Piranha

[pinkdolphin_113]

Is this fish legal or illegal in the UK??

 

[cane76]

pirahana are legal i have 4
this thread needs moving

 

[AMS]

As far as my knowledge piranhas (note the spelling) are legal in the United Kingdom.

 

[steelhealr]

Thread is in perfect position, piranhas are characins. SH

 

[Sheridanp]

Why would they be illegal?

 

[AMS]

Piranhas are illegal in many countries/states because of irresponsible owners releasing them into local waters. When any fish (espically piranhas) are introduced into un-native waters they have the potential to create havoc in the ecosystem. Wheter it be through spreading of disease, preying of fish, destruction of native plants, fish eggs/nests being destroyed, and many many other problems. What worries fish and game authorities most about piranhas is the possibility of them killing native fish. A decent size shoal of red belly piranhas could wipe out a good sized lake of all fish and other prey throwing that whole ecosystem out of whack. If the climate is warm enough for the piranhas to live over winter, they could even breed. There are actually many species of piranha thriving and breeding in Florida ponds, rivers, and lakes. Those pond's, river's, and lake's native fish are almost completely gone, which is an absolute shame caused by irresponsible owners.

 

[Nevergone815]

ams sums up the reasons very well.

 

[steelhealr]

Well said AMS. The equivalent occurs when people dump some aquarium plants out in lakes. Many of the plants we use in our aquariums are actually 'weeds' in the environment. SH

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yeah AMS pretty much sums it up, piranhas are legal in england because they cannot survive in our cold waters so don't pose a threat to the local wildlife like piranhas in florida do.
pinkdolphin_113, if you live anywhere near Yeovil in Somerset in england, there's a large fish store there called WaterMarque that sells all kinds of fish including piranhas- they can also order them for you so you know there will be some in stock when you go there .