Changes
Freshwater aquarium fish
Effective from 6 August 2018The lists of live freshwater and marine fish permitted import to Australia have changed. The change is a result of an update to the List of Specimens Taken to be Suitable for Live Import, administered by the Department of Environment and Energy. The changes will apply to consignments of live aquarium fish from 6 August 2018. Current import permits will not be updated however new permits issued from 6 August 2018 will include the updated list.
The changes are summarised below:
Freshwater Fish
Species |
Updated restriction |
Previous restriction - NO LONGER IN FORCE |
Aequidens pulcher (Blue acara) |
Minimum 3cm Standard Length (SL) |
No previous size restriction |
Ambastaia sidthimunki (Dwarf botia, Skunk loach) |
Minimum 2.5cm SL |
Formerly classified as ‘Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki’. Increased size restriction, was minimum 1.5cm SL |
Botia lohachata (Reticulate loach, YoYo loach) |
Minimum 3cm SL |
Increased size restriction, was minimum 1.5cm SL |
Chalinochromis spp. (Lake Tanganyika cichlids) |
Now includes all species |
C. brichardi size restriction removed, all ‘Chalinochromis spp.’ now the same |
Corynopoma riisei (Swordtail characin) |
Only male, minimum 2cm SL |
No previous size restriction |
Cyphotilapia frontosa (Frontosa, Humphead cichlid) |
Minimum 10cm SL |
Decreased size restriction, was minimum 12cm SL |
Dicrossus maculatus (Checkerboard cichlid) |
Minimum 3cm SL |
Decreased size restriction, was minimum 5cm SL |
Glossolepis incisus (Red rainbow fish) |
Minimum 3.5cm SL |
Decreased size restriction, was minimum 4cm SL |
Lamprologus ocellatus (Gold African cichlid, Gold ocellatus) |
Minimum 3cm SL |
Decreased size restriction, was minimum 5cm SL |
Macropodus opercularis (Paradise fish) |
Minimum 3.5cm SL |
Decreased size restriction, was minimum 6cm SL |
Myloplus rubripinnis (Red hook myleus) |
Minimum 8cm SL |
Removed sex restriction of males only |
Neolamprologus meeli (African cichlid) |
Minimum 3cm SL |
Decreased size restriction, was minimum 5cm SL |
Neolamprologus mustax (Mustax, Mask lamprologus) |
Minimum 3.5cm SL |
Decreased size restriction, was minimum 5cm SL |
Parosphromenus deissneri (Licorice gourami) |
Minimum 2cm SL |
Decreased size restriction, was minimum 4cm SL |
Petrochromis trewavasae (Texas cichlid, White spotted petrochromis, Threadfin cichlid) |
Minimum 3.5cm SL |
Decreased size restriction, was minimum 5cm SL |
Poecilia reticulata (Guppy) |
Minimum 2cm SL |
No previous restrictions |
Pseudomystus siamensis (Siamese catfish, Bumblebee catfish) |
Minimum 8cm SL |
Removed sex restriction of males only |
Sturisoma panamense (Armoured catfish) |
Minimum 10cm SL |
Increased size restriction, was minimum 8cm SL |
Synodontis decorus (Clown squeaker catfish) |
Minimum 10cm SL |
Removed sex restriction of males only |
Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki (Dwarf botia, Skunk loach) |
RECLASSIFIED: Now listed as ‘Ambastaia sidthimunki’ |
Minimum 1.5cm SL |
Marine fish
Species |
Current restriction |
Previous restriction |
All species of the family Pomacanthidae (angelfish) excluding Holocanthus clarionensis (Clarion angelfish) |
No change, except for Clarion angelfish (see below) |
Nil |
Holocanthus clarionensis (Clarion angelfish) |
Clarion angelfish now require a CITES permit (issued by the Department of Environment and Energy) in addition to a Department of Agriculture and Water Resources import permit |
Nil |
For more information about importing Clarion angelfish, please contact the Department of Environment and Energy for information about applying for a CITES permit.
Further information:
Animal and Biological Import Assessments Branch
Phone: 1800 900 090
Email: imports@agriculture.gov.au
This Change applies to the following Cases: