BEN BOGDAN
New member
I have heard that most strains of calerpa are illegal and that stores that have it will be fined if caught possesing or selling it. If so at least in Ca. we better let the lfs boys know. --BB
calerpa illegal?
- Thread starter BEN BOGDAN
- Start date
TippyToeX
Premium Member
CALIFORNIA CODES
FISH AND GAME CODE
SECTION 2300
2300. (a) No person shall sell, possess, import, transport,
transfer, release alive in the state, or give away without
consideration the salt water algae of the Caulerpa species:
taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes, floridana,
ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person may possess, for
bona fide scientific research, as determined by the department, upon
authorization by the department, the salt water algae of the Caulerpa
species: taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes,
floridana, ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis.
(c) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person
who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of not less
than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
FISH AND GAME CODE
SECTION 2300
2300. (a) No person shall sell, possess, import, transport,
transfer, release alive in the state, or give away without
consideration the salt water algae of the Caulerpa species:
taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes, floridana,
ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person may possess, for
bona fide scientific research, as determined by the department, upon
authorization by the department, the salt water algae of the Caulerpa
species: taxifolia, cupressoides, mexicana, sertulariodes,
floridana, ashmeadii, racemosa, verticillata, and scapelliformis.
(c) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person
who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of not less
than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
ACBlinky
Premium Member
Wow, I didn't know that. I've got a huge bunch of C. racemosa in my FOWLR. I've got Hygrophyla polysperma (FW plant) in my planted tank, which is also illegal in places like Florida and California - it's a pest plant that chokes out waterways. I guess the reason it's okay here in Canada is neither would survive if it got out into the lakes or rivers here. Hopefully Chaeto is still allowed in California, it's much nicer than Caulerpa anyway 
I love when these conversations come up about Caulerpa being illegal in Cali. It is a law that was an absolute overreaction to extremely bad cases of 1 species, and 1 species alone. C. taxifolia. It looks very similar to what is considered "feather caulerpa" except that the leaves are much thicker, and it emits much more white muck when the ends are bit or snapped.
The species is ridiculously hardy and can live in water anywhere from 50-85 degrees and thrive, plus nothing likes to eat it because of the foul taste/poison. It is a mutation that started outside of the renouned Monte Carlo Aquarium, where Jaques Costeau (sp. silly frenchies) was once the curator. Once it hit the water it spread over square miles in the matter of months, completely covering the seafloor and killing off all native plant life. It is still a major problem.
Basically some idiot who had it dumped it in a storm drain, and it flowed into the ocean in socal and started some small forrests which had to be completely covered with tarps underwater and bleached with chlorine to kill them. Big issue.
The problem with the stupid law is it included all other species of caulerpa, which have no chance for survival in the ocean of california, I mean, some are not even easy to keep in a fish tank!
reefshadow
New member
What does "without consideration" mean?
BEN BOGDAN
New member
Is the plant that looks like a ball of green thin angel hair pasta ok to use in calif. I don't think that is a calerpa? --BB
ichthyophile
New member
come pick some up here in nevada, if you want. i can also score a ferret or two for ya.
btw, isn't walnut, eucalyptus, blue rye sod, russian thistle, and most of your back yard non-native?
btw, isn't walnut, eucalyptus, blue rye sod, russian thistle, and most of your back yard non-native?
Last edited by a moderator:
Kahuna Tuna
Active member
Amen.
nemofish2217
New member
jacmyoung, why aren't caulerpas good for reef tank refugiums?
The concensus here is Chaeto is a much better marine algae for the refugiums.
I must admit caulerpa taxifolia or its look-alike did grow well and look good, but if you read the story about how CF had decimated teh entier costal regions of Europe and the impact on argriculture and tourism, one should understand sometimes an overreaction. While folks in New York or Nevada, due to reasons from too cold to grow CF along the shore or not having a shore to begin with, may not be too concerned, California certainly can not afford to have its shores covered by CF before reacting.
I must admit caulerpa taxifolia or its look-alike did grow well and look good, but if you read the story about how CF had decimated teh entier costal regions of Europe and the impact on argriculture and tourism, one should understand sometimes an overreaction. While folks in New York or Nevada, due to reasons from too cold to grow CF along the shore or not having a shore to begin with, may not be too concerned, California certainly can not afford to have its shores covered by CF before reacting.
ichthyophile
New member
how 'bout those northern pike <ahem> in lake davis, california, and the toxic, highly controversial, and utterly unsuccessful attempts to eradicate them? probably just overreaction...
i'm not trying to get negative or political, just to point out some irony and double-standards in the law.
i'm not trying to get negative or political, just to point out some irony and double-standards in the law.
staticfishmonger
New member
shhhh keep it on the "down low" those Fish and Game wardens are everywhere.....
Nothing wrong with that. I know in CA environmentalists ideal are still entrenched in the field of biology and natural science, and the population still embrace environmental friendly legislations, at the expenses of high cost or sometimes over-reactions.
The fact is the general population is less concerned of angering a handful of reefers, rather not take the chance of having our shoreline succumb to green algae, even if the possibility is rather remote. As a hobbyist I must know my limitation. Last time I passed through custom, they throw out all food I carried in, even though they were canned or vacuum freezed. I could only feel lucky I wasn't fined.
ichthyophile
New member
excellent article about C. taxifolia. looks like the hybrid strain originated in the stuttgart aquarium, and was distributed unknowingly.
be informed:
http://www.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/Research/techreports/Caulerpa.html
and for you californians:
http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb9/programs/caulerpa/caulerpa.html
gotta love the hype: the state dubbed it "killer algae". chalk the crisis up next to west nile, bird flu, africanized bees, and fedex anthrax. be afraid. be very afraid.
here is the grandaddy of all caulerpa reports, from the university of austria. more info than any will ever want to know:
http://www.sbg.ac.at/ipk/avstudio/pierofun/ct/ct-1.htm
i happily have caulerpa racemosa growing in my refugium. rest assured i have no plans to take over the world by dumping it down the storm drain.
be informed:
http://www.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/Research/techreports/Caulerpa.html
and for you californians:
http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb9/programs/caulerpa/caulerpa.html
gotta love the hype: the state dubbed it "killer algae". chalk the crisis up next to west nile, bird flu, africanized bees, and fedex anthrax. be afraid. be very afraid.
here is the grandaddy of all caulerpa reports, from the university of austria. more info than any will ever want to know:
http://www.sbg.ac.at/ipk/avstudio/pierofun/ct/ct-1.htm
i happily have caulerpa racemosa growing in my refugium. rest assured i have no plans to take over the world by dumping it down the storm drain.
