Reptile & Amphibian Forums

when i was little and had one of these it stayed tiny forever. but i see online that they're supposed to grow to be like 5 inches or so. what did they do to stunt the growth of these turtles to keep them tiny back in the day? is there any way to get them like that nowadays? or is it not done anymore because its inhuman? any info is appreciated, thanks.

If you are talking about RES they get to be up to 12 inches, not 5 inches. I believe the turtles didn't grow because they were kept in worse than inadequate conditions (turtle bowls) and fed horrible diets (raw hamburger) and died way too young (they can live about 40 years). There is no such thing as a dwarf or tiny RES. If kept properly they will grow, and if they are RES, they will grow BIG.

Oh... so there are no turtles out there sold as pets that remain under 3" or so? Thanks for the clarification.

Mud, spotted or musk turtles stay in the 3-5 inch range as adults, but sliders get huge. There are no turtles that can be kept in a tiny turtle bowl their whole life. If you want a cheap small pet, turtles are not for you.
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Let's just say... the minimum sized tank for the smallest water turtle you can get is 40 gallons. Turtles are fun but they're a lot of WORK!
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch