The Best Small Turtle Pets for Those with Limited Space

Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career of over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. The world’s most popular pet turtle, the Red Eared Slider, is a poor choice for those lacking space for a huge aquarium and filter. A number of smaller, less active turtles are easier to accommodate in homes and classrooms. Today I’ll cover some of my favorite aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial species, all of which are being bred in captivity. Unless otherwise stated, all can be kept in a 20-30 gallon aquarium or similarly-sized plastic bin. This list is by no means exhaustive, so please be sure to post your own choices and share your experiences below. Please see the linked articles and post below for in depth information on care and breeding. Read the rest of this article here The Best Small Turtle Pets for Reptile Enthusiasts with Limited Space

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My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with: That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog

Best Regards, Frank Indiviglio

I always felt sad for a red-haired slider I knew who lived in a plain boring plastic container with only one rock for basking, no light, no plants, no heater ... I think he eventually died of boredom, poor thing!

My neice has two red eared sliders that are getting quite large. It happens that I have a pond and she asked if she could put them in there - which I had to tell her no. I've seen in some pet stores that they put live goldfish in the tanks with the sliders to eat, and I have quite a few goldfish and koi, and I sure don't want them eaten. I occassionally have a problem with Northern Water Snakes going after the goldfish (the koi are too large) and those snakes are as fast as lightening and I get them out as soon as I can catch them. Now that winter is setting in I won't have to worry about them until it warms up in spring - although I can't say the same for the herons!

GaryBV said:

My neice has two red eared sliders that are getting quite large. It happens that I have a pond and she asked if she could put them in there - which I had to tell her no. I've seen in some pet stores that they put live goldfish in the tanks with the sliders to eat, and I have quite a few goldfish and koi, and I sure don't want them eaten. I occassionally have a problem with Northern Water Snakes going after the goldfish (the koi are too large) and those snakes are as fast as lightening and I get them out as soon as I can catch them. Now that winter is setting in I won't have to worry about them until it warms up in spring - although I can't say the same for the herons!

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Interesting note re the snakes and herons, thanks; sliders often quit trying to catch fish (they are effective at this only in cramped quarters) if there is plenty of room for the fish to out-maneuver them; but individual turtles vary in this regard, some further info here; best, Frank

Its been years since I had turtles as pets....they're super neat animals....although I would rather keep one in a pond setting.

MikeyTN said:

Its been years since I had turtles as pets....they're super neat animals....although I would rather keep one in a pond setting.

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Can't beat a pond...UVB, bugs falling in water and being eaten, etc, thanks, Frank

I probably wouldn't have one as I would stick with the box turtle that comes to visit in my yard every so often.

I read the article - and I did not know anyone ever kept Spotted turtles as pets! I knew they are endangered, have always wanted to see one, but never have.

We have Painted Turtles in the Charles River near us, with such amazing colors and bright paint jobs! We had one once, Rudy, kept her in a nice tank, properly outfitted and all. She was a cool pet, we learned she liked flute music the best, and would stretch her head waaaaay out when it came on. The only sad part of her existence was when a housemate's girlfriend bought some tiny "feeder" goldfish for Rudy to eat as a treat ... She was terrified of them, panicked to the point that she forgot all out the rock where she could climb out of the water and banged her shell against the glass of the tank to try to escape these terrifying beasts! We felt bad for her, and the fish were removed and put in the normal fish tank in the other room, where they couldn't attack her! She was somehow a vegetarian, despite any literature to the con tray about her species, although we fed her good turtle food that was inanimate so she got her correct nutrition!

I've got a Sulcata Tortoise :] Was never much of a *turtle* guy.

My son had a Russian tortoise for many years. They live on land and don't get that big.... Win/win

Turtles are cool but from what I understand even at a small size need a good amount of space.