Short answer

Florida bans piranha, snakeheads, walking catfish, electric eel, freshwater stingrays without permit, and several other species under FWC Conditional and Prohibited Species rules. Aquaculture and arowana require Conditional Species Permits. Fast Aquatics enforces Florida restrictions automatically at checkout.

In depth

Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) maintains one of the strictest aquatic species lists in the country. Florida's ecology is uniquely vulnerable to non-native fish establishments due to its warm climate - dozens of escaped pet fish populations now exist in the Everglades and South Florida canals.

Banned in Florida (no permit possible)

  • Piranha (all Pygocentrus and Serrasalmus)
  • Snakeheads (federally banned via Lacey Act, plus state-level)
  • Walking catfish (Clarias batrachus)
  • Electric eel
  • Pirahna look-alikes that are not native (some pacu species)

Conditional species (permit required)

  • Arowana (Asian arowana especially - CITES + FL permit)
  • Various pleco species (some L-numbers)
  • Freshwater stingrays
  • Suckermouth catfish (sailfin pleco - established invasive)
  • Tilapia (aquaculture license required)
  • Snake-skinned eels and others

What's LEGAL in Florida

Most clownfish, tangs, wrasses, butterflyfish, dwarf and large angels, gobies, blennies, anthias, and damselfish are fully legal. Most freshwater tetras, livebearers, peaceful cichlids (apistogramma, dwarf rams), corydoras, most plecos, and shrimp/inverts are legal. Coral, anemones, and aquatic plants have no Florida-specific restrictions beyond federal CITES rules.

More questions

Does Fast Aquatics ship to Florida?

Yes - Fast Aquatics ships to all Florida ZIP codes. The state-restriction filter blocks only the species Florida prohibits, not the state itself.