Musing over Andrias davidianus

[Hecklad]

I saw that post from a while back talking about how in China they are farmed on a seriously large scale to the point where they even have albinos and weird color morphs popping up and are even sold in pet shops. I know it wouldn't be practical for most people, myself included atm, but would it ever be possible to bring some over to the US? If it were possible I would love to be able to make a home for one even if it meant I had to set up a swimming pool in my basement. I'm sure there are others that feel the same.

 

[Salamanderman21]

What state do you live in

 

[Hecklad]

What state do you live in

TN

 

[JM29]

I see 2 legal problems :
- They are CITES 1
- They are east Asian caudates (could be concerned by chytrid problem)

 

[Hecklad]

I see 2 legal problems :
- They are CITES 1
- They are east Asian caudates (could be concerned by chytrid problem)

Yes, I would have mentioned in my prior comment but lacked time atm. I posted the question on the facebook group and got the details of why it wouldn't be possible. It really is too bad we'll likely never see them over here

 

[magamander]

Most farmed giant salamanders are hybrids, which are not covered by CITES

 

[magamander]

Basically, there's about 8 species of Chinese giant salamander, the different species all got muddled into one hybridized farmed population in the farms, and hybrids are not CITES covered. Assuming you had Chinese contacts, it would theoretically possible to obtain these giant salamanders, but logistically impossible since its never been done before and is about as easy as importing a hybridized tiger, which is technically allowed for the same reason.

 

[Thanassi07]

I see 2 legal problems :
- They are CITES 1
- They are east Asian caudates (could be concerned by chytrid problem)

Andrias arent a prohibited/injurous species for Chytrid

 

[Thanassi07]

Basically, there's about 8 species of Chinese giant salamander, the different species all got muddled into one hybridized farmed population in the farms, and hybrids are not CITES covered. Assuming you had Chinese contacts, it would theoretically possible to obtain these giant salamanders, but logistically impossible since its never been done before and is about as easy as importing a hybridized tiger, which is technically allowed for the same reason.

Can you give me a source? I couldn't find any reliable info on your claims, there are only 2 species of Chinese Giant Salmanaders, South China Giant (Andrias sligoi) and the Chinese Giant (Andrias davidianus). And sligoi is much rarer than the normals so I doubt they are hybrids.

 

[Thanassi07]

I know there are a few legal Andrias in the US, don't know on how you'd obtain them though nor the connections you need.