2007-03-09 09:38:28 · 6 answers · asked by mattheweamer 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Box turtles stay at around 6-8 inches in length, bog turtles are very small (about 2 inches) but they are protected so can not be kept as a pet. painted turtles and red eard slider get around 12 inches or slightly more (RES are larger than painted)
2007-03-09 09:46:18 · answer #1 · answered by Han Solo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Key word here is small, terrapins (if kept correctly, and why keep something if you're not keeping it correctly?) will (depending on type, I'm sure) get about the size of dinner plates, that is not small. I agree with box turtles, but there are also spotted turtles that get about 5 inches shell length at full grown. For color and appearance, as far as small adult sized turtles go, those are your winners. Mud and musk turtles have no protections and attain small adult sizes... not too sociable or attractive, and somewhat stinky (thus the common nickname for both being 'stinkpots'), but with a filter and regularly cleaned water, not too bad. Look into some of your local species and state and federal regulations pertaining to what's in your area and make an outing of it. (Keep in mind, some states do not allow wild capture of reptiles, others require permits, but you'd have to pay for the turtle in a pet store or from a breeder anyway, and not too many places sell the less-attractive turtles.) Just make sure you learn all you can about the animal you're wanting to keep BEFORE you attain it, do you really want a box turtle? You do know they can live to be 80-100 years old, right? Spotteds and muds aren't as likely to outlive you.
2007-03-09 10:51:49 · answer #2 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A testudo tortoise stays small. Leopard tortoises can get to be about 150lbs (but it takes a long time). I have had one for eight years. Got him when he was a hatchling and he now is the size of a brick. They are really pretty too.
2007-03-09 09:47:40 · answer #3 · answered by Sirena 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The smallest commonly available species are:
Eastern box turtles (4-6") http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-easternboxie.htm
Mud and musk turtles (3-5") such as the common Stinkpot- http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-stinkpot.htm
Reeves turtle (4-5") http://www.tortoise.org/archives/reeves.html
There are some smaller species out there, but they are not good for beginners or easy to get.
A good article to start with is http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/firstturtle.htm
2007-03-09 14:23:24 · answer #4 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Terrapins! They are tiny and they live in tanks with water. I saw some today in the garden centre. They are so small and cute! If you haven't heard of them , Google them.
2007-03-09 10:22:24 · answer #5 · answered by jσαnnє ♥ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would have to say from my experance russian tortoises :)
2007-03-09 12:44:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋