Owning Isopods - US Legality Update

[PinchersAndShells]

Hello everyone! If you know anything about me, I’m also active in the isopod hobby as well as the hermit crab hobby. There’s a change in legality as far as owning, selling, and trading isopods goes so I thought it would be a good idea to share a breakdown video here. It’s 20-ish minutes but it’s very important and could potentially save you from legal issues later. The video sums it up way better than I can through text. Thankfully the permits needed are free, they just take a bit of info to sign up for.
WARNING FOR SOME LIGHT PROFANITY AT THE END OF THE VIDEO.
https://youtu.be/xh7XbbFyAns
Aaaand here’s a bonus picture of some of my isopods to lighten the mood, I’m pretty bummed about this change:




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The Crab Maid]

Ah, so much work.

I got my guys on Amazon. Wonder why they're not cracking down on them. @_@

Though it sounds like if the breeder was licensed to ship to all states then I'm fine.

But I think I'll apply just in case.

[PinchersAndShells]

Ah, so much work.

I got my guys on Amazon. Wonder why they're not cracking down on them. @_@

Though it sounds like if the breeder was licensed to ship to all states then I'm fine.

But I think I'll apply just in case.

Once my account gets approved I have to apply for all 23 species I own.... thankfully if I need to add something later it’s easy since all the information is right there, but still a pain.

[The Crab Maid]

I have to go in person to verify my identity. Ugh. The online verification is asking me questions about my deceased grandmother who I was named after, it can't tell us apart so it thinks I'm lying when I answer the questions.

[PinchersAndShells]

I also have to go in person. It wouldn’t take my social security number for some reason.

[AwesomeHermit]

So for someone to keep isopods, even local ones, they need to get a permit?

[wodesorel]

So for someone to keep isopods, even local ones, they need to get a permit?

According to what this guy is saying, only if they are or have traveled over state lines. It's a permit to allow transport. If you collect them in your state, buy them from someone within your state who has their permit, or buy them from someone in your state who has collected them within your state, then no permit is needed.

A lot of people don't realize that the vast majority of isopod species are not native to the US. They are recognized as naturalized species, but the ones we all know and think of as common, are species that were brought over by settlers in the last 500 years. When they came to this country with crops and decorative plants from their home countries, or with interesting ornamental specimens from foreign countries, hitchhikers came with the soil. Isopods and earthworms are all foreign invaders here, our own species had been killed off during the last ice age.

[AwesomeHermit]

According to what this guy is saying, only if they are or have traveled over state lines. It's a permit to allow transport. If you collect them in your state, buy them from someone within your state who has their permit, or buy them from someone in your state who has collected them within your state, then no permit is needed.

A lot of people don't realize that the vast majority of isopod species are not native to the US. They are recognized as naturalized species, but the ones we all know and think of as common, are species that were brought over by settlers in the last 500 years. When they came to this country with crops and decorative plants from their home countries, or with interesting ornamental specimens from foreign countries, hitchhikers came with the soil. Isopods and earthworms are all foreign invaders here, our own species had been killed off during the last ice age.

Thanks. I didn't watch the full video when I asked that question. I just have A. Nasatum which I found locally.

[GotButterflies]

Very cool picture of your isopods - would love to see the species you have!

[PinchersAndShells]

I’ll show them off then! I’ll make a new topic so I can label it as picture heavy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk