what is the most common pet turtle?

Question

I have a 20 gallon tank. I want to get a turtle. What is the best turtle to own as a pet? I dont want a really agressive one. I want to be able to touch it without being scared it will bite me. Can I keep more than 1 in my 20 gallon tank? I am basically looking for a nice turtle that is common.

I have a few questions for copperhead. Are the map turtles really agressive? Can I get them at my local petsmart? Are they really expensive?
How long do they live?

Also which map turtle on the website in the care sheets would be the best one to have?

Answer 1

A red eared slider is the most common, but these will get to be 7" - 12" or more- too big for your 20 gallon!

Might I suggest a map turtle - the males only get to be 4-6 inches, are just as easy to care for, and will be much better for a tank your size.

You can find information on both of these (and lots of other species) at this website - look under "care sheets": http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/

ADDITION: to your added questions
1) I wouldn't say map turtles are any more aggressive than red eared sliders or any other aquatic turtle (except maybe snapping turtles and softshell turtles). Any species is capable of biting if it feels threatened.

2) I don't know what your local store carries, but all stores go through major suppliers for their stock. If you let a manager know what you're interested in, they can special order an animal if it's not something they usually carry. Since you'll be buying the turtle (usually around $25-$35), you'll need food and supplies, it's additional business for them so it's really in their best business interest to get requests for a customer.

3) Most that I've seen offered for sale are common or Mississippi maps - try to find a male because these will stay smaller than females - see this page to determine sex: http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Info/info.htm

Answer 2

Simple answer. Painted turtles are very common. They are not in any horrible danger in the wild. They have a slow growth rate so a 20 gal tank should be good for several years. They are relativly tame (yes there will be a small percentage of the population that will be agressive little pains) and the more interaction the tamer it will become until (sometimes) they eat right from your hands. THey are also very plain looking (because the back of their shell can get so dark and hide the markings) to extremely beautiful turtles (like any other animal)
They live into thier 20s so it will be around awhile but not aslo as others like slider that can get into thier late 40s and upto 10 inches in size.
A good rule of thumb with multiple in 10 gal per inch of turtle some mulitple turtles in a 20 is pretty tight unless thier babies. but as for one it a 20 it should be ok as i said earlier for a few years 3-5. But alos with tank size as you may or may not know a higher rated filter system (turtles poop alot), UVA and UVB light, heat lamp, water heater, and dry'er' land ie a rcok out of the water of a floating log to climb onto.

lastly i wouldn't touch it too much. turtles are more of a show pet not a 'pettable' pet (you will read some people do that though) and like a dog or cat or any other animals more contact with tame it more but it doesn't guarentee that it woun't bite.

But they are relatively small, very hardy, and interesting pets.


ok one last comment. do not get a red eared slider as a first turtle. they make wonderful pets but are better for someone who has a little experience. i got a bay one about one year ago and they was a huge learning curve. they're quite agressive mostly out of water though. alos mine is only mine is only nine months old and it is currently at 5 inches i got it when it was a little bigger that a quarter. they are good pets but i advise the painted turtle over the slider for a beginner.

Answer 3

Red Eared Sliders

Answer 4

Red Eared Sliders are good and popular not usually agressive towards humans and others of it's kind. A ten gallon is good for like one or two so a twenty is probably okay for two to four.

Answer 5

Red Eared Slider...i just got two a couple of days ago and just like you i didn't know anything about them and i really mean NOTHING....but so far if i have any questions i just come here and ask and every ones sweet enough to answer..!!
now about the turtles so far they are doing fine they let me pick them up and play with them...they do get a bit scared though i heard its normal...at first one of the turtles didn't want to eat but than he got used to me i guess...at first i only had one which i saved from a filter pool and than i got him a friend...his turtle friend in away made it easier for him to get used to his envoirment...
i wanted to put them in a big tank like you want..but to me it didn't look like they really liked it..so i put them in a smaller tank which in a way is better...
you can research all about the red eared slider turtle at www.google.com just type in red eared slider and you will find a lot of info..
good luck.. :)

Answer 6

Red ear slider would be good but then also the yellow belly slider you can find everywhere :)


Has:
6ft Argentina female boa
5ftMale Columbian red tail
Spotted gecko
Firebelly toads
White cornsnake mixed with rat snake
Pacman frog
Flat rock scorpion
Savannah Monitor
2 ball pythons

Answer 7

Red ear slider

Answer 8

a pet plastic turtle. they are harmless and don't destroy everything. thy just stay in one place