Apple Snails

[GlosGraham]

Just as you do... I was browsing the web looking for a new pleco but I stumbled upon Apple Snails being sold.

I loved these little guys but to my knowledge they were banned in the UK due to native wildlife risks etc.

Are they still banned?

I also saw they were advertising fish that have been dyed which I also thought was illegal in the UK. I'm not bothered by this as I would never buy them anyway.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Just as you do... I was browsing the web looking for a new pleco but I stumbled upon Apple Snails being sold.

I loved these little guys but to my knowledge they were banned in the UK due to native wildlife risks etc.

Are they still banned?

As far as I know...yes.

I also saw they were advertising fish that have been dyed which I also thought was illegal in the UK. I'm not bothered by this as I would never buy them anyway.

Was this an eBay shop, perchance?

 

[GlosGraham]

Nope.



 

[Myraan]

https://www.petbusinessworld.co.uk/news/feed/apple-snails-can-return-to-gb-aquariums

It seems was an EU rule and it turns out they are only an issue as an invasive species in Mediteranean climes. I just did a google because I saw some in the LFS today, then I read this post and thought "huh?"

 

[Essjay]

No they were unbanned in the UK a few months ago as they are not considred a danger to our ecosystems - they won't survive the winter.

Apple snails can return to GB aquariums after restriction lifts - OATA - The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association

Apple snails can again be imported and sold in England, Scotland and Wales (but not Northern Ireland) after the genus Pomacea was removed from the list of quarantined pests in legislation passed in January. Apple snails have been prevented from sale in the UK since the EU stopped their movement...

ornamentalfish.org

Edit - they are still banned in Northern Ireland though as they could end up in the Republic of Ireland which is still in the EU.

 

[Essjay]

Note for US members - in the UK we never used the term mystery snail, we call them apple snails. All the species of Pomacea are called apple snails here