Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What species of aquatic turtles stay small (~4-6"? I am familiar with Spotted Turtles and Stinkpots, but any other little guys commonly available in the pet trade? Thanks!

Well like you said, any kind of Musk turtle usually stays at about 4in. Mud turtles also stay small, max out at about 5in. Most male Painted, and Map species stay at about 5-6in when fully grown. But its impossible to tell whether its male or female if the turtle is a hatchling. So you would have to get a more mature juvinile to be 100% sure.
Chris
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0.1 Red Eared Slider, 1.0 Common Snapper, 1.0 Bearded Dragon and a 55gal Native Fish Tank with a 6in LM Bass, 3 Crawdads and a Pleco.
I use to have a collection of Leopard Geckos that I bred, but have sold them.

This HAS to be the commonest question on this forum. It shows up weekly. While I am opposed to selecting pets soley by size (OK, OK maybe not sulcata)there is one delightful species that comes up ocassionally in the pet trade: Geoemyda spengleri. It is attractive, interesting shell shape and personable (and semi-aquatic so you can make a nice terrarium for it). One problem: imports can be parasite infested. Usually it's a mater of luck - one of mine has lived many years, others have died within months. You pays your money and you takes your chances. There are a few CB's but the price is very high.

Agreed. They are wonderful but probably not the best "starter specie". A mud or musk may be a better choice for a beginner to cut their teeth on.

I agree with Honuman. Although Geoemyda spengleri is a good looking, personable turtle that can be easily found in the pet trade 90% of them are wild caught and are loaded with parasites. Also, most are in poor health due to being in poor conditions while being imported. And like previously stated, they are not the best turtle for a first time owner. I would stick to Mud/Musks, or Painteds. Painteds are colorful, active and more personable than a Mud or Musk will be. You will most likely have to go through a breeder to get one though. Which isnt a bad thing, at least you will know its captive bred and most likely healthy.
Good Luck,
Chris
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0.1 Red Eared Slider, 1.0 Common Snapper, 1.0 Bearded Dragon and a 55gal Native Fish Tank with a 6in LM Bass, 3 Crawdads and a Pleco.
I use to have a collection of Leopard Geckos that I bred, but have sold them.

I didn't realize it had been asked many times before, I should have done a search, apologies.

The turtles aren't for me, I am doing research for a freind who has limited space, so adult size is important (but of couse not the ONLY factor being considered, just one of the important ones! I would never select a pet soley on size, but of course adult size is an important thing to consider when getting any pet, to be sure you can continue to accomodate them.)

I have a fair amount of turtle husbandry experience, but my personal passions lie with wild animals/biology/ecology/natural history, and so I have fallen a bit "out of the loop" as far as what is available in the pet trade these days.

I am familiar with most species of mud and musk turtles and knew about spotties, but painteds totally slipped my mind (I have mostly dealt with large females so didn't think of them when brainstorming for small species.)

One of my favorite tanks I have ever owned was a gorgeous naturalistic planted aquarium/terrarium in which I raised a pair of Sonoran Mud Turtles. Talk about personality! they were great turtles and it was a great tank, a little slice of nature.

Perhaps I will steer her that route.

Thanks for the tips everyone!

I have had a Sonoran mud almost from hatching up to 15 years, but have not found it to be particularly personable. Of all the muds (and I have had many species) the Yellow mud (Kinosternon flavescens) seems by far the most personable and is fairly attractive for a mud. It is even smaller than the Sonoran.

Interesting, my two Sonorans had SO much personality. They were always rooting around in the water hyacinth, swimming around, and they'd "come running" when I would approach the tank, begging for food trying to paddle right out of the water! But I suppose they all have their own individual personalities...

They also stay small (especially males) and are ridiculously personable too.
Red cheek mud turtles are another of the super 'friendly' smaller species.