Rainbow Stag Question

[arco2531]

Hey guys! After about a year, I finally got a rainbow stag beetle as a pet from a breeder here in the US. I know everything about their proper care but was incredibly stupid and didn’t look up much about the laws. He was sent to me safely and he’s currently happy in his substrate, so all of the transporting is done, but will I get in any serious trouble for having him? I don’t plan to breed him or anything. I’m just not sure who else to ask. Thank you!

 

[TuRbLe]

You shouldn't get in trouble unless reported which is super unlikely. If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy him from?

 

[Arachnoenthusiast]

Everything is legal if you don't get caught

 

[CritterFriendly]

Those are gorgeous I wouldn't mind having a few of those myself.

 

[MasterOogway]

The next person I see promoting keeping illegal animals, knowingly, on this board, I'm personally going to report to APHIS. Jeebus ya all. Like....the agencies know where to look when they want to crack down, try not broadcasting your willingness to flout wildlife laws in public. OP, not your fault as you had no idea (but now you do, so you better do it 'right!'), but keep these animals safely and contained, and freeze them upon their death for many many days, as well as all their substrate. Don't throw their sub straight into the garbage, even when just doing a bit of light cleaning. We don't need any more invasive species coming into the country. These permits exist for a reason, because some dumb hobbyist out there is going to get in a batch of phasmids without the proper permits, or some crazy fecund Cetoniid species, and then it's going to get out because they don't know what they're doing and don't have proper containment. Smh.

 

[Arachnoenthusiast]

And remember to always take everything way too seriously

 

[MasterOogway]

Invasive species are no joke, neither are smuggled animals. And too many dumb people out there who see something shiny and have too much money will just go "I need it", consequences be dammed. I work in the animal conservation field, so yeah, I get a little spicy when people promote personally keeping illegal animals. Sorry not sorry.

 

[mantisfan101]

For the last time... anyexotic lucanid/rhino/cetoniid beetle with the exception of the 3 deregulated goliathus are all illegal. Just because they’re captive bred in the United States or within your state doesn’t make them legal, you still need proper permits for them. This sp isn’t a gray area like others, this is a group that the USDA(or APHIS) actually regulates more closely.

 

[goliathusdavid]

Don't ever forget about June Beetles of Spotted Lanternflies. This is why we need the USDA and APHIS as frustrating as the permitting system can sometimes be.

 

[goliathusdavid]

Sorry meant to say Japanese beetles there June Beetles would be a native species