Turtles need to be fed at least 4 to 5 times a week and should be provided with a fresh and clean water source. When you are looking for a turtle of a particular size, it is equally important to be aware of the size difference between different genders.
Generally, males are smaller than females. It is also difficult to find turtles that stay tiny, but you can usually find some that stay under 5 inches. You must also invest in a nice size aquarium so that the turtle has plenty of space to roam around and stay healthy. Like with any other pet, it is a good idea to do a lot of research on the type of turtle you are looking for. Although most turtle breeds are not very expensive.
Still, you should sleep on it. Do your best to decide if you are ready for the obligation. The next step is the exciting part: deciding what type of turtle to buy. The size of these turtles makes them very low maintenance.
So much so that kids can take care of them as well. Another benefit of small turtles is that they are great for an apartment as well as house life. Small turtles take a lot less room than larger ones. Like all things small, dollar turtles look cute and adorable. As with most exotic wildlife, one should be aware of the local rules and regulations. The same goes for small turtles. Although these rules vary concerning each location. Also, most types of turtles are illegal to keep without the appropriate license in the areas where they are considered native.
We suggest finding a turtle species you are interested in, then researching in regards to whether it is acceptable to have as a pet in your specific area. Yes, Of course, small turtles need just as much care and maintenance as large turtles. Like other pets, these small creatures need just as much love and attention.
Hence they are a big responsibility. The most critical thing to consider if you plan to keep small turtles healthy is tank care. You must clean the tank after every two weeks and use a powerful water filtration system to keep the water as clear as possible.
If you are inexperienced in this department then we suggest you seek professional help. If you are interested in learning more about these fun creatures and how to take care of them, here are some recommended books:. Here is our list of the top 6 turtle breeds that stay small. All these turtles are readily available in the US and most of them stay under 5 inches. The most common out of the small turtles are mud turtles that grow to about 4 to 5 inches.
Their average life span in captivity is around 50 years. The origin of mud turtles in North America and parts of Africa. Striped mud turtles and common mud turtles grow to about 4. Sonoran and yellow and Sonoran mud turtles will sometimes reach up to 6 inches.
People often mistake musk turtles for mud turtles because of their similarities. Musk turtles also live up to 50 years in captivity. The average length of these turtles is 3 to 4 inches.
Musk turtles are great for novice owners and make for excellent pets. The Stinkpot Common Musk Turtle is one of the smallest turtles in the world. There are four main species of musk turtles: loggerhead, common, flattened, and razorback. Spotted turtles are semi-aquatic turtles. They are very easy to identify. These turtles have yellow spots on their necks, legs, shells, and heads. The rest of their body is a black color.
The average length of this turtle 3. A gallon tank is more than sufficient for spotted turtles. Terrapin turtles are one of the ancient animal species on earth. Musk turtles are called stink pots as they have scent glands that release a foul scent as a self-defense mechanism. Both the mud and musk turtles have these scent glands -- but the mud turtle kept in captivity won't use the glands. Spotted turtles grow to around 3.
Reeves turtles can be found in mainland China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. These creatures grow to around 5 inches long and have rectangular rather than round carapaces.
The red-eared slider grows to 7 to 9 inches while the eastern box turtle reaches a length of 4. The western painted turtle grows to be anywhere from 4 to 10 inches in length. The map turtle female is 7 to Florida Softshells are nearly entirely aquatic, although you can find them on land sometimes. As the name suggests, these reptiles lack one feature common in almost all turtles-a hard shell. Instead, they are flat, with skin covering the shell, making them resemble pancakes.
You may want to go for a male Florida Softshell Turtle, though. The reason is, males and females vary significantly in the size range. The males stay small forever, at around six inches, while the females are big and bulky and can grow up to 1. The males measure up to 5 inches, with females measuring up to 7 inches. Diamondback Terrapins are hardy, although they are susceptible to fungal infections and shell diseases.
Musk turtles are generally small, and as hard as it is to believe, the Razorback is the biggest of them all. This breed is almost entirely aquatic, although it comes to bask in the sun occasionally. Razorback Musks are shy and do not bite or get aggressive. The African Sideneck is easy to maintain and thrives in captivity. African Sideneck turtles are native to the freshwater rivers and lakes of Africa and Madagascar. They are uniquely cute and boast the ability to make their heads turn sideways.
These reptiles are a sight to behold, mainly when they use their long necks to flip themselves over when they are on their backs. You can distinguish this reptile by its various shell colors, including green, brown, and black with yellow stripes.
Its belly is usually solid yellow with black markings, thus the name. This slider tends to be more active during daytime, where they also spend most of the time basking. Turtles are generally low maintenance , but keeping and caring for giant and overgrown turtles is not as simple as it seems. So, which one is your favorite! She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe.
Skip to content. Oct 17 Nicole Cosgrove. Red Eared Slider Turtle 2. Spotted Turtles 3. Mud Turtles 4. Musk Turtle 5.
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