Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the difference between a box turtle and a tortoise? I sorta have some idea but I am not sure. I would like to get one or the other so that is why I am asking.

In general, turtles spend at least some time in the water. Box turtles are actually very good swimmers, and I have seen many of them in the river near where I live, even though they tend to spend much of their time on land. Tortoises are supposed to be strictly land turtles. Tortoises also tend to have a more tall "dome" shaped shell as opposed to other turtles.

We must try to remember that these terms are all laymans terms, not actual scientific classifications, so they can take on different meaning sometimes. Generally, this is what I understand to be the way these terms are used.

Box turtles are also sometimes known as terrapins. This is generally a term for a turtle spending a good amount of time on both land and water. Turtles (not terrapins or tortoises) in most cases tend to be mostly water dwelling, such as map turtles, painted turtles, snapping turtles, etc. But there are always exceptions to all these rules, and these creatures are all a type of what you might call a "turtle".

~Kyle

The differences I usually point out to differentiate turtles from tortoises are:
1. Tortoises have elephantine rear legs, turtles don't.
2. Tortoises have scales on the top of there heads where turtles have smooth skin.

The word Terrapin is more difficult. I currently don’t have access to my books but I’ll take a stab at it. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

I think “Terrapin” is an Algonquian Indian word that originally referred to turtles used for food. Thus, Diamondback Terrapin, a food source, are still called Terrapins. I’ve seen old plates, or pictures, of Wood turtles that refer to them at Wood Terrapins, also a food item 100 yr ago.

Based on my observation and reading, the word Terrapin isn’t connected to food for humans any more, and now refers to certain aquatic turtles that live in brackish water, (Diamondback Terrapins).

Like I said, these are just based on what I’ve heard.

Does anyone know of a connection between the word terrapene, (Box turtles), and the word terrapin? If they are connected, than I wonder if the Indians called them terrapins even though Box turtles can be poisonous to humans.

jbly

I would like to get one or the other but I don't know what would be best to get? I don't want anything that is going to get huge and something that I can house indoors. If Box Turtle which species? And if tortoise which species?

Nobody can answer that for you. You'll have to read up and see what fits your needs and wants.

For box turtle care, try this for starters:

www.boxturtlesite.org/bxbook.html

For general turtle & tortoise care:

www.tortoisetrust.org

www.tortoise.org

I like russian tortoises. If you can get a healthy one, especially a captive bred one, you'll have a tortoise that is heat and cold tolerant, stays small, likes dry conditions but can tolerate humidity (I find it easier to keep dry loving animals indoors, and my russians can handle the humidity of the Midwest when outdoors), and thrive on a simple diet of grocery greens and weeds.

For russians try:

www.russiantortoise.net

If you are looking for a really small land turtle (keep in mind that you will still need to provide these with large water bowls), any type of box turtle I know of stays pretty small. Eastern, western, decorated, three-toed box turtles all are rather small at their adult sizes. You will still need a cage bigger than a typical aquarium size. This is always debatable, but for these sized animals, maybe 6 square feet minimum floor space for one turtle. This would be a very minimal figure. Bigger would be better. Greek tortoises and hermanns tortoises, as well as a few other types all stay pretty small as well, like the box turtles. You might try looking up information about all of these to figure out which ones sound best to you. If you do want something larger than those, but not absolutely huge like a sulcata, I would check out redfoot tortoises. These are much larger than the turtles mentioned earlier though.

Hope this helps,
~Kyle