Thinking about a turtle

Shellhead · #1 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 11:43 PM

Hey, im currently thinking of looking at turtles, I have 4 snakes at the moment but i want something abit different. My brother wants a frog and i want a turtle. Being a compleate turtle novice are there any nice turtles that stay small and are easy to keep?

Shellhead · #2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 09:55 AM

Nobody?

The Gecko King :) · #3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 10:07 AM

Yellow bellied sliders are friendly,quite easy to keep and only bout 15pounds to buy.

Shellhead · #4 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 10:09 AM

Thanks man, i just didnt know where to start, i didnt think typing turtle into google would have given me much of an insite. Ill take a look for a care sheet and some pictures.
Thanks again.
Jacob

The Gecko King :) · #5 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 10:13 AM

no prob i had one before they are lovely little things, glad to of helped u abit m8

if you do decide on getting one but dunno where to go gimme a pm and ill give the adresses of two shops that usually have tons of the little things in gd health.

Shellhead · #6 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 10:17 AM

Cheers mate, thanks for the help

Tina · #7 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 10:22 AM

I'm not a turtle keeper but I have read on here that the ybs can grow quite big, 8" - 10" I think. If you're looking for something smaller there's the musk turtle which only grow to about 4".

The Gecko King :) · #8 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 10:26 AM

I had one for bout 3 1/2 yrs in a 4ft tank only grew like 5inch if not less.

Shellhead · #9 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 10:29 AM

10" isnt too big i dont think, i just want someting that wont have to go really far out of my way to house. Ill take a look at a few more types. The smaller the better i guess.

Graham · #10 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 10:50 AM

If you're looking for something that stays small I wouldn't really recommend a YBS, they can stay small-ish if they are male, but females can exceed 12" SCL, that's 15"+ overall length, and at that size they require what most people would consider a massive tank or a pond.
Also they may only cost £15 or so to buy, but the setup could easily cost 10x that or more if you're going to provide them with something even half decent. That's just for a reasonable starter setup which they would outgrow in time.
If you're prepared to get an adult or sexable juvenile, then you could get a male and there are several species to choose from that stay fairly small, male Maps for instance only grow to 5" or so.
The only species available in the UK that definitely stays small, male or female, is the Common Musk which rarely exceeds 4-5". They're a nice hardy little turt that can go outside in a pond for much of the year if you wanted, or could be kept indoors in a reasonable size tank even when adult.

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