Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This fall I will be going off to college to live in a dorm. I can’t stand the thought of being without a reptile, and so was considering getting a turtle. The problem is, I can’t decide which kind of turtle would be the best for me. I have had experience with a variety of turtles (painters, snappers, soft shells, and blandings), but all of these are too big for what I want now.
I am looking for a small aquatic/semi-aquatic turtle (between 4 to 5 inches). I would also like it to be somewhat colorful and fairly active. It would be nice if it required a smaller living space, a 20 gallon long tank at the most. I have been collecting care information on mud and musk turtles, but I am still unsure. Red cheek, scorpion, and white lip muds look very attractive, but seem a little too big for what I want and require more space. I am also looking at spotted turtles.
I don’t have much knowledge about turtles besides those that are native to Minnesota, so I don’t know if there is another species that would fit my requirements. If anyone could offer any advice, I would appreciate it (and I do realize that my space requirement is a little small). Or if anyone has experience with mud, musk, or spotted turtles and could help me out, that would be great. Like I said, I am still collecting care guides and such on different species.

its like 200 dollars for a legal spotted,a nd they are very hard to come by. The musks and muds are very fun, good sized turtles. even the bigger ones will handle a 20 gallon fine.
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re-edited
1.1 Western redback chuckwallas(philbert & unnamed)
5 green sunfish
Striped raphale catfish
Common Plecaustomouse
3 coyfish
0.1.1-sandiego gopher snakes
1.3-coturnix quail
0.1-cockatiel( R.I.P)ironic she was named casper...
1.1(fixed) cats-eddie/buzz
Where the heck would a cali. kingsnake run off to?!?!?!

A 20 long is THE smallest tank a Mud/Musk can be housed in. I would look at getting a Razorback Musk. They look pretty cool and are mostly aquatic so only a small basking area will be needed. If you go for a Mud, they will need a decent sized land area, 75% water/25% land. Id, stick with a Musk...
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 wouldn't go with a Razorback because they are on the larger size for a mud/musk. They get up to 6". My eastern muds max out around 4.5". It's a bit hard to find a captive bred adult mud or musk, but there are captive bred hatchlings and juveniles out there.

Check to make sure your dorm allows heat lamps. Most muds/musks like to bask. Not all of them will, but many do. A 20 long would be a little cramped for an adult eastern, scorpion, ect., and even more so for a stinkpot (common musk, gets up to 5" or so).

Katrina

Go for the Mud/Musk turtles. They stay small one will be ok in a 20g long I've been told.
I like the looks of 3-stripes but never seen one in person.

Perhaps you may want to consider something that is much easier to care for than a turtle and definitely interesting as pet. How about a Crested Gecko? They do well at room temperature (mid 60's to 80 degrees) are easy to maintain (eat fruit baby food a special crested gecko diet that on the market and occassionally a few crickets). I only keep a plant flourescent bulb over my tanks to keep the plants growing but the lizards themselves really don't need the UVB and all you have to do is mist them once or twice a day. There's tons of information out there on them so why don't check them out and see if they are right for you? It make be a very nice and certainly much easier animal to maintain in a dorm room than a turtle.

Steve

Although I replied below and am an absolute turtle freak, I would have to suggest a lizard, rather than a turtle, for a dorm room. One lizard I absolutely love is the Saudi Arabian sandfish. It is very attractive, never drinks water and comes out of the sand for food when you are around. The only special requirement is and area where you can heat the sand to about 100 degrees F with just an incandescent light and a reflector.

Whitelips are NOT large - smaller than many American muds - and they are very hardy. I have had them for many years (at least 17). They are not very attractive, however, and not exceptionally personable (although better than many muds and musks). Although I have been an aquatic turtle fanatic for many , many years (still have 75), I would have to advise against an aquatic in a dorm room because of the sanitation problems, especially if you have roomates. I would go with a male Russian Tortoise or a box turtle. 20 gallons is marginal but would do for these species. If you are commited to an aquatic, I would highly recommend the Yellow Mud. They are moderately attractive and are very personable for a mud. Musks are real losers, except for the giant musks (Staurotypus), which would not be suitable for you. (later on, however, when you have graduated, consider them - they are vicious but are very, very interesting and hardy turtles.)

A 20 gallon tank is absolutely wrong for a tortoise or box turtle, unless it's a hatchling or younger juvenile.

Katrina

Some dorms don't allow heat lights or anything bigger than a 10 gallon tank. Double check the rules first. Any turtle will need a heat light.

Katrina

No turtle can live comfortably in twenty gallon tank asan adult.

Youmight get away with it for a hatchling/juvenile stinkpot or razorback musk or spotted turtle for a year.

if you can find a cb three striped mud turtle, i would reccomend one of them.. i was given one by a friend last year after the daytona show .. he was about the size of the end of my thumb... hes got personality and in a year is still only about the size of a walnut.. i started him off in a 20L and just moved him up to a 30 because i am planning on getting another one when i find one.. he rarely comes out of the water but i have the lights and land area anyway.. i like the way they dont really swim like other turtles ive had or have.. just sort of hops around and paddles furiously.. its the most endearing thing.. are you planning on living in the dorms through all of college or just the first year or two? if you are moving out after a year then you could get one of these and move it to a bigger tank when you have more room.. if not then i hate to say it but you should probably stick with something like a gecko or smaller frog.. consider the long term aspects of the turtles well being..
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my pets: clown treefrogs, reed frogs, big eyed treefrogs, tiger leg monkey frogs, gray treefrogs, milk frogs, cuban treefrogs, whites tree frog, green treefrogs, squirrel treefrogs, blue webbed gliding treefrog, chameleon treefrogs?, dusky salamanders, tiger salamander, veiled chameleon, box turtles, mud turtle, map turtle, yellowbelly slider, florida softshell, two saltwater tanks, four cats, two chinchillas, and a boyfriend.

I have Eastern Muds and they are not that big.