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Reptile
Owning a Reptile in QLD – Everything you need to know!
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Jul
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Owning a reptile can be so rewarding! They all have their own personalities, recreating their natural habitat in a large enclosure can great fun!
They’re also a large commitment with some reptiles living over 20+ years.
Read more to find out how to obtain a license to purchase your reptile.
Who can own a reptile?
In QLD, you are required to have a license to own certain pets, including reptiles.
To obtain a license, there are eligibility requirements.
– Cannot be issued if you have a criminal conviction that relates to animal welfare issues or related conservation matters within the past three years
– You must be at least 13 years of age. A licence may be issued to a child (aged between 13 and 17 years of age) if the child and the child’s legal guardian live at the same address where the animal will be kept and the guardian agrees to supervise the child’s activities under the licence.
– If you are 18+ you can apply for a standard, specialised or advanced license.
The guardian and the minor must both complete and sign the hardcopy
Animal Wildlife Licence: Standard, Specialised, Advanced (13 to 17 year olds). Find the application form here.
What reptiles can i keep?
There are 3 types of reptile licenses in QLD: Standard, specialised and advanced.
Standard:
This licence allows you to keep a maximum of 10 class 1 animals. You are not permitted to allow these animals to breed and require permission from the
department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it.
Specialised:
Non-dangerous animals – This licence permits you to keep a maximum of 50 vertebrate class 1 and class 2 animals (birds, reptiles, amphibians) and an unlimited number of protected scorpions and spiders. You are not permitted to keep any dangerous animals under this licence. You can allow these animals to breed, provided you do not exceed the maximum permissible number of animals. You require permission from the department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it.
Dangerous Animals – This licence permits you to keep a maximum of 50 vertebrate class 1 and class 2 animals (birds, reptiles, amphibians) and an unlimited number of protected scorpions and spiders. This licence will permit the keeping of dangerous animals. You can allow these animals to breed, provided you do not exceed the maximum permissible number of animals. You require permission from the department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it.
Advanced:
Non-dangerous – This licence permits you to keep an unlimited number of class 1 and class 2 animals, but you are not permitted to keep any dangerous animals under this licence. You do not require permission from the department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it
Dangerous Animals – This licence permits you to keep an unlimited number of class 1 and class 2 animals and you are permitted to keep dangerous animals under this licence. You do not require permission from the department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it.
All invertebrates, except for those listed as protected crayfish and yabbies, scorpions (genus Urodacus) and tarantulas (family Theraphosidae) under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, will remain exempt from requiring a licence.
Class 1 species are animals that are considered:
1. easy to keep
2. established in the captive-bred market
3. not to pose a public safety risk in the event of an escape, and
4. to have minimal impact to wild populations from illegal take activities.
Several species have been downgraded from the previous ‘restricted’ category to Class 1, for example Aspidites ramsayi (woma) and Morelia viridis (green python).
All scorpions of the Urodacus genus and spiders of the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas) that are native to Australia will be regulated under the animal licensing framework as Class 1 animals.
Class 2 species are animals that meet at least one of the following criteria:
1. are not commonly kept and traded in Queensland
2. require a specialised keeping environment
3. pose a risk to public safety in the event of escape, or
4. may be targeted by illegal take activities because of their attractiveness or rarity.
What reptiles are available at Nick's Pet Needs with a standard license?
Nick’s Pet Needs will have reptiles available under a standard license.
These include:
– Bearded dragon
– carpet python
– children python (antaresia children)
– Albino Darwin Python
– Jungle Pythons
Our range will continue to expand into lizards, invertebrates, and amphibians.
Please refer to our policies about selling pets to those under 18.
A minor with a guardian on their reptile license must be present at the time of purchase – no exceptions.
how much is a reptile licence?
As of July 2023, the pricing stated on the QLD Government website for reptile licences are as follows:
Standard licence is ($59.20) for 5 years
Specialised licence is ($316.90) for 5 years
Advanced licence is ($682.90) for 5 years
how do i apply for a licence?
To apply for any Standard, Specialised or Advanced licence, you will need to
register with Online Services or log in to Online Services if already registered.
If you are not currently registered with the Department of Environment and Science, you will need to register to access online services in order to apply for a wildlife permit. Register for online services here.
Important note:
If you currently hold an RWL granted under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 before Online Services commenced, your existing licence information will not be available in Online Services. Only new applications processed under Online Services will be available.
Under 18 years old Application
Your child cannot apply for a licence using Online Services as a customer on the system must be aged 18 years or older. However, your child can apply using the paper-based form noting him/her as the proposed licensee and you as the supervising parent/guardian. For a paper based form to apply as a minor, please click here.
how long does it take for approval?
Before you can purchase your first reptile, your application must be approved.
Assessment of the application can take up to 40 business days.
In most cases, this timeframe can be significantly reduced if you apply for a Standard, Specialised or Advanced licence using Online Services.
Online Services will guide you in providing all required information and assess whether the licence can be granted without requiring further information. If so, your licence will be issued immediately online.
Specialised and Advanced licences which propose the keeping of venomous snakes, will not be issued immediately online as they may require manual assessment. Once your application has been assessed, you will be sent an email notifying you of the assessment outcome.
Important note:
Ensure you provide all information requested in the application process. When using Online Services an application will be considered as invalid if the required information has not been submitted. Similarly, paper-based applications with incomplete information will be returned to you for review and resubmission.
i have an expired licence, do i apply again?
Currently (July 2023),The current recreational wildlife licenses (RWL) and commercial wildlife licenses (RWL) for live animals cannot be renewed.
If you hold one of these licenses you will need to apply for Standard / Specialised or Advanced Licence within two months of the existing CWL or RWLs expiring. If you want to get a Standard/Specialised or Advanced Licence sooner than this, you will have to surrender or cancel your existing licence.
shop for your reptile
Reptile Misters and Foggers
$189.00
A programmable misting system suitable for all types of terrariums and greenhouses. It helps maintain optimal humidity by generating a fine mist at programmed intervals, the duration and frequency of which can be easily adjusted depending on the type of animal or plant housed. Shipping = Medium 1 Shot
Reptile Misters and Foggers
$89.50
Reptile One Humidi Mist is a high performance and efficient humidifier that is adaptable and safe to use in most environments, whilst providing beneficial requirements to reptiles, amphibians, arachnids and invertebrates. Shipping = Medium 1 Shot
Reptile Misters and Foggers
$89.00
Bring the rainforest to you with the fogger. It is ideal for recreating natural humidity and mist found in rainforests and tropical mountains! Shipping = Small 1 Shot
Reptile Misters and Foggers
$89.50
Generates a cold mist in all types of terrariums. Ideal for increasing humidity levels and creating a natural misty and damp environment. Shipping = Small 1 Shot
Reptile Bedding and Substrate
$9.00
Exo Terra Bio Drain Mesh is a non-toxic, non-decomposable mesh that is used to create a water drainage system in terrariums! Shipping = Small 1 Shot
Reptile Bedding and Substrate
$10.50
Exo Terra Bio Drain Mesh is a non-toxic, non-decomposable mesh that is used to create a water drainage system in terrariums! Shipping = Medium 1 Shot
Reptile Bedding and Substrate
$12.00
Exo Terra Bio Drain Mesh is a non-toxic, non-decomposable mesh that is used to create a water drainage system in terrariums. Shipping = Medium 1 Shot
Reptile Bedding and Substrate
$19.50
Exo Terra BioDrain Terrarium Draining Substrate is a natural, non-organic substrate that allows excellent drainage of the terrarium! Shipping = Small 1 Shot
i bought a reptile, how do i add them to my licence?
How exciting!
Firstly, you will need to make sure you have the details from the person you bought your reptile from. Then login to online services.
This PDF will help guide you through how to add the reptile to your licence.
Of course, any questions our friendly team are here to help!
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