Trying to find a T granulosa this month

[jeff]

Hi all!! I have been on the phone with difrent people trying to find a granulosa or 2 while there are around, but no luck yet. I live in the northwest(near seattle, wa) and its been real hard. I have a 30 gallon just waiting. Anyone know of a place who is safely selling them in my area?

P.s. Pamala, where have you been??

 

[jennifer]

I can't help you find either granulosa or Pamela

Last I heard, Pamela had no Internet access, so I don't know when she'll see this.

 

[sean]

The local pet stores here in the Southeast have just begun to get regular shipments. It seems that they would be in your area also. I guess if you get real desperate you can have one shipped now that its cooling down.

 

[joan]

I would offer to purchase/ship, but the shipment at my LFS looks quite ill: very skinny, frantic swimming, really warm water. For a fee, I could get some and healthy-them up for you and ship 'em out before spring.

 

[uwe]

Back to Wild Caught animals at a species bred easily! And best shipping it from SE back to the NW, where they came from.

Interesting behavior, but definetly not good for the animals and the herper´s society.

Uwe

 

[joan]

Uwe, I'd totally agree with you if there were any captive bred specimens available in the US. I'm trying my damnedest to get some CB granulosa out here soon. I can't say it'll be this spring though, unless my females are older than they look. Unfortunately, this is a native species, and it's pretty rare that people want to breed the native species. But with luck, they'll be some available soon.

 

[uwe]

Hi Joan,

it is unfortunately other way around. As long as WC animals are cheaper and adult in comparison of youngsters, nobody will care about breeding and raising them up.
T.granulosa is not to difficult to breed, so the demand could easily be satisfied by captive bred animals.

Uwe

 

[jeff]

Hey Joan, I would definately be interested in haveing you ship some if that is possible. Im not really in a rush so let me know.

Sean- do you have any contact information for the pet stores you were referring to?

It seems to me that if local populations exist withen 100 miles or so of me that I would at least see some in local pet stores. Its crazy that are abundent in michigan.

 

[nate]

Hey Jeff, you're not seeing them in Washington because Washington has a law prohibiting the sale of any native wildlife.

 

[uwe]

and this is the shizoprenic part of it. Animals protected in one state are sold in an other and then shipped back.
Sorry but is non-reasonable.

Uwe

 

[john]

i certainly agree with that Uwe, it makes little sense. Our so-called protection laws are very messed up. I would love to comment at length but it's off topic. I believe, however, that Joan was talking about shipping CB animals. Despite, that, I think you should check very closely your state laws Jeff to make certain that even importation of CB native specimens from another state is allowed.

 

[mark]

While I am not an expert on the matter, I believe Washington prohibits keeping any of its native salamanders I imagine this applies to other herps as well) as pets. This would mean that no matter the origin of the Taricha it would not be legal for Jeff to acquire them.

 

[jeff]

I have discussed this with Nate, and others and It is sadly true that technically, I can never own another Taricha again. However, mine was saved from some kids who had no bussiness having them in the first place, who had bought the newts from a seattle petco. I talked to the store manager and she said she sold "paddletails". So I guess stores can get away with it when they don't know, or pretend to not know what they are selling. One case in point, I had a petshop tell me over the phone they had "fire salamanders", I asked for a discription and they were of course Cynops orientalis. I read an artical today about the problem of wholesalers naming species their own "selling point" name to clear them out quick. Such as calling pacific treefrogs "american green treefrogs" and so forth. I have seen pacific tree frogs for sale right here in bellingham, which is illeagle as well. Oh well, I can think of plenty of laws that either help or hurt caudates depending on how they are applied.

(Message edited by newtsrfun on October 20, 2005)

 

[joan]

Sadly, ignorance of the law is becoming a more common (and more readily accepted!!) excuse. I suggest next time you see a pet shop doing this, you contact the Washington Fish and wildlife service and key them in.

So, if you can't have Taricha, can I interest you in some Triturus karelinii? My male looks very cresty, and the two aquatic females are plumping right up.

 

[mike]

Hey Jeff,

Where was the story published in which they talk about dealers using different names to try to dodge regulations? I'd like to see it.

Thanks,

Mike