Hawain Zoas

CaliforniaCrisp · May 15, 2013

Hello all,

Has anyone every collected zoanthids and palys from Hawaii? I have been doing my research and finding how to collect there. I understand Stoney corals are illegal to collect. But soft corals including zoanthids and palys are legal to collect. I applied for my permit today. It was free unless I want to sell. Then it was $50.

Who has done this? And recommendations on getting them back to California? Shipping? Under the plane?

Please let me know your experiences. I am not looking for the person that comes in here shouting at me for breaking down and destroying the reefs. I am not going to be ripping at coral and destructing the reef. I am an experienced hobbiest and respect the reefs and the environment, and am doing my research on how to properly collect and what is allowed to be collected. Thanks for your advice on transportation and your experiences.

-ADub

mike007 · May 15, 2013

I went on cruise to hawaii and took a small rock from the beach and when we boarded ship they took it away from me. I thought i was going to jail.

CaliforniaCrisp · May 16, 2013

I could see where that would happen. Specially if there was any type of rock on it. I was told to check with my airlines to make sure they allow. It is illegal to take any like rock from Hawaii.

This is one of the things I am worried about. That's why I got the permit. So you didn't to to jail, but did you get fined?

-ADub

afamousjohnson · May 16, 2013

I have a shipment of zoas from hawaii sitting in the frag tank right now. They are for sale as well. Shipping is a killer in the whole thing

CaliforniaCrisp · May 16, 2013

I'm not worried about the cost to ship. My fiancÃ© and I would like to collect a few as a memory of our honeymoon so we can watch them grow together. (I know, how corny...)

-ADub

Singlefin · May 16, 2013

You're not allowed to collect anything that is attached to rock. Nor take any rock that has any kind of life on it. You could take a rock off the shoreline that is dead. Good luck taking any rock. It's bad luck and the post office constantly gets rocks mailed back to them from tourists taking them as souvenirs. Last week there was a bomb scare/suspicious package with no return address. Turns out it was rocks someone shipped back. You would basically have to smuggle it back which is illegal. You are supposed to declare anything you take back like fruits vegetables anything live. You have to go through a dept. of ag X-ray scanner when you drop your luggage at the airport. Also your carry ons get x rayed separately. Also with TSA you can't take any liquids on the plane. There are also DLNR officers patrolling the beaches. Pictures would last longer. Have you found a spot that has some? What island are you going to? You can't find them at every beach. Not like you can just walk down to the beach and they are everywhere. Good luck.

afamousjohnson · May 16, 2013

Not corny if it keeps the lady happy-happy wife=happy life.lol. Head over to Johns at your reef or Lances at get pumped saltwater both located in Sac and both holding hawaiin zoas/palys at the moment from this shipment-or make your way up to chico and pick some up from here. Might be your best bet for a momento. True on the rock or sps collecting-highly illegal-hence zoas on plugs

some sweet PE morphs coming out of maui

tr1gger · May 16, 2013

Not worth it, just my .02

CaliforniaCrisp · May 16, 2013

afamousjohnson said:
Not corny if it keeps the lady happy-happy wife=happy life.lol. Head over to Johns at your reef or Lances at get pumped saltwater both located in Sac and both holding hawaiin zoas/palys at the moment from this shipment-or make your way up to chico and pick some up from here. Might be your best bet for a momento. True on the rock or sps collecting-highly illegal-hence zoas on plugs some sweet PE morphs coming out of maui

Totally true.

I actually picked up some at get pumped the other day. It's what really got me thinking about it.

The likely hood of finding zoas are very slim anyways on my travels. But if I were to find them I would not turn them down.

I have connected with a local in Hawaii is has set me up with how/what I need to do.

-ADub

MoeManTheSnowMan · Aug 22, 2013

It is bad luck to take anything like that off the island. Yeah, I said bad luck. I want to keep my good mojo.

That's why people that get away with something small from the islands always send it back. Because they want their good mojo back. Nobody wants bad monkey mojo