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What are some good beginner turtles that dont take up a large aquarium.

There are plenty of good beginner turtles. But eventually you will need a larger environment as the turtles grow. What is your idea of a "not large aquarium"? Anything less than a 20 Gallon Long will pretty much be too small within 3 years.
If you check out Austins'Turtle Page, there is a link with a questionaire. It has a list of direct questions regarding turtle care and the responsibilty it involves.
Sorry if I sound preachy here, but really, check out the questionaire and see if you're really prepared to raise a turtle that may be around for the next 30 years.
Bob, Philadelphia.
P.S. I give alot of prospective turtle owners this speech because I really care about the turtles. Please don't take it personal.

whats the link to the questionairre and i want a easy to keep turtle that when its an adult it needs a tank around 20-40 gallons

nothing can be kept under 40 gallons! Like your were told already common musk would be a choice also a smaller male southern painted would do ok in a 40 gallon given it closer to 4'' than 5'' and most male maps stay small but best kept in more than 40 gallons

You probably won't get many responses to this post on this forum as many people don't think there are any turtles that don't "take up" a large aquarium. Many people think that most turtles need a lot of space and none can be kept all of their lives ina small aquarium. With that said it is true that the turtles commonly known as mud and musk turtles consist of many species that do not grow to more that 4,5 or 6 inches and as such rank among the smallest turtles in the world. Many of these species are easy to obatin and not very demanding in terms of living requiremnts and husbandry. A good first choice for a beginner might be a Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus) or and Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum)
or a Razor-Backed Musk YTurtle (Sternotherus carinatus).
Any of these could probably be housed in a small aqiarium like a 40 gallon. Though as with any animal more space would be better.
There area few other species which do not get large as they mature but most of these are either hard to come by or have some special requiremnst which make them less than ideal for a beginner.
Another possibility that does come to mind is a southern painted turtle. But this e. These are attactive personable and fairly east to get. One could live in a medium sized tank of 75 gallons all its life i suppose.
Any turtle that you see or buy at 1 inch long or so will grow and many species grow to near a foot in length.

thanx ill look in to them and if u know any links to a good spiny softshell turtle could u give me them plz thanx again

A spiny softshell would not be good for a beginner.

Katrina

I think the slider or the map turtle makes good beginner turtles. However 40 gallons is a wee bit too small for an adult turtle.

I would think a MALE slider would be OK for a begginer, if they realize that at least a 40 gallon tank is needed. I wouldn't recommend a map turtle because they are not as hardy as sliders - the sliders are more forgiving of some minor slip-ups in care.

Male painteds would be OK as well.

Katrina