OK Liveaquaria. What's the deal with this Feminus Wrasse?

[Bepis]

I thought you needed a permit to bring fish into Hawaii? Idk how hard it is to obtain. Just that a friend could not bring theirs with when they moved there due to laws. They probably worry someone might bright a nonnative fish or pet and release it. Hawaii is pretty strict about things. Last I checked, I can’t even move there and bring my domestic bengal cat.

Did he have invasive species? I don’t know the laws but I just assume they are stricter on export than import

 

[Tamberav]

Did he have invasive species? I don’t know the laws but I just assume they are stricter on export than import

Hawaii does not, in general, support the aquarium trade.

I would say they are very strict on animal imports. I did not go through the list to see what fish are allowed though so can’t say if his is or isn’t but it’s a huge fine and jail time if someone brings a restricted animal without a permit. No idea how hard those are to obtain.

I am only aware because I keep a domestic cat called a bengal which was illegal last time I checked. So no Hawaii for me.

Hawaii has strict laws regarding the importation of animals. Some animals that may be allowed as pets in other states or countries may be restricted or prohibited in Hawaii. Importing an illegal animal carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and fines up to $500,000

https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/pq/trave...ing-animals-to-hawaiʻi-from-the-u-s-mainland/

 

[Seamore2001]

Flying with a fish in a bag in the cabin would seem to run up against the TSA liquids rule. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule
"travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item"

Perhaps there is a separate rule for pets / live animals? If so, I'd want to be sure that the folk at the TSA checkpoint were aware of the different rules for pets. Perhaps call ahead and print out the specific rule/regulation governing carrying fish in the cabin.

 

[PicassoClown04]

What if you were to charter your own plane to Hawaii so you can take all your fish with you? I’m sure it’d be cheaper than buying 5 or 6 round trips to Hawaii and a lot less intensive for you. Are you planning on also bringing coral with you to Hawaii? I’m pretty sure there’s very strict coral import laws

 

[Aquarist76]

I thought you needed a permit to bring fish into Hawaii? Idk how hard it is to obtain. Just that a friend could not bring theirs with when they moved there due to laws. They probably worry someone might bright a nonnative fish or pet and release it. Hawaii is pretty strict about things. Last I checked, I can’t even move there and bring my domestic bengal cat.

Yup, you need to apply for a permit. I'm working on it. I've got my list ready to submit. I'm just waiting to get a finalized HI address I'll be living at and make sure I'm not going to get any more fish before I leave.

 

[Aquarist76]

Flying with a fish in a bag in the cabin would seem to run up against the TSA liquids rule. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule
"travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item"

Perhaps there is a separate rule for pets / live animals? If so, I'd want to be sure that the folk at the TSA checkpoint were aware of the different rules for pets. Perhaps call ahead and print out the specific rule/regulation governing carrying fish in the cabin.

They do. If it's in a clear bag and they can see the fish alive then it can be more than 3oz.

Live Fish | Transportation Security Administration

Live fish in water and a clear transparent container are allowed after inspection by the TSA officer.

www.tsa.gov

 

[Aquarist76]

What if you were to charter your own plane to Hawaii so you can take all your fish with you? I’m sure it’d be cheaper than buying 5 or 6 round trips to Hawaii and a lot less intensive for you. Are you planning on also bringing coral with you to Hawaii? I’m pretty sure there’s very strict coral import laws

Yeah, I don't plan on bringing much or any coral. They are somewhat nebulous on coral import laws. They have four lists in regards to importing fish: 1. Conditionally permitted items (stuff that's allowed) 2. Restricted "A" 3. Restricted "B" 4. Prohibited items

Most LPS coral at least isn't listed on any of those lists so it is unclear if it's allowed. It seems that they allow you to request brining in unlisted items any then it will be reviewed on a case by case basis. I need to call them to look into this more to see if it's even worth it. I would like to bring some LPS, anemones, and rabbitfish which are either unlisted or restricted. Everything else I have is permitted.

 

[Aquarist76]

Here's my tentative list for anyone interested.
Note, I don't plan on bringing all of these. I'm hoping I will be able to locally sell or donate some of them before I leave. I'm just listing everything I currently have just in case.

Quantity	Commodity	Scientific Name
1	Achilles Tang	Acanthurus achilles
1	DussumieriTang	Acanthurus dussumieri
1	Powder Blue Tang	Acanthurus leucosternon
1	Clown Tang	Acanthurus lineatus
1	Sohal tang	Acanthurus sohal
2	Aptasia Filefish	Acreichthys tomentosus
2	Tomato clownfish	Amphiprion frenatus
2	Latezonatus Clownfish	Amphiprion latezonatus
4	Ocellaris Clowfish	Amphiprion ocellaris
1	Lennardi Wrasse	Anampses lennardi
1	Femininus Wrasse	Anampses femininus
1	Marine Betta	Calloplesiops altivelis
1	Three Banded Butterflyfish	Chaetodon robustus
1	Blue Line Angelfish	Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis
1	Nahacky's wrasse	Cirrhilabrus nahackyi
1	Golden Rhomboid Wrasse	Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis
2	Chestnut Blenny	Cirripectes castaneus
1	Polyzona Blenny	Cirripectes polyzona
1	Chevron tang	Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis
1	Bicolor blenny	Ecsenius bicolor
1	Black combtooth blenny	Ecsenius namiyei
2	Bellus Angelfish	Genicanthus bellus
1	Royal gramma	Gramma loreto
1	Earmuff Wrasse	Halichoeres malasmapomus
4	Pyramid Butterflyfish	Hemitaurichthys polylepis
1	Flashing Tilefish	Hoplolatilus chlupatyi
1	Pastel Tilefish	Hoplolatilus fronticinctus
1	Yellow Tilefish	Hoplolatilus luteus
2	Rainbow Basslet	Liopropoma fasciatum
2	Caribbean Swissguard Basslet	Liopropoma rubre
2	Swales Basslet	Liopropoma swalesi
1	Whitetail dottyback	Manonichthys cf. alleni
1	Blonde Naso Tang	Naso elegans
1	Multicolor dottback	Ogilbyina novaehollandiae
1	Hippo tang	Paracanthurus hepatus
1	Linespot Flasher Wrasse	Paracheilinus lineopunctatus
1	Black bar filefish	Pervagor janthinosoma
3	Lightning Clownfish	Premnas biaculeatus
2	Blood orange clownfish	Premnas biaculeatus x A. ocellaris
1	Red stripe anthias	Pseudanthias fasciatus
1	Ventralis Anthias	Pseudanthias ventralis
1	Indigo dottyback	Pseudochromis fridmani
1	Dilectus dottyback	Pseudochromis dilectus
1	Molly miller blenny	Scartella cristata
Quantity	Commodity	Scientific Name
6	Chalk basslet	Serranus tortugarum
6	Pajama Cardinal fish	Sphaeramia nematoptera
2	Mandarin dragonet	Synchiropus splendidus
1	Dwarf Goby	Trimma caesiura
2	Gem tang	Zebrasoma gemmatum
1	Black scopas tang	Zebrasoma scopas
1	Scopas Koi Tang	Zebrasoma scopas
1	Yellow Scopas Tang	Zebrasoma scopas
1	Purple Tang	Zebrasoma xanthurum
	Restricted A
2	Magnificent Rabbitfish	Siganus magnificus
1	Blue lined rabbitfish	Siganus doliatus
1	Blue spot rabbitfish	Siganus corallinus
1	Gold lined rabbittfish	Siganus lineatus
1	Foxface Lo	Siganus vulpinus
1	Haddoni Anenome	Stichodactyla haddoni
12	Bubble Tip Anenome	Entacmaea quadricolor
8	Mushroom Coral	Actinodiscus sp.
	Not Listed
1	Torch Coral	Euphyllia glabrescens
8	Hammer Coral	Euphyllia ancora
4	Acan Coral	Micromussa lordhowensis
1	Button Coral	Cynarina lacrymalis
4	Blastomussa Coral	Blastomussa wellsi
3	Cleaner shrimp	Lysmata amboinensis
1	Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish	Rhinopias eschmeyeri

 

[Adamantium]

Holy cow! How big is your tank(s)?

 

[Tamberav]

I will be interested in how this turns out and what they let you bring. Impressive list!

 

[Aquarist76]

Holy cow! How big is your tank(s)?

I have four DTs: Red Sea Reefer 750XXL, 2x Red Sea Reefer 250, Planet Aquarium 96" 210G. On top of that I have another 8-12 QTs going at any given time (20-75G). My house looks like a fish store.

 

[Aquarist76]

Well, bad news to report. The Fem wrasse took a turn for the worse this morning. When I went to check on her she is barely struggling to hang on. It looks like she might have either ick or velvet. As of last night she was swimming around, full of energy and eating. I have been prophylactically treating with API General Cure and Kanaplex. She was put in a newly set up and disinfected tank only with the Blue Line Angelfish I also got from LA. Needless to say this is very upsetting. I've isolated her and will be crossing my fingers but it doesn't look good.

 

[LittleFidel]

So, good question. I keep hearing mixed info on if you can check packaged fish on a plane. Several places/people say you can but TSA says fish are only allowed in the plane cabin. A fish like this would definitely come on the plane in the cabin with me given it's small size and price. If I can't check fish that will be a severe limitation of what I can bring. If that's the case I'm going to have to look at shipping (I'm not sure overnight is available to HI so it may have to be 2-day which should still be fine if packed well but makes me nervous). Worst case scenario I have a friend or relative care for the ones I really want and I can go back and forth and take them in batches on the plane with me. Either way it's going to be quite expensive I expect but my fish are my babies and I'm not leaving them behind (at least not my favs).

This seems insane to me for a variety of reasons, in particular the reasons related to the environment and money

 

[Clownshow]

Flying with a fish in a bag in the cabin would seem to run up against the TSA liquids rule. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule
"travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item"

Perhaps there is a separate rule for pets / live animals? If so, I'd want to be sure that the folk at the TSA checkpoint were aware of the different rules for pets. Perhaps call ahead and print out the specific rule/regulation governing carrying fish in the cabin.

From what I have seen as long as there is a living creature in the bag they allow it on. I belive coralfish12g brought an octopus on a plane.

 

[Seamore2001]

From what I have seen as long as there is a living creature in the bag they allow it on. I belive coralfish12g brought an octopus on a plane.

Wow, if I'd known that I'd have been hitting LFS every time I went out of town! Unfortunately, for the last 14 months I've been WFH, and it looks like that'll be the norm going forward. I'll keep it in mind though if biz travel ever resumes.

 

[Aquarist76]

Just to update, Fem wrasse is still alive after 24hrs of "ICU" care; which I did not expect. She still doesn't want to move but her breathing seems more comfortable. Initially under bad lighting I though I saw white spots. Now under better lighting she looks fine. There are a couple of very fine black spots by her face but I think that may be from the carbon filter she is resting up against. The blue line angel in the tank looks absolutely fine.

Not sure what's going on but hopefully she continues to improve. Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Aquarist76]

I am happy to report that after 72hrs of "ICU" care the Fem wrasse is back to her old self. Swimming around with her buddy. Not sure why she almost died but made it through. Again, this is why they are considered difficult/expert fish.

Since I already have another fish named Lazarus who came back from practically being dead, the Fem wrasse will now be known as Anastasia (coming from the Greek word anástasis, meaning "resurrection").

 

[Bill Urbanski]

I wouldn't consider yourself out of the woods yet. Is she eating? Still only the Mastik? You need to add an Interuptus Angel to your list, LOL

 

[Aquarist76]

I wouldn't consider yourself out of the woods yet. Is she eating? Still only the Mastik? You need to add an Interuptus Angel to your list, LOL

She's eating Mysis, blood worms, and Masstick (I haven't tried any other foods because she's doing great with those). Also, you're never "out of the woods" with these types of fish. At least not for 6mo I'd say.


Maybe one day on the Interruptus. As of now I've not spent more than about $1500 on a single fish.

 

[a hill]

I just wanted to drop by and say I've been following this thread and impressed by your commitment and care and touch of craziness. I would never attempt to bring stuff to HI its a nightmare. Thankfully you are not an ignorant individual in regards to the nightmare.

I also think Diver's Den and LiveAquaria are showing how great their business is. I've been a customer since my teens and they're a great resource to us in the hobby looking for these types of special specimens. Or normal supplies we need like Salt!

Hopefully your new home in HI has room for a concrete slab to be poured to house a shiny new aquarium.

Lastly, they might want a plan for your wastewater. I encountered this in regards to a property in Florida. All the regulatory folks said even if I wasn't within the realm if needing a plan, having one would potentially help approval for livestock and other things. This property was a private island and only a foot or so above the water at high tide some places so it was funky. If they're (Hawaii) concerned about biocontamination wastewater being taken care of may make things easier for them to approve.

Are you monitoring O2 levels in your QT tanks? Its something that probably was not an issue, but occasionally happens with these types of tanks.

-Andrew