I love animals and want to work with them, so I decided to start getting my reptile license and eventually get an exotic animal license. But after looking into the laws in my country and state, I found out that almost all non-native animals are just plain illegal.
I’m not talking about big or dangerous animals, but even things like brine shrimp are illegal here. Snakes, lizards, turtles, stick insects, frogs, snails, crabs, butterflies, fish, cockroaches, even sea monkeys!
I just wanted to vent because it’s really disappointing. I love working with different animals, and I was really excited to own things like leopard geckos, tarantulas, and scorpions, but now it looks like I can’t without breaking the law. Not sure if there’s anything I can do about it other than leave my country, or just accept that I’ll never get to work with these animals. Any advice would be appreciated!
Most people would love to have access to the native animals in Australia. Your country has some of the most amazing native reptiles, birds, and mammals. People like me, from other countries, dream of working with things like Quokkas, miniature monitors, skinks, and more. So, try to see it this way – what you can keep is much more unique and interesting than any exotic pet.
@Aza
I’ll try to think of it that way. It just means I need to research more about native animals and see what I can keep. A lot of what I wanted are non-native, so it’s a bit of a blow to find out they’re all illegal. Like, a lot of arachnids and amphibians like the milk frog and axolotl. I never thought about a monitor, but they do seem cool!
@Blane
I live in a place with tough pet laws, so I totally understand how you feel. Your local government or state should have a list of legal reptiles, along with the licensing rules for each. Start by checking that list for species you can keep or earn a license for. Then, look up their care needs and personalities. Varanids are awesome – I personally like the smaller species, like Ackies, because they have the smarts of the bigger ones but in a more manageable size.
I’m not sure about your laws on mammals, but you can always check with your local government to see which native mammals are allowed to be kept.
Australia has been deeply affected by non-native species, so that’s why there are so many restrictions. If you love animals, hopefully, you can understand why protecting your country’s wildlife is more important than owning exotic pets.
Honestly, you should be happy! Most reptile fans would love to only have access to Australian native species. You have a wide variety of species to choose from, and many of us will never even get to see them, let alone handle them. Everyone has their ‘grass is greener’ moments with pets, so it’s good to appreciate what you have.
@Ashwin
I get that, but as an Australian, the biggest problem here is cats and rabbits. They’re not illegal, and they cause huge issues for our endangered species and marsupials. But cats are still completely legal, and people let them roam free, killing animals.
It’s frustrating because the restrictions on exotic pets seem unfair when the real problem is cats and rabbits. How many people would get an exotic pet license, buy an Emperor scorpion, and then release it into the wild? But everyone lets their cats go outside to kill wildlife.
I just think the focus of these restrictions is in the wrong place, but thanks for your help. I’ll try to focus on the animals I can have here instead