turtles

[karazy]

hey guys. i want to set up a tank for turtles, cuz i think they are awsome, but i dont have a whole lot of space. im just wondering, whats a good turtle that doesnt get too big and doesnt need too big of a tank? if this cannot be answered please just atleast tell me what the smallest turtle species for sale is

[flamingo]

Well, not many turtles stay "small"...
It would be better to specify whether your looking at a terrestrial type, or aquatic. Aquatics are generally the easiest to find, but they also need the most tank space and added work of filtration and water changes.
Terrestrial are a little less common, much less active... and usually, compared to others, cost more. Though, they tend to have less care...

[fishbguy]

The minumum tank size for even the smallest of aquatuc turtles most commonly available would be a 55 gallon. However these do grow, and most grow very large, so a 75 is much better. Aquatic turtles are very active animals, and need a very large enclosure.

Land turtles are a whole nuther story however. They could be kept in a 20 long, but you would have to take them out once a day and let them walk around your house. In the summer, or even in the winter if it's warm enough, you can take them out side and let them walk around out there, with supervision of course. They will enjoy the fresh air, eating all sorts of bugs, grass, and other plants.

IMO, aquatic turtles are easier to feed...just drop a few pellets in and some feeders/frozen foods, and bam...your done, whereas land turtles need much more fruits and veggies that aquatic turtles...so you have to take the time to research what kinds of feggies are good for them, and then go buy them, cut them up, etc.

out of all my turtles(both aquatic and land) I like my 3-toed box turtles the best...I highly reccomend them.

[karazy]

Originally Posted by fishbguy

i like three toed box turtles the best...I highly reccomend them.

i like them too. but if i got one i wud probably get one in a 30breeder, or 2 in a 40breeder. they look very interesting and i like the idea of letting them walk around a bit. how many do u have and in how big of a tank?

[fishbguy]

I have a lone female...I'm looking for a male.

In the summer, she lives in a 3 x 3 foot enclosure outside. in the winter, she hibernates in a 15 gallon tub in my garage. The only reason I keep her in such a small space in the winter is because she's hibernating...she doesn't move at all.

[karazy]

hmmm. well i live in canada and theres alot of stray cats and dogs in my neighborhood so i dont think that an outddor enclosure wud be the best. plus my backyard probably wudnt be able to fit it. but i wud let him/her rome around my house as much as i can(with supervision) and in the seummer i cud let him/her roam outside with supervision, cuz i dont want him/her to get attacked by a cat/dog. but i like the sound of these three toes. r they hard to kepp? and whats the hardest part about kepping them?

[fishbguy]

Where I live, is literally right next to a nature park...kinda. anyways...I have tons of wild animals...cats, dogs, racoons, opossums, deer, foxes, squirrels . Anyways...The walls on my enclosure are about 12 inches high, but I built a wooden frame that attatches to the back of the enclosure, with chicken wire on top, so that it acts as a lid. It also locks to the main frame, so it can't be removed by coons or the like. Only people or wild monkeys, or any other animal with opposable thumbs and the combanation can unlock the cages...lol

There really isn't a hard part about keeping them. Obtaining them can be hard, and expensive, but the hardest part in it's self would be the size enclosure they need. but you've got it all figured out with the 30 or 40breeder.

Make sure you research all the differnt types of american box turtles. They are all the same species, but are all different subspecies, and all have different habits. ie.

Florida Box Turtle-Very hard to find, likes marshy habitats, found naturally in the everglades. smallest subspecies.

Eastern Box Turtle-illegal to own in it's native habitat without special liscenses or such. Lives in mountain forests. Eats mainly berries.

3-toed box turtle-a dessert species. eats more insect matter than other box turtles. grass hoppers, crickets, etc. but eats alot of veggies too.

western/ornate box-I'm not sure

[karazy]

thnx for all the info. how expensive was ur box turtle aprox.?

[Gourami Swami]

Turtles are expensive man... at least the ones Ive seen.

I would suggest you look into tortoises. Sulcatas get very big but are interesting and rewarding to keep.

Box turtles usually hover around 100$... I think lllreptile has some.

And here are some of the commonly kept tortoises, may get a bit big for a 20l though. http://www.reptiledepot.com/torts.html

The red foots would do okay in a 4-5 foot enclosure i think.

[fishbguy]

Mine was free...but the lrs has them for around 70 USD.

If you don't want a turtle, russion tortoises stay around the same size as box turtles.

[Gourami Swami]

they cost form 80-120 usually

[Scuba Kid]

Sulcatas tortoise. Lmao, you could ride those things around. Little big for a fish tank, methinks.

I like russian tortoises. That would be my choice seeing as how they generally require less maintenance than aquatic turtles and they're just so darn cute. Plus, they only get around 5 inches.

[Gourami Swami]

Yes... I said very big... and by very big, I mean freaking huge. Was that unclear?

Lol, maybe a russian would be a better choice.

[karazy]

hmm. ill look into that. the only thing is ive heard that tortises stay alive for like 100 years or sumthing, but i definatley could be wrong

[Torpedos]

I have to disagree.
Reeves Turtles.
Grow to around 15cm
Live in a 10gal for most of their lives due to being poor swimmers. You could keep mayby 3-4 adults in a 40gal tank. Aslong as there is plenty of basking area.

[fishbguy]

I was just saying water turtles in general. Of course there are a few exceptions. Like alligator snappers...largest freshwater turtle in the world...up to 6 feet I think, but don't quote me on that. Or even Female softshells, they get HUGE, while males are about half the females size.

[karazy]

hmmm. u see i also need something thats not to hard to find cuz i live in canada and stuff isnt the easiest to find. but i like the sound of the russian tortise. but ive read they can get up to 8 inches. is this true? and there is one thing i dont liek about the russian. it will be my pet until im like 57 which might not be the best

[fishbguy]

Yes, they do live a long time, but so does any turtle. Basically, once you get a turtle, you have them forever, nomatter the species.

Yup, 8 inches, max. They stay pretty small, espacially for a tortoise.

[karazy]

ya, they r a good size. and im pretty sure i could get one for a good price next calgary reptile show. and thats in september, so i shud be done with my sw by then hopefully. and aslo anyone whos anyone(or any breeder who breeds well) is at the reptile show so i shud be able to get a pretty legit tortise. now ive read they kinda dont understand glass, so i wud probably use black construction paper around the bottome half of the tank

[karazy]

so could i keep a russian in a 30 breeder?????