Florida — Prohibited Nonnative Species List (FWC Ch. 68-5, F.A.C.)

Florida — Prohibited Nonnative Species List (FWC Ch. 68-5, F.A.C.)

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — Prohibited Nonnative Species List (myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/prohibited-species-list), extracted 2026-07-23. First-hand state-agency text; C1 substring-verified against pdf-raw/exotic-legality/fl_prohibited_species_list.txt.

Florida regulates exotic pets through a *restricted-list* model rather than a blanket ban. FWC maintains a "Prohibited Nonnative Species List." Per the agency: "FWC Commissioners approved rule changes to Chapter 68-5, F.A.C. on February 25, 2021 which added 16 high-risk nonnative reptiles to Florida's Prohibited list." For listed species, "Future possession of these species by eligible entities is now limited to the purposes of research, educational exhibition, control or eradication, and for qualifying commercial use sales (green iguanas and tegus only) and pet owners (green iguanas and tegus only)."

The list names prohibited taxa by scientific group. Examples verifiable in the source: "Family Channidae, all species" (snakeheads); "Subfamily Serrasalminae, all species of piranha and pirambeba"; and "Genus Hydrocynus, all species" (African tigerfishes). Other prohibited groups include zebra/quagga mussels, mitten crab, all *Cherax* crayfish (except *C. quadricarinatus* in closed tanks), green sunfish, electric catfishes, electric eels, snakeheads, trahiras, airsac catfishes, and tilapias.

This covers the Florida "which exotic/nonnative species are illegal to keep as a pet?" question at the prohibited-list level. Unlike NY's blanket wild-animal ban or CA/MA/HI models, FL uses a species-specific prohibited schedule with a 2021 grandfathering carve-out for green iguanas and tegus. CITES Appendix status is a separate federal/trade layer and is not addressed here.

Verbatim C1 claims (each a substring of the source file + this body):

1. "Prohibited Nonnative Species List"
2. "FWC Commissioners approved rule changes to Chapter 68-5, F.A.C. on February 25, 2021 which added 16 high-risk nonnative reptiles to Florida’s Prohibited list."
3. "Future possession of these species by eligible entities is now limited to the purposes of research, educational exhibition, control or eradication, and for qualifying commercial use sales (green iguanas and tegus only) and pet owners (green iguanas and tegus only)."
4. "Family Channidae, all species"
5. "Subfamily Serrasalminae, all species of piranha and pirambeba"
6. "Genus Hydrocynus, all species"