sorry i'm so focused on this subject. Again, i'm sorry for the spelling. I'm not very good with words
 
Call your local fish & wildlife office. They will be able to help you. Also, check with your municipality. This could be a local law, as opposed to state-wide. Those aren't as strictly enforced (if at all), which could be why everyone says thery are illegal, but your local store is still selling them.
 
An importer from California I've known for years told me about the law. It is illegal to own any Ambystomid in California. I think it is mostly to keep from confusion with protected native animals. I looked it up in a California Fish and Game website. They spell it out. The url is very long and I am no good at copying and pasting. I do not think the law is agressively enforced. I wouldn't worry about having an axolotl or two if I lived in California and was not involved professionally in the reptile and amphibian trade.
You should note that their have been some agressive enforcements of reptile and amphibian laws in other states. Usually the people arrested are dealers and pet shop owners.
 
in some states its even illegal to pick up bird feathers! Or at least thats what my Biology teacher teacher told me when I was going to school. sounds wacky huh?
 
Oh, we've got some wacky local animal laws here too. The municipal ones are the worst, as no thought or research is done before they are made, and they are never enforced unless someone makes a complaint (both due to budget issues, I'd imagine). A total waste of time and taxpayer money!
 
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