• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Reptile Laws in Tennessee

B

boggylizard

New member
Joined
May 3, 2006
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
53
Location
Knoxville, TN
Just wondering if anyone could direct me to a website that would give me a rundown of the reptile laws in Tennessee. I'm relocating there soon and need to know what I can take with me. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

Rob Logan
 
Correction, no natives, no venomous, no turtles or tortoises of any kind. Sucks! And the breeding propogating license here is higher than some places. Last time I checked about a year ago it was around $500 and you had to have that even if you were out of state just setting up at a show in TN to sell for the weekend or something. They're kinda strict here, hence why there are not a lot of herpers in the area. We will welcome you though.
 
I live in Tennessee too WELCOME

The laws in Tennessee are kinda tough, no crocidilians either except dwarf caimans.The permits are a little expensive to to own corns,milks and kings. There is a website you can go to by searching tennessee wildlife permits... I do not have it at the moment since I am on vacation.
Chris Cowan
 
I relocated from PA. to GA and am now looking to move to Tennessee and am VERY disheartened by these "Laws" regarding reptiles. Sorry, but one is not likely at all to find a Cal. King or Okeetee Corn in Memphis!

Many of these reptiles make incredible pets and maybe if they redid some of these laws less people would be as likely to purchase Pythons and Boas, unable to take care of them when they mature, thus releasing them into the wild as very often is done....
 
Yeah....don't move here...lol! I'm looking to get OUT of here. The laws for herps are rough.

Just FYI, you do not need a permit to OWN kings, corns, or milks, but to BREED them.

No turtles, or tortoises, no venomous, can't catch anything native and keep it (which that one I can at least understand)...Blair, I'd highly suggest looking somewhere else, especially if you ever plan to breed colubrids, or want a turtle...haha!
 
Katie,
Not much of a choice right now as my fiance' lives and works in Memphis and it makes much better sense me selling my GA. house and moving there.....
Not sure if I will get back into breeding again, but would like to have some Corns and Kings again....
The whole turtle thing is ridiculous! Jeez...
 
yeah that sounds bad man, but tell you what sell me the house and I will keep what ever you can't take with you and keep a bin open for when you want to visit. lol I wish I could afford t omove but being on disablity make it very limited on options. specially when you only got like 250 a month after bills like truck and cell to put to bills.
 
BR289 said:
Katie,
Not much of a choice right now as my fiance' lives and works in Memphis and it makes much better sense me selling my GA. house and moving there.....
Not sure if I will get back into breeding again, but would like to have some Corns and Kings again....
The whole turtle thing is ridiculous! Jeez...
Click to expand...

That sucks. But, good news is you can KEEP them snakes, just can't breed them :) And yes, the turtle law is crazy...I want a dang box turtle...lol!
 
You can sell a turtle for "food purposes" and you can own one as long as its not a native species. There's two laws that apply to turtles on his health based the other TWRA. I can get you the links if you like. Loopholes can be used by us too!
 
No, I've spoken with a TWRA agent myself concerning this, and they are illegal to keep, native or not.

Using loopholes is NOT going to shed good light on the herp community. I choose not to darken the views of others on us by breaking the law...or finding 'loopholes'. E-mail a TWRA agent, they'll tell you the same thing they told me. Illegal.
 
I still think its legal but I will be doing that. I've been in this discussions with others I read the actual laws and it really doesn't say its illegal to own. I'll repost once I hear back from TWRA.
 
Laws

The laws here are ridiculous, $250 for a permit to breed corns and kings...really? Yes, really. Including no notice inspections....anytime. No turtles, period. That's why the nearest reptile show is in Southaven, MS 3 miles from the border!
I have personally emailed both USARK and REXANO about this issue and never get any replies. I know they are busy with the national scene however if they can changes laws in TN, they could do it anywhere.
Some reasonable changes could include perhaps allowing tortoises as pets and certain species of turtles, so long as there are no sales to minors.Also backing off the colubrid permit, even a reduction to say $75 or $50 would be a huge step. This would make a lot of people much more "upfront" rather than hiding their hobby.
Bringing shows into the state would help boost revenue. I used to think Georgia had ridiculous laws, but I think TN tops the list.
 
Back
Top