If you know of any additions to this list, please post them here as a reply, with a source link to reference. Thank you!
Prohibited Captive Wildlife (Animal) Species List
Source: https://apps.agfc.com/regulations/R1.03/
Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)
Legal possession of these species is restricted
to only those owned prior to May 16, 2024,
that register the animal with the Commission by June 30, 2025.
Newts, fire salamanders, etc. (Family Salamandridae)
Issuance of Wildlife Importation Permits and Wildlife Breeder/Dealer
Permits for these species is restricted to only those permittees
permitted for these species prior to May 21, 2020.
Prohibited Exotic Aquatic Species List (Fish, Crustaceans, and Mollusks)
Source: https://apps.agfc.com/regulations/J1.04/
The source has a more complete list, but these species are more likely to show on aquarium fish lists:
FISH:
Piranha Family (Serrasalmidae)
Snakehead Family (Channidae)
CRUSTACEANS:
Marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis)
Everglades crayfish (Procambarus alleni)
Redclaw crayfish Family (Cherax)
Rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)
Smooth Marron (Cherax cainii)
Yabby (Cherax destructor)
MOLLUSKS:
Big-Ear radix snail (Radix auricularia)
Channeled apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata)
Chinese mystery snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis) AKA livebearing
trapdoor snail, Japanese trapdoor snail, Chinese trapdoor snail.
NOT the common mystery snail (Pomacea diffusa)
Red-rim melania snail (Melanoides tuberculata) Known in the trade as the Malaysian needlepoint snail or Malaysian trumpet snail (MTS)
Source: https://apps.agfc.com/regulations/35.09/
Marine and tropical fish commonly distributed in the aquarium trade may be sold without special permit, as long as they are held only in closed systems and not otherwise prohibited. Any live release of these species is unlawful.
Source: https://www.dontletitloose.com/pet-regulations/arkansas/
Now, keep in mind, just because an animal is legal to own in the state, it doesn’t mean the city you live in allows it. Many local cities and counties have their own restrictions on which animals are legal to keep, and which are not. Consider checking with your local city and/or county for their regulations regarding what pets you can and can’t own. It is your responsibility to comply with all local laws, ordinances and covenants before importing or possessing live wildlife.
Prohibited Plant Species List
Thanks to Jeremy Randall Wright of the Arkansas Planted Aquarium Club for the following, posted with permission:
Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3945336292197820/permalink/9605759552822104
Below is a list of aquatic and aquarium plants that are illegal in Arkansas and/or the United States. This includes plants restricted under Arkansas state regulations (e.g., by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission) and those listed as federal noxious weeds under U.S. law (regulated by the USDA).
Note that legality can vary depending on specific circumstances, such as possession versus transport or introduction into natural waterways, and some plants may be allowed in closed aquarium systems but prohibited in the wild. Always check current local and federal regulations for the most up-to-date information.
Plants Illegal in Arkansas:
Arkansas regulates aquatic nuisance species (ANS) that threaten native ecosystems, including certain invasive aquatic plants. The following plants are either explicitly prohibited or restricted from possession, transport, or introduction into state waters without proper permits:
- Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
Status: Illegal in Arkansas.
Reason: Highly invasive floating plant that forms dense mats, choking waterways and outcompeting native species. Confirmed in Arkansas waters (e.g., Lake Erling, 2019).
Regulation: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) prohibits possession and transport as an aquatic nuisance species. - Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Status: Illegal in Arkansas for introduction into public waters.
Reason: Fast-growing floating plant that clogs waterways, reduces oxygen levels, and disrupts aquatic ecosystems.
Regulation: Restricted by AGFC as an invasive species; possession may be allowed in closed systems but not in natural waters. - Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
Status: Illegal in Arkansas for introduction or transport into public waters.
Reason: Aggressive submerged plant that forms dense mats, outcompetes native vegetation, and alters water chemistry. Found in Arkansas lakes like Lake Ouachita.
Regulation: AGFC lists it as an aquatic nuisance species. - Parrot Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Status: *Restricted* in Arkansas. (Not banned)
Reason: Invasive plant introduced via the aquarium trade; forms dense growth that displaces native species and impedes water flow.
Regulation: AGFC prohibits release into public waters; possession may be restricted. - Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) Do not confuse with other Myriophyllum spp.
Status: Illegal in Arkansas for introduction into public waters.
Reason: Submerged plant that spreads rapidly, outcompetes native plants, and disrupts aquatic habitats.
Regulation: AGFC classifies it as an invasive species.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) maintains a Federal Noxious Weed List under the Plant Protection Act, prohibiting the importation, interstate movement, or release of these plants without permits.
Many are aquatic or aquarium plants that pose risks to ecosystems nationwide, including Arkansas. Below are some key examples:
- Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta, S. auriculata, S. biloba, S. herzogii)
Status: Federal Noxious Weed.
Reason: Rapidly spreads over water surfaces, blocking sunlight and oxygen, devastating aquatic ecosystems.
Regulation: Illegal to import or move interstate without a USDA permit. - Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
Status: Federal Noxious Weed.
Reason: Highly invasive submerged plant that disrupts native aquatic systems and clogs waterways.
Regulation: Prohibited federally; no importation or interstate transport allowed. - Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)
Status: Federal Noxious Weed.
Reason: Fast-growing aquatic plant that can form dense mats, outcompeting native species in wetlands and waterways.
Regulation: Illegal to import or transport interstate without a permit. - Oxygen Weed (Lagarosiphon major)
Status: Federal Noxious Weed.
Reason: Submerged plant that displaces native vegetation and alters aquatic habitats.
Regulation: Prohibited under federal law. - Anacharis (Brazilian Waterweed) (Egeria densa)
Status: Not a Federal Noxious Weed but restricted in some states and contexts.
Reason: Popular aquarium plant that can become invasive in natural waters, outcompeting native plants.
Regulation: While not federally banned, it’s restricted in several states and should not be released into Arkansas waters per AGFC rules.
Closed Systems:
Many plants (e.g., Egeria densa, Cabomba caroliniana) are legal to possess in aquariums in Arkansas as long as they are not released into natural waterways. The AGFC explicitly states that the aquarium trade is not constrained for species held in closed systems, but release is prohibited.
Disposal:
Invasive plants must be disposed of responsibly (e.g., dried out and bagged for trash) to prevent accidental introduction into the wild.
Overlap:
Some plants, like Giant Salvinia and Hydrilla, are both state and federally regulated due to their severe ecological impact.
Additional Considerations:
This list is not exhaustive, as regulations evolve and new invasive species may be identified.
For Arkansas-specific rules, consult the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Program (www.agfc.com).
For federal restrictions, refer to the USDA’s Federal Noxious Weed List (available at www.aphis.usda.gov). If you’re unsure about a specific plant, contact local authorities or search online for current restrictions before purchasing or transporting it.
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In addition to this, we are the Natural State, and have natural neighbors, that we would like to be kind to. There are some species which are illegal or controlled by our neighbors, but not in Arkansas. Please take extreme care with possession of these, and keep them in controlled and indoor settings, only! We do not want these to get loose in the wild, as they have the same negative impacts, here, as they do elsewhere!
Here is the only listed example that is not also known and listed by the federal government and state of Arkansas:
- Curly-leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
Status: Controlled/Invasive, to the state of Missouri.
Reason: Non-native plant that can dominate ponds and lakes, though not as strictly banned as others.
Finally, we have a list of aquatic or aquarium plants that are illegal in other states, but not Arkansas or adjacent states. Some of these are native to or naturalized.to Arkansas or other SE US states, but can be problematic, elsewhere.
Here's the final list:
- Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana) (Carolina Fanwort)
Illegal In: California, Washington, Oregon, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont.
California: Quarantine species, illegal to possess or sell (CDFA Plant Quarantine Manual).
Washington: Class B noxious weed, prohibited from sale or distribution.
Connecticut: Banned from sale and transport (CT Gen. Stat. § 22a-381d).
Status in Arkansas: Not explicitly prohibited by AGFC. Legal in aquariums; release into public waters restricted but no possession ban.
Reason: Submerged plant from the aquarium trade that can clog waterways and displace native vegetation. - Western Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)
Illegal In: Washington, Oregon.
Washington: Class A noxious weed, illegal to possess or sell (WAC 16-752).
Oregon: Controlled as an invasive species (OAR 603-052).
Status in Arkansas: Not regulated by AGFC. Not a common aquarium plant but could be used in water gardens; legal in closed systems with no state ban.
Reason: Wetland plant that can spread aggressively in some regions, though less relevant to Arkansas’s climate. - Water Chestnut(Trapa natans)
Illegal In: New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, South Carolina.
New York: Prohibited invasive species (6 NYCRR Part 575).
Vermont: Class A noxious weed, illegal to possess or sell (Vermont Invasive Species Rule).
South Carolina: Plant pest, illegal to distribute (SC Code Regs. 27-100).
Status in Arkansas: Not listed as an ANS by AGFC. Legal in closed systems; no state prohibition on possession or sale.
Reason: Floating plant with sharp fruits that forms dense mats, clogging waterways; not common in Arkansas. - Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
Illegal In: California, South Carolina, Texas (and federally regulated).
California: Quarantine species, illegal to possess or sell.
South Carolina: Plant pest, banned from distribution.
Texas: Prohibited exotic species (TPWD).
Federal: Federal Noxious Weed in some contexts.
Status in Arkansas: (Naturalized species, possibly over 100yrs ago, by some references and photography). Not explicitly banned by AGFC, though it’s present as an invasive weed in the state. Legal in closed aquarium systems; no possession or sale restrictions beyond federal interstate limits.
Reason: Emergent aquatic plant that invades wetlands; less common in aquariums but still relevant.
One oddball that doesn't seem to be illegal in any of the lower 48 or by the federal government, but you just can't seem to find, though it is common in Asia is Ambulia (commonly known as Asian marshweed dwarf ambulia) (Limnophila sessifloris) a popular aquarium plant native to Southeast Asia.
As of March 25, 2025, it is not explicitly illegal in any of the lower 48 U.S. states for possession, sale, or trade in the context of the aquarium trade, based on current state and federal regulations. However, its status comes with some nuances depending on state-specific rules about non-native aquatic plants and their release into natural waterways.
Below is an analysis:
Federal Status:
Federal Noxious Weed List: Limnophila sessiliflora is not listed as a Federal Noxious Weed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Plant Protection Act. This means there are no federal restrictions on its importation, interstate movement, or possession across the United States. It is widely available in the aquarium trade nationwide.
But the aquarium trade seems to treat it like a banned plant. Perhaps I just haven't read the right line of law, but to my knowledge this is permissible plant that we just aren't using, in the US aquarium trade, though people have plants they call 'Ambulia', and may well be a variety of such, (loosely speaking).
I have failed to procure this species for the last decade, despite attempts.
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Key Observations:
Arkansas’s Leniency: Arkansas’s regulations focus on preventing release into public waters rather than banning possession or sale outright. Plants like Egeria densa and Cabomba caroliniana, banned in some states, are tolerated in Arkansas aquariums as long as they stay contained.
Federal vs. State: Plants like Water Spinach and Lagarosiphon major are federally restricted (limiting interstate movement), but Arkansas doesn’t add state-level possession bans, unlike Texas or Florida.
Climate Factor: Some plants (e.g., Trapa natans) are more regulated in northern states where they thrive, while Arkansas’s warmer climate may limit their spread, reducing the need for bans.
Addendum by Jeremy
Addendum to the illegal, plants list post, plus some info I posted, sometime last year, on identification of a few common aquarium plants that are frequently misidentified.
Update on Limnophila sessiflora, noxious weeds and care when using them.
While Limno s., aka 'Ambulia' (outdated term they applies to many plants, much like 'Anacharis'), is on the federal noxious weed list, it is not illegal to possess or use, in Arkansas or the lower 48 states. I've checked this several times, in recent days, and had AI search, behind me, just to be sure.
Noxious weeds are just that, and have been restricted or limited in various ways, differing by whim and fancy, and various misunderstandings, more than actual knowledge of the law, but we should treat all of our aquarium plants as if they are noxious weeds. I'll reiterate that. We should treat all aquarium plants as if they are noxious weeds that were misidentified, when sold to us. First off, the likelihood of that being the case is pretty high, depending on where you got it. (eBay, I'm thinking of you.). Sometimes things are not what we think, and often they are not what they are labeled or sold, as.
Hydrilla being sold as 'Anacharis' is a prime example! I made a post, on this, sometime last year, and how to tell Elodeas, Egerias, Hydrillas, and Lagarosiphons apart.
That's a good example, but not the only one. Ludwigias can be notoriously difficult to tell apart, as can Rotalas. I don't know many people who can tell Cabomba from 'Ambulia', but the trick is the whorl vs fan pattern of leaflets.
I'm specifically thinking of how often I have to defer species identification to others, and how often those same people defer to me. It's tricky business, at times, identifying plants!
This is why we never let aquarium plants get outside, unless they are natives to this part of the country. Having a bit on your deck or greenhouse is one thing. Having it in a place where it can overflow or be carried by raccoons, waterfowl, boats, etc... is reckless abandon.