Which reptiles may be kept in Switzerland without a permit?
Most of them. Article 89 of the Animal Welfare Ordinance lists exhaustively which wild animals require a permit. Anything not listed there may be kept without one.
- Species in this list
- 80
- out of
- 93
Most species common in the trade are permit-free, such as the corn snake, ball python, bearded dragon and leopard gecko. Whether a permit is needed depends on whether an animal can become dangerous or is particularly hard to keep appropriately.
No permit does not mean no rules. The minimum dimensions in annex 2, table 5 of the Animal Welfare Ordinance apply to every terrarium, and anyone keeping an animal must house, feed and occupy it appropriately. Some of these species are also protected under CITES and need papers when bought.
This overview sorts the classifications held in the app’s data and replaces no official information. The cantonal veterinary office decides, and it decides case by case: By species, origin, size of the animal and the conditions on site.
Snakes
25 Species
African house snake
Boaedon fuliginosusNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
California kingsnake
Lampropeltis californiaeNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Kenyan sand boa
Eryx colubrinusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Corn snake
Pantherophis guttatusNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Ball python
Python regiusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Black kingsnake
Lampropeltis nigraNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Common garter snake
Thamnophis sirtalisNo permit. Garter snakes have a Duvernoy’s gland. The genus Thamnophis is, however, on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Amur rat snake
Elaphe schrenckiiNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Blood python
Python brongersmaiNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Boa constrictor
Boa constrictorNo permit. Art. 89 let. f of the Ordinance expressly exempts the boa constrictor from the permit requirement for giant snakes. It is the only exception named
Sumatran short-tailed python
Python curtusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Mexican kingsnake
Lampropeltis mexicanaNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Milk snake
Lampropeltis triangulumNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Beauty rat snake
Elaphe taeniuraNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Carpet python
Morelia spilotaNo permit required. The Ordinance lists the carpet python in Annex 2, Table 5, item 43a without a permit note. Art. 89 let. f of the Ordinance covers giant snakes whose species exceeds 3 m as adults; carpet pythons usually stay at 2 to 2.5 m. For very large animals, ask the cantonal veterinary office when in doubt
Western hognose snake
Heterodon nasicusNo permit required. The species is rear-fanged and has a weak venom apparatus at the back of the upper jaw. Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance covers snakes with a venom apparatus but exempts species designated harmless by the federal food-safety and veterinary office, the annex to its wild-animal ordinance lists «Heterodon spp.» at line 184. The exemption therefore covers the whole genus
Javelin sand boa
Eryx jaculusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Amazon tree boa
Corallus hortulanusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Emerald tree boa
Corallus caninusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Green tree python
Morelia viridisNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Madagascar tree boa
Sanzinia madagascariensisNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Mandarin rat snake
Euprepiophis mandarinusNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Brazilian rainbow boa
Epicrates cenchriaNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Gopher snake
Pituophis cateniferNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Western rat snake
Pantherophis obsoletusNo permit required. The genus is on the list of harmless venomous snakes in the federal veterinary office’s ordinance on keeping wild animals (SR 455.110.3) and is therefore exempt from the permit requirement under Art. 89 let. h of the Ordinance
Lizards
10 Species
Central bearded dragon
Pogona vitticepsNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Blue-tongued skink
Tiliqua scincoidesNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Rankin's dragon
Pogona henrylawsoniNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Green anole
Anolis carolinensisNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Common collared lizard
Crotaphytus collarisNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Chinese water dragon
Physignathus cocincinusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Saharan spiny-tailed lizard
Uromastyx geyriNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Ridge-tailed monitor
Varanus acanthurusNo permit. Art. 89 let. f of the Ordinance covers monitors only from an adult total length above 1 m; Varanus acanthurus stays below that at 60 to 70 cm. Mitchell's and the rusty monitor are named explicitly, this species is not
Schneider's skink
Eumeces schneideriiNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Fire skink
Mochlus fernandiNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Geckos
10 Species
Crested gecko
Correlophus ciliatusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Leopard gecko
Eublepharis maculariusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Gargoyle gecko
Rhacodactylus auriculatusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
African fat-tailed gecko
Hemitheconyx caudicinctusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Tokay gecko
Gekko geckoNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
New Caledonian giant gecko
Rhacodactylus leachianusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Gold dust day gecko
Phelsuma laticaudaNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Giant day gecko
Phelsuma grandisNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Neon day gecko
Phelsuma klemmeriNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Sarasin's giant gecko
Correlophus sarasinorumNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Tortoises and turtles
8 Species
Hermann's tortoise
Testudo hermanniNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Greek tortoise
Testudo graecaNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Marginated tortoise
Testudo marginataNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Horsfield's tortoise
Testudo horsfieldiiNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Common musk turtle
Sternotherus odoratusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Reeves' turtle
Mauremys reevesiiNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Red-footed tortoise
Chelonoidis carbonariusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Painted turtle
Chrysemys pictaNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Amphibians
13 Species
Axolotl
Ambystoma mexicanumNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Ornate horned frog
Ceratophrys ornataNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Cranwell's horned frog
Ceratophrys cranwelliNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
White's tree frog
Litoria caeruleaNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Oriental fire-bellied toad
Bombina orientalisNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Chinese fire-bellied newt
Cynops orientalisNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Yellow-banded poison dart frog
Dendrobates leucomelasNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Dyeing poison dart frog
Dendrobates tinctoriusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Mimic poison dart frog
Ranitomeya imitatorNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Red-eyed tree frog
Agalychnis callidryasNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
False tomato frog
Dyscophus guinetiNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Tomato frog
Dyscophus antongiliiNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
African clawed frog
Xenopus laevisNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Tarantulas
6 Species
Chilean rose tarantula
Grammostola roseaNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Mexican red-knee tarantula
Brachypelma smithiNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Curly hair tarantula
Tliltocatl albopilosusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Antilles pinktoe tarantula
Caribena versicolorNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Greenbottle blue tarantula
Chromatopelma cyaneopubescensNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Indian ornamental tarantula
Poecilotheria regalisNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Scorpions
2 Species
Emperor scorpion
Pandinus imperatorNo keeping permit under the Ordinance: It covers vertebrates, cephalopods and decapods, not arachnids. Cantonal rules may exist for venomous animals; check with the cantonal veterinary office before buying
Asian forest scorpion
Heterometrus spiniferNo keeping permit under the Ordinance: It does not cover arachnids. Cantonal rules may exist for venomous animals; check with the cantonal veterinary office before buying
Praying mantises
3 Species
African mantis
Sphodromantis lineolaNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Orchid mantis
Hymenopus coronatusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
European mantis
Mantis religiosaNo permit under the Ordinance: It does not cover insects. As a native species it is however protected under nature conservation law: animals may not be taken from the wild. Only captive-bred individuals may be kept
Stick and leaf insects
3 Species
Macleay's spectre
Extatosoma tiaratumNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Philippine leaf insect
Phyllium philippinicumNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
Indian stick insect
Carausius morosusNo permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
More overviews
Which reptiles require a permit in Switzerland?
For venomous snakes unless the FSVO lists them as harmless, giant snakes over three metres (except the boa constrictor), all chameleons, crocodilians, beaded lizards, iguanas, tegus and monitors over one metre, a few other lizards, tortoises and turtles such as the African spurred tortoise, and the Goliath frog and giant salamanders. Article 89 of the Animal Welfare Ordinance lists them.
Which reptiles and amphibians are banned in Switzerland?
The Animal Welfare Ordinance bans no species. Two are listed as invasive organisms in the Release Ordinance, though: the red-eared slider and the American bullfrog. They must not get into the environment: no releasing, no garden pond, no keeping outdoors. The FOEN (Federal Office for the Environment) also considers acquisition and keeping impermissible.
Which reptiles need CITES papers in Switzerland?
Every species listed in the appendices of the Washington Convention (CITES). That is considerably more than most people expect. Widely kept terrarium animals are among them.
The rules behind them (articles, responsibilities and what a certificate of competence is) are on Switzerland & law. The individual species pages are under Species.
