Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK so I want to get my mom a turtle or tort for Christmas, I have kept some temporarally to rehab wild ones, and we had some when we were little in a pond outside, but I just want to make sure we are getting off on the right foot and everything is perfect for the little turtle.

I am thinking I want a RES, but what are my other options?

I want something that stays small (under 15" persay)

I like the torts, but they seem to get rather large, but I like making non aquatic environments, as well as aquatic ones, but time is of the essence here.

I don't tend to like the domed shells like the box turtles, etc...

I want a hatchling for fairly low price (low on cash and want to make sure I get the right things FOR the little guy/gal before I get them)

Could someone give me a detailed list of the things I need to do an initial setup and everything you need for a new turtle so that I don't forget anything.

I really appreciate all the help I have been getting here, thanks so much! All replies will be EXTREEMLY appreciated!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Any info on Spotteds? I am really starting to think that maybe that is a better choice, but I have only read a couple caresheets and still don't know too much about them.

Please let me know what I am looking at with spotteds, what I need to get started, optimal setup, where I can get hatchlings, etc...

Thanks again.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Maybe not... just saw the prices on spotteds... Whay are they so expencive? They look pretty widespread. There local for me, but it's not like I can just go out and pick one up in December. Anyone know a cheaper alternative? LOL
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

Mississippi Map Turtles, more info, and is anything different about care that isn't obvious from the caresheets? I have read a couple, but does anyone have a good one, I don't know how trustworthy the ones I have read are and if they have enough information. Thanks again, and again sorry for the post rampage.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

You say 15" like its nothing, but 15 inches of turtle will quickly take over most of your free time. I am a long time RES owner (ten years), but I would recommend AGAINST getting one if...you dont want a stock tank in your living room...you ever want to breed your turtle...you ever want to keep another turtle in with your RES (they're aggressive).
If I could do it all over again, Id get a single mud turtle. They are very small and have big personality- do a google search on David Kirkpatrick and mud/musk turtles.

i know about RES so i will post here everything you would need for a RES (however, i do not know if these things are the same for spotted turtles or not)...

RES necessities:

~ UVB/UVA light
~ basking light (usually a standard light bulb, 60w works) the temperature of the basking spot needs to be in the 80s, preferrably somewhere around 85 (measure with thermometer)
~ Basking platform (usually a zoo-med floating dock or i have the plastic ramp that suctions to the side of the tank)
~ filter for the tank (usually a stronger one than fish would need because turtles are MUCH more messier)
~ tank (keep the 10 gallons per inch of turtle rule in mind)
~ water heater (if the water in your house/set up would be too cold for them at night, during the day the lights will help heat the water)I am guessing 'too cold' would be in either 60's or lower at night? (please help if im wrong with this)
~ food (usually turtle pellets, i use Reptomin)
~ you might also want to think about somewhere for the little guy to hide because they are usually shy and scared when you first get them, and having somewhere to hide might make him more comfortable in his surroundings.

Just an FYI, using substrate (such as rocks or sand) at the bottom of the tanks is much harder to clean than not using a substrate.

i think that's about it... i hope this helps
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~ Evie

Pets:
RIP 0.1.0 German Shepherd {Dusty}
0.1.0 German Shepherd/Collie mix {Shadoe}
0.0.2 RES turtles {Booger & Snot}
1.0.0 African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
0.0.2 Snail {Gary & Larry}

There are some species of Tortoise that stay smaller than 16inches. Some of the more popular kinds that come to mind are the russian and the hermanns. Russians are cheaper. both of these torts max out around 9inches. They need the same lights as the RES but can live in smaller spaces. A Russian up to four inches can live comfortably in a 40gallon breeder. If you buy a captive breed hatchling it should be well under that size and they take a few years to grow.
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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha