by Richard Lunsford 

            Hello & welcome to our concise guide to browsing U.S. turtles! We cover the bulk of U.S. species by level of overall difficulty to help you pick a pet & prepare for it. This is a browsing article, not a care sheet or in-depth analysis (for in-depth help choosing a good ‘starter’ turtle, read our article on Choosing Your First Turtle (we also have Choosing Your First Land-based Turtle)). 

 

Important Factors to consider assessing Difficulty Level:

 Hardiness - Hardy turtles (common snappers, RES, stinkpots) are easier to keep than delicate (Softshells & Cagles & Black-knobbed maps need pristine water quality; hatchling chicken & 3-striped mud turtles are problem-prone).

Size - Smaller turtles (stinkpots, southern painteds, male Texas maps) are easier to spaciously house indoors than medium/large (sliders, cooters) or huge (female softshells, common snappers) species. Caveat: small species (southern painteds, stinkpots) mean smaller hatchlings which may be frailer than larger ones (RES).

Environmental Needs - Turtles who can handle simple, deep-water aquarium setups are easier than those needing palludarium-style (spotteds, bog, muds) or large mixed environments (North American wood turtles).

Cost - Inexpensive turtles (stinkpots, southern painteds) are easier to get than moderately expensive (Texas maps, loggerhead musk, Eastern box), expensive (stripe-neck musk, spotted, Blandings, North American Wood).

Ease of Acquisition – Commonly available (stinkpots) are more desirable than the rare (stripe-neck musk) for beginners.

Community-compatibility – Turtles who often do well in mixed setups (cooters, sliders, painteds, stinkpots) are preferable to those needing solo-enclosures (snappers).

Nutrition – generalist omnivores & carnivores are a better match for the diets keepers offer than strict herbivores.

Your Situation – You may have situational advantages or disadvantages most people don’t. Eastern or 3-toed box keeping can be easy in large outdoor pens in their native range. Year-round outdoor keeping of red-foot tortoises is easier in southern Florida than Wyoming. A big yard in the southwest may simplify Sulcata ownership. An upper-level apartment with weak floors may not tolerate a huge setup. Your Florida Koi pond, properly adapted, might handle a Florida Red-belly turtle just fine.

 

Provided Information – In the spirit of light-reading, I’ll provide a brief blurb about each hitting on what’s relevant; common names are hyper-linked to ATP Care Sheets where available. Description briefly sums up size (small, medium, large or a range), significant details if any & type (basking species, bottom walker, terrestrial semi-aquatic (most time spent on land), aquatic semi-terrestrial (most time spend in water), terrestrial). Pro.s lists prime selling points of the species, & Con.s problems with it. Cost is just for the turtle; from online vendors add about $20-25 overnight shipping (for the whole order), & for expo.s add roughly $5-10 entrance fee.

 

Section I – The Best Starter Turtles.

            Small, fairly hardy, affordable, readily available, simple enclosure needs. Can be kept in tanks minimum 29 gallons (55 for female southern & midland painteds) & should prosper in 75 gallon+.

 

1.) Southern Painted Turtle - Chrysemys picta dorsalis

Description: Small basking turtle, fairly hardy adults, care like sliders. Black carapace, scutes have some light trip, red dorsal red stripe, plain plastron. Size: Males 3.5 – 5”; females 5.5 – 7”.

Pro.s: Small adult size (males < females), omnivorous, usually peaceful, common & inexpensive, can hibernate in the southern U.S. Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Hatchlings reputedly delicate. Plastron plain compared to Western & Midland painteds. Not appropriate for northern winter hibernation.

Availability & Cost: Very common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $15 for hatchlings.

 

2.) (Male) Midland Painted Turtle - Chrysemys picta marginata

Description: Small-to-Medium basking turtles, fairly hardy, care like sliders. Green to black carapace (usually greener), faint or no dorsal stripe, plastron with moderate ‘color splash.’ Size: Males 4 – 6”; females 6 – 8”.

Pro.s: Small adult size (males < females), omnivorous, usually peaceful, common & inexpensive, hibernation-capable (occur further north than Southern Painteds). Plastron has a colorful pattern (unlike southern & eastern painteds). Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: A little larger than S. painted. Less ornate plastron than Western painted. Carapace color varies – green to black (so your hatchling may not look like the one in a photo).

Availability & Cost: Very common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $15 for hatchlings.

Midland Painted  Photo by Tim M.	Plastron Shot Photo by Tom C.

                                                                                          

3.) (Male) Eastern Painted Turtle – Chrysemys picta picta

Description: Small-to-Medium basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Black carapace, light trim on scutes, red-orange underside of carapace, bland plastron. Sizes: Males 4 – 6”; females 6 – 8+”.

Pro.s: Omnivorous, smaller than sliders, hardy, usually peaceful, fairly common & inexpensive, hibernation-capable (occur further north than Southern Painteds). Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Larger than southern (& lack the dorsal stripe); bland plastron unlike midland & western painteds; large females deserve 75+ gallon tanks.

Availability & Cost: Fairly common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $15 for hatchlings.

Eastern Painted Photo by Keith B.	Eastern Painted Photo by Tom C.

 

4.) (Male) Texas Map Turtle - Graptemys versa

Description: Small basking turtle, fairly hardy adults, care like sliders. Olive brown carapace with intricate designs (or algae covered!). Sizes:   Males 2.75 – 4.5”, Females 4 – 8 3/8”.

Pro.s: Small adult size (males only; females similar in size to male RES!), omnivorous (but more carnivorous than painteds), fairly nonchalant personality – less prone to skittishness than some maps. Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Hatchlings of small species tend to be delicate. May (especially females) be aggressive toward other turtles. Maps (but not specifically this species) have a rep. for being sensitive to water quality. Carapace prone to algal overgrowth. Texas native not a good candidate for hibernation.

Availability & Cost: Somewhat uncommon at online vendors; may appear at larger expo.s. ~ $25-40 for hatchlings.

 

 

5.) (Male) Common Map Turtle - Graptemys geographica

Description: Small to medium basking turtle, fairly hardy adults, care like sliders. Olive-brown carapace, intricate markings (fade with growth & age), bar across eye pupil, many males & juveniles appear to have a smiling face. Sizes: Males 4 – 6.25”, Females 7 – 10.75”.

Pro.s:  Small to medium adult size (males only; females similar to RES!). Mainly carnivorous. Inhabit streams in addition to rivers, so in theory may be better adapted to enclosures than some maps. Tom C. thinks they may be less prone to water quality-related problems than some other maps. Hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Larger than Texas maps. Less prominent keeling along dorsal spine than many maps. Carapace prone to algal overgrowth. Somewhat hard to find in the pet trade.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $20 for hatchlings.

 

 

6.) Stinkpot (Common Musk) - Sternotherus odoratus

Description: Small bottom-walker, fairly hardy adults, care like sliders but with much more submerged items to clamber around on near the surface. Carapace generally black; some brownish. Yellow ‘lightening’ stripes on side of head/face. Size: 2 – 5” (typically around 4”).

Pro.s: Small adult size, mainly carnivorous, common, inexpensive, hibernation-capable. Adults can be housed in tanks small as 29 gallon (minimum).

Con.s: Hatchling musk somewhat delicate. Prone to aggression toward their own kind & ‘look-a-likes.’ Less likely to be personable than sliders.

Availability & Cost: Very common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $15 for hatchlings.

 

                                                                    

7.) Razorback Musk - Sternotherus carinatum

Description: Small bottom-walker (but larger than stinkpots), fairly hardy adults, care like sliders but with much more submerged items to clamber around on near the surface. Tan brown carapace with dark streaks; pale skin with black specks. Size: 4 – 6”.

Pro.s: Small adult size, mainly carnivorous, common, inexpensive, hibernation-capable in the southern U.S.

Con.s: Hatchling musk somewhat delicate. Musk turtles generally are regarded as prone to aggression toward their own kind & ‘look-a-likes.’ Less likely to be personable than sliders. Reputedly shier than stinkpots or loggerhead musk.

Availability & Cost: Very common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $15 for hatchlings.

 

 

                                                                     

Section II – Second Choice Starter Turtles.

            Per Section I but with one or more moderate drawbacks, such as being problem-prone if water quality isn’t high, delicacy as hatchlings or rarity & cost.

 

1.) (Male) Cagles Map Turtle - Graptemys caglei

Description: Small basking turtle, quite ornate coloration, care like sliders. Sizes: Males 2.75 – 5”, Females 4” to 7 15/16”.

Pro.s: Small adult size (males only; females similar in size to male RES!), omnivorous (but more carnivorous than painteds), more ornate coloration than a Texas map.

Con.s: Hatchlings of small species tend to be delicate. Larger than a Texas map. Lacks the Texas map’s rep. for nonchalant personality. Much more expensive. Carapace prone to algal overgrowth. Have a rep. for being prone to health problems with sub-optimal water quality. Texas native not a good candidate for hibernation.

Availability & Cost: Fairly common to uncommon at online vendors; may appear at larger expo.s. ~ $130 for hatchlings.

 

2.) (Male) Black-Knobbed Map Turtle - Graptemys nigrinoda

Description: Small basking turtle, prominent black-tipped dorsal carapace spine knobs, care like sliders. There are 2 subspecies but native range very small. Sizes: Males 3 – 4”, Females 6 – 8.5”.

Pro.s: Small adult size (males only; females similar in size to male RES!), omnivorous (but more carnivorous than painteds), prominent black-tipped knobs provide a strong ‘classic’ map turtle appearance.

Con.s: Alabama & Mississippi native not a good candidate for hibernation further north (so only in very southern U.S.). Somewhat expensive.

Availability & Cost: Fairly common to uncommon at online vendors; may appear at larger expo.s. ~ $40 for hatchlings.

 

 

3.) (Male sub-adult) Chicken Turtle - Deirochelys reticularia

Description: Medium basking turtle, reticulated carapace, more pointed face than sliders, long-neck, have ‘strike & suck’ maneuver to catch prey. Size: Males 4 – 7”, Females up to 10”.

Pro.s: Medium adult size (males online; female similar to RES), predominantly carnivorous, capable fishermen, fairly personable (like painteds; less frantic than sliders), hibernation-capable in their native range.

Con.s: Relatively short-lived (estimated up to 20 years in captivity), rather thin shells (a factor in falls & crushing accidents), can be hard to find, expensive, hatchlings are considered delicate & prone to die despite good care, may kill most of your (non-feeder) fish. The Florida chicken turtle is most common in the pet trade, & in theory least hibernation-capable.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s but can be found. ~ $50-75 for hatchlings.

 

 

4.) Loggerhead Musk Turtle - Sternotherus minor minor

Description: Small bottom-walker, adults (especially older males) may develop huge heads, fairly hardy adults, care like sliders but with much more submerged items to clamber around on near the surface. Size: 3 – 5.5”.

Pro.s: Small adult size, mainly carnivorous, distinctive-looking.

Con.s: Hatchling musk somewhat delicate. Huge heads aren’t to everyone’s taste. Musk turtles generally are regarded as prone to aggression toward their own kind & ‘look-a-likes.’ Less likely to be personable than sliders. Southeastern U.S. native shouldn’t be hibernated outside its native range or similar conditions.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s. Protected in Florida, where many online vendors are located. ~ $40 for hatchlings.

 

 

5.) Stripe-neck Musk Turtle - Sternotherus minor peltifer

Description: Small bottom-walker, fairly hardy adults, nutmeg coloration on head, care like sliders but with much more submerged items to clamber around on near the surface. Size: Up to 4 ¾”.

Pro.s: Small adult size, mainly carnivorous, ornate & distinctive-looking, inexpensive.

Con.s: Hatchlings somewhat delicate. Expensive & hard to find. Musk turtles generally are regarded as prone to aggression toward their own kind & ‘look-a-likes.’ Less likely to be personable than sliders. Southeastern U.S. native shouldn’t be hibernated outside its native range or similar conditions.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s.

 

 

6.) 3-Striped Mud Turtle - Kinosternon baurii

Description: Small bottom-walker, fairly hardy adults, blackish coloration with shell stripes & yellow ‘lightening’ stripes on the head, need palludarium-style shallow water enclosures with sizeable land area. Size: 3 – 4”.

Pro.s: Small adult size, mainly carnivorous, most ornate of the U.S. mud/musk, inexpensive. Reputedly have ‘stinkpot-like’ personalities (less shy than young Mississippi muds).

Con.s: Hatchlings delicate, a drowning risk & require very shallow water the first few months. Somewhat hard to find. Mud turtles generally are regarded as prone to aggression toward their own kind & ‘look-a-likes.’ Less likely to be personable than sliders. Southeastern U.S. native shouldn’t be hibernated outside its native range or similar conditions.

Availability & Cost: Less common at online vendors but cheap. ~ $15.

 

 

7.) Eastern Mud Turtle - Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum

Description: Small bottom-walker, fairly hardy adults, olive brown coloration, care with palludarium-style shallow-water enclosures with sizeable land area. Size: 3 – 5”.

Pro.s: Small adult size, mainly carnivorous, inexpensive. Has been known to eat out of water. Can be adundant in tidal marshes & is tolerant of brackish water. In the wild may hibernate on land or in water.

Con.s: Hatchling muds somewhat delicate, a drowning risk & require very shallow water the first few months. Adults remain a drowning risk (more of a rep. for this than 3-striped muds) & need shallow water enclosures (which don’t work for many popular tank-mates painteds). May aestivate extended periods if provided land section to burrow into. Drab compared to 3-striped & Mississippi muds (no yellow head stripes). Somewhat hard to find. Mud turtles generally are regarded as prone to aggression toward their own kind & ‘look-a-likes.’ Less likely to be personable than sliders. Southeastern range extends up the East coast so can hibernate, but drowning risk vs. need for deep outdoor enclosures for hibernation may complicate year round outdoor keeping.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors but cheap. ~ $15.

 

8.) Mississippi Mud Turtle - Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis

Description: Small bottom-walker, fairly hardy adults, olive brown coloration, care with palludarium-style shallow-water enclosures with sizeable land area. A subspecies of the Eastern mud. Size: 3 – 5”.

Pro.s: Small adult size, mainly carnivorous, common & inexpensive.

Con.s: Hatchling muds somewhat delicate, a drowning risk & require very shallow water the first few months. Adults remain a drowning risk (more of a rep. for this than 3-striped muds) & need shallow water enclosures (which don’t work for many popular tank-mates like painteds). May aestivate extended periods if provided land section to burrow into. Drab compared to 3-striped muds. Somewhat hard to find. Mud turtles generally are regarded as prone to aggression toward their own kind & ‘look-a-likes.’ Less likely to be personable than sliders. Southcentral range extends far enough north to hibernate (in the southern U.S.), but drowning risk vs. need for deep outdoor enclosures for hibernation may complicate year round outdoor keeping.

Availability & Cost: Fairly common at online vendors & cheap. ~ $15.

 

 

9.) Yellow Mud Turtle - Kinosternon flavescens flavescens

Description: Small bottom-walker, fairly hardy adults, variable olive to brown coloration (often lighter than an Eastern mud), lower jaw lighter (can give a ‘smiling’ appearance vaguely like a Blandings), care with palludarium-style shallow-water enclosures with sizeable land area. Size: 4 – 5.”

Pro.s: Small adult size, mainly carnivorous, look like they’re smiling. Hibernate in parts of their range.

Con.s: Hatchlings muds somewhat delicate, a drowning risk & require very shallow water the first few months. Adults need shallow water enclosures (which don’t work for many popular tank-mates like painteds). May aestivate extended periods if provided land section to burrow into. Drab compared to 3-striped muds. Somewhat hard to find. Mud turtles generally are regarded as prone to aggression toward their own kind & ‘look-a-likes.’ Less likely to be personable than sliders. Central range extends far enough north to hibernate (in theory those of southern ancestry might be less capable), but details aren’t well-known (like land vs. water preference!) so not recommended except in large, naturalistic outdoor enclosures in their native range.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors, & hatchlings may be hard to come by. ~ $20 (may not be hatchlings).

 

 

Section III – Medium-Level Turtles.

            Medium-sized & need larger enclosures or otherwise demand more expensive &/or specialized enclosures.

 

1.) Sliders.

a.  Red-eared Slider (RES) - Trachemys scripta elegans

Description: Medium-large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care is based on these! Variably bright green hatchlings with a red streak/patch behind each eye; coloration often fades & darkens in adults. Size: Males to 8“, Females to 11”.

Pro.s: Omnivorous but more herbivorous with age, hardy, usually peaceful, very common & inexpensive, hibernation-capable. Plastron has black spots. Fairly personable/interactive with humans. Affordable color morphs available (albino, pastel, ghost, caramel, etc…). There’s a ‘Rio Grande’ slider called the Ornate RES (more expensive).

Con.s: Larger than painteds; large females deserve 125+ gallon tanks. Bright coloration often fades with age (melanism). May out-compete tank-mates.

Availability & Cost: Very common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $5-10 for hatchlings (color morphs much more expensive).

 

 

b.  Yellow-bellied Slider (YBS) - Trachemys scripta scripta

Description: Medium-large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Variably bright green hatchlings with a diagonal yellow slash behind each eye; coloration often fades & darkens in adults. May be more domed than RES (possibly to resist alligator bites). Size: Males to 8“, Females to 11”.

Pro.s: Omnivorous but more herbivorous with age, hardy, usually peaceful, fairly common & inexpensive, hibernation-capable (but don’t occur as far north or inland as RES). Plastron has black spots. Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Larger than painteds; large females deserve 125+ gallon tanks. Bright coloration often fades with age (melanism). Less striking appearance than RES. May out-compete tank-mates.

Availability & Cost: Fairly common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $5-10 for hatchlings.

 

 

c.  Cumberland Slider - Trachemys scripta troostii

Description: Medium-large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Variably bright green hatchlings lacking the red patch of RES & diagonal yellow slash of YBS; coloration often fades & darkens in adults. Size: Females to 9”, Males smaller.

Pro.s: Omnivorous but more herbivorous with age, hardy, usually peaceful, fairly inexpensive, hibernation-capable. Plastron has black spots. Typically smaller than RES & YBS. Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Larger than painteds; large females deserve 125+ gallon tanks. Bright coloration often fades with age (melanism). Less striking appearance than RES or YBS. May out-compete tank-mates.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $10 for hatchlings.

 

 

2.) Cooters (Warning: Hatchlings & Adults look a lot different). Some Cooters’ palates have ‘cusps’ that look like teeth.

 

a.  Florida Red-bellied Turtle – Pseudemys nelsoni

Description: Large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Bright green hatchlings; coloration changes & darkens in adults to a dark red/black base; yellow stripes on black skin head pattern.  Adult females very thick-bodied. Size: Florida Red Belly male 7 – 9,” female 11-13.”

Pro.s: Omnivorous hatchlings but strongly herbivorous adults, hardy, usually peaceful, fairly inexpensive. Cooters generally have a rep. for being calmer & more ‘laid back’ than sliders. Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Larger than sliders; adults deserve 125+ gallon tanks. Adults may have black shells instead of standard coloration. Florida native so hibernation not advised.

Availability & Cost: Very common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $10-15 for hatchlings.

 

 

b.  Alabama Red-bellied Turtle – Pseudemys alabamensis

Description: Large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Hatchings are dark green with vivid red-orange plastrons; adults have a much darker carapace. Size: Up to 13”.

Pro.s: Omnivorous hatchlings but strongly herbivorous adults, hardy, usually peaceful. Cooters generally have a rep. for being calmer & more ‘laid back’ than sliders. Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Larger than sliders; adults deserve 125+ gallon tanks. Small southern Alabama range so hibernation not recommended.

Availability & Cost: One of only 2 non-marine federally endangered turtle species in the United States. The upshot is, can only be had wild-caught & then illegally.

Click here for a gorgeous photo. by Robert H. Mount.

Click here to submit your photo for use in this article

 

c.  Red-Bellied Turtle – Pseudemys rubriventris

Description: Large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Bright green hatchlings; coloration changes & darkens in adults. Size: Females up to 15”; Males smaller.

Pro.s: Omnivorous hatchlings but strongly herbivorous adults, hardy, usually peaceful, fairly inexpensive. Cooters generally have a rep. for being calmer & more ‘laid back’ than sliders. Fairly personable/interactive with humans. Northeastern range indicates hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Larger than sliders; adults deserve 125+ gallon tanks.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $20-25 for hatchlings.

 

d.  Florida Cooter – Pseudemys floridana floridana

Description: Large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Adult females very thick-bodied. Size: Males 7.5 – 9”; Females 9 – 16.”

Pro.s: Omnivorous hatchlings but strongly herbivorous adults, hardy, usually peaceful, fairly  inexpensive. Cooters generally have a rep. for being calmer & more ‘laid back’ than sliders. Fairly personable/interactive with humans. Southeastern range extends northward enough that hibernation may be feasible in the south.

Con.s: Larger than sliders; adults deserve 125+ gallon tanks.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $ for hatchlings.

  

e.  Peninsula Cooter - Pseudemys floridana peninsularis

Description: Large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Bright green hatchlings; coloration changes & darkens in adults. Adult females thick-bodied. Size: Females up to 16”; Males smaller.

Pro.s: Omnivorous hatchlings but strongly herbivorous adults, hardy, usually peaceful, fairly common & inexpensive. Cooters generally have a rep. for being calmer & more ‘laid back’ than sliders. Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Larger than sliders; adults deserve 125+ gallon tanks. Florida native so hibernation not advised.

Availability & Cost: Common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $10-15 for hatchlings.

 

f.  River Cooter – Pseudemys concinna (several subspecies)

Description: Large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Green hatchlings; coloration changes & darkens in adults. Size: Varies with ‘sub-species’ - Eastern Females to ~ 15”, but Suwannee Females to 17”! (Males smaller).
 

Pro.s: Omnivorous hatchlings but strongly herbivorous adults, hardy, usually peaceful, fairly inexpensive. Some are quite colorful/well-patterned. Cooters generally have a rep. for being calmer & more ‘laid back’ than sliders. Fairly personable/interactive with humans. Some subspecies occur far enough north to hibernate.

Con.s: Larger than sliders & even the other cooters; adults deserve 125+ gallon tanks. The Suwanne subspecies is confined to Florida so don’t hibernate them.

Availability & Cost: at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $10-15 for hatchlings.

 

 

g.  Rio Grande Cooter - Pseudemys gorzugi

Description: Large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Bright green hatchlings; adults have a green swirled carapace with red-orange winding roads & an ornatedly black spotted red-orange underside of the carapace. Size: Up to 9.5” (Small for a Cooter!).

Pro.s: Omnivorous hatchlings but strongly herbivorous adults, hardy, usually peaceful, beautifully ornate. Cooters generally have a rep. for being calmer & more ‘laid back’ than sliders. Fairly small for a cooter. Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Larger than sliders; adults deserve 125+ gallon tanks. Uncommon & expensive. Largely a Texas native so hibernation not advised.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $65 for hatchlings.

 

 

h.  Texas Cooter – Pseudemys texana

Description: Large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Dank greenish hatchlings; adults have a patterned greenish to ‘brown & yellow’ coloration. Adult females thick-bodied. Size: Females to 13”; Males smaller.

Pro.s: Omnivorous hatchlings but strongly herbivorous adults, hardy, usually peaceful, beautifully ornate. Cooters generally have a rep. for being calmer & more ‘laid back’ than sliders. Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Larger than sliders; adults deserve 125+ gallon tanks. Uncommon & expensive. Largely a Texas native so hibernation not advised.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $30 for hatchlings. Tom C. knows them to be widely abundant in Texas, yet hardly anyone shows interest in breeding them! I've seen Turtle Pimp offer these.

 

 

3.) (Female) Midland Painted Turtle - Chrysemys picta marginata

Description: Small-to-Medium basking turtles, fairly hardy, care like sliders. Green to black carapace (usually greener), faint or no dorsal stripe, plastron with moderate ‘color splash.’ Size: Males 4 – 6”; females 6 – 8”.

Pro.s: Medium adult size (males < females), omnivorous, usually peaceful, common & inexpensive, hibernation-capable (occur further north than Southern Painted). Plastron has a colorful pattern (unlike southern & eastern painteds). Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: A little larger than S. painted. Less ornate plastron than Western painted. Carapace color varies – green to black (so your hatchling may not look like the one in a photo).

Availability & Cost: Very common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $15 for hatchlings.

 

 

4.) (Female) Eastern Painted Turtle – Chrysemys picta picta

Description: Small-to-Medium basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Black carapace, light trim on scutes, red-orange underside of carapace, bland plastron. Size: Males 4 – 6”; females 6 – 8+”.

Pro.s: Omnivorous, slightly smaller than sliders, hardy, usually peaceful, fairly common & inexpensive, hibernation-capable (occur further north than Southern Painted). Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Larger than southern or midland painteds; bland plastron unlike midland & western painteds; large females deserve 75+ gallon tanks.

Availability & Cost: Fairly common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $15 for hatchlings.

 

5.) Western Painted Turtle – Chrysemys picta bellii

Description: Medium-large basking turtles (males < females), hardy, standard slider care. Variably green carapace, red-orange underside of carapace, fiery explosion of color on plastron. Size: Males 4 – 7”; females 8 – 10”.

Pro.s: Omnivorous, slightly smaller than sliders, hardy, usually peaceful, outstanding ventral view, fairly common & inexpensive, hibernation-capable (occur further north than RES). Fairly personable/interactive with humans.

Con.s: Larger than southern or midland painteds. Large females deserve 125+ gallon tanks.

Availability & Cost: Fairly common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $15 for hatchlings.

 

 

 

6.) Most Map Turtles, including females. Map turtles has a group have a reputation for being unusually sensitive to poor water quality (Cagles & Black-knobbed have specifically been mentioned; Tom C. thinks common maps may be more resistant) & skittishness (Mississippi maps have specifically been mentioned; Texas maps may be an exception). In all maps the female is drastically larger than the male.

 

a.  Mississippi Map – Graptemys psuedogeographica kohni

Description: Medium-large basking turtles (males < females), standard slider care. Olive-brownish carapace with intricate patterns that fade with growth & age; patterned plastron. Striking eyes with bright iris around pupil (no bar across it) & a yellow crescent curving behind & under the eye. Probably the most common map in the pet trade. Size: Males 3.5 – 5”, Females 6 – 10”.

Pro.s: Predominantly carnivorous, males smaller than sliders, usually peaceful, common & inexpensive, hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Large females deserve 125+ gallon tanks. Rep. for skittishness.

Availability & Cost: Common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $10-15 for hatchlings.

 

 

b.  False Map – Graptemys psuedogeographica psuedogeographica

Description: Medium-large basking turtles (males < females), standard slider care. Olive-brownish carapace with intricate patterns that fade with growth & age; patterned plastron. Less bright iris around pupil (which may have a bar or partial bar across it) & a yellow bar behind the eye. Size: Male 3 ½” - 5 ¾” Female 5" - 11”

Pro.s: Predominantly carnivorous, males smaller than sliders, usually peaceful, fairly inexpensive, hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Large females deserve 125+ gallon tanks.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $15 for hatchlings.

 

c.  Ouachita Map – Graptemys ouachitensis ouachitensis

Description: Medium-large basking turtles (males < females), standard slider care. Olive-brownish carapace with intricate patterns that fade with growth & age; patterned plastron. Fairly bright iris around pupil (which may have a bar or partial bar across it) & a yellow bar behind the eye. Size: Male 3 ½” – 5.5” Female 5" - 10 ¾.

Pro.s: Predominantly carnivorous, males smaller than sliders, usually peaceful, fairly common & inexpensive, hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Large females deserve 125+ gallon tanks.

Availability & Cost: Common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $15 for hatchlings.

 

d.  Female Common Map – Graptemys geographica

Description: medium-large basking turtle, fairly hardy adults, care like sliders. Olive-brown base color, intricate markings (fade with growth & age), bar across eye pupil, many males appear to have a smiling face less evident in females. Size: Males 4 – 6.25”, Females 7 – 10.75”.

Pro.s:  Medium-large adult size similar to RES. Mainly carnivorous. Inhabit streams in addition to rivers, so in theory may be better adapted to enclosures than some maps. Tom C. thinks they may be less prone to water quality-related problems than some other maps. Hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Less prominent keeling along dorsal spine than many maps. Carapace prone to algal overgrowth. Somewhat hard to find in the pet trade.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $

 

 

e.  Barbour’s Map – Graptemys barbouri

Description: Medium (males) to large (females) basking turtles (males < females), standard slider care. Olive-brownish carapace with intricate patterns that fade with growth & age; patterned plastron. Colorful head markings. Barbours are one of the broad-head maps, & females can get very large heads/jaws & cooter-sized bodies. Size: Males 3.5 – 5,” Females 7 – 13.”

Pro.s: Predominantly carnivorous, usually peaceful.

Con.s: Large females deserve 125+ gallon tanks. The enlarged crushing jaws of females could in theory inflict severe bites. Somewhat hard-to-find in the pet trade & expensive. Due to southeastern range I don’t recommend hibernation outside native range conditions.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $75 for hatchlings.

 

 

 

7.) Female Chicken Turtle - Deirochelys reticularia

Description: Large basking turtle, reticulated carapace, more pointed face than sliders, long-neck, have ‘strike & suck’ maneuver to catch prey. Female Florida subspecies can be quite thick. Size: Males 4 - 7” Females up to 10”.

Pro.s: Medium adult size (males online; female similar to RES), predominantly carnivorous, capable fishermen, fairly personable (like painteds; less frantic than sliders), hibernation-capable in their native range.

Con.s: Relatively short-lived (estimated up to 20 years in captivity), rather thin shells (a factor in falls & crushing accidents), can be hard to find, expensive, hatchlings are considered delicate & prone to die despite good care, may kill most of your (non-feeder) fish. The Florida chicken turtle is most common in the pet trade, & in theory least hibernation-capable.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors & expo.s but can be found. ~ $50-75 for hatchlings.

 

 

 

8.) Florida Mud Turtle - Kinosternon subrubrum steindachneri

Description: Small bottom-walker, fairly hardy adults, olive brown coloration, most reduced plastron of any U.S. mud turtle, care not well-known but at least some shallow water areas & at least a small land area recommended. They’re a subspecies of the Eastern mud, which spends a lot of land, making this turtles’ needs hard to call. Size: 4 – 5”.

Pro.s: Small adult size, mainly carnivorous, reduced plastron suggests better adapted to a more aquatic existence (Peterson’s Field Guide to Repiles & Amphibians of Eastern/Central North America Page 155 states they’re more aquatic than Eastern muds). Males have larger heads that may rival male loggerhead musk in size.

Con.s: Hatchling muds somewhat delicate, a drowning risk & require very shallow water the first few months; to what extent this applies to Floridas isn’t clear. Adults should have shallow areas in the tank & a land area. Drab compared to 3-striped & Mississippi muds (no yellow head stripes). Have a rep. for being hostile when handled. Not everyone likes the large heads of some males. Somewhat hard to find. Mud turtles generally are regarded as prone to aggression toward their own kind & ‘look-a-likes.’ Less likely to be personable than sliders. Florida native not recommended for hibernation.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors. ~ $.

 

9.) Spotted Turtle - Clemmys guttata

Description: Small moderately-domed black turtle with small yellow spots. Utilizes both land & water but well-adapted for water. Care similar to Eastern mud; palludarium-style setup with shallow water. Adult Size: 3.5 - 5" SCL.

Pro.s: Small, omnivorous, beautiful & fairly personable/interactive with humans. Fairly easy to find. Northeast & most of east coast distribution so hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Palludarium-style enclosure with plenty of shallow water & plenty of land calls for relatively large enclosure compared to turtle & makes keeping with other popular pets (i.e.: painteds) impractical. Even adults risk eventually drowning in deeper water enclosures. Not as heat-tolerant as some species so outdoor enclosures in warmer regions must include cool areas. Males may relentlessly pursue females (can cause

drownings!) & harass subordinate males. Expensive.

Availability & Cost: Fairly common at online vendors & expo.s. ~ $125-130 for hatchlings.

Known Legalities: Illegal to possess in Illinois. Permit required for ownership in SC and MD, & to possess over 5 in VA. Endangered in IN and IL , threatened in ME,VT,and I believe OH, special concern in MA, NY, MD, NC, SC and MI, permits are required in NH and RI and VA has possession limits. CT and NJ also may offer some protection. Consult your state laws for current regulations.

 

 

10.) Softshell Turtles.

 

a.  Male Spiny Softshell Turtle – Apalone spiniferus

Description: Very flattened-bodies turtles with long, tapering faces/noses, lips, strongly webbed feet & leathery, skin-covered flexible shells. Hatchlings cute & in some subspecies (i.e.: Eastern spiny) have beautiful rings/ocelli. Females drastically larger than males & the rings/ocelli diffuse out to form lichen-like patches. Anterior carapace rim has little thorn-like spines. Slider-like care but beware abrasive objects in the tank; at least a container of sandy substrate will be appreciated. Sizes (for 4 of the 7 subspecies): Eastern females 7 - 17 in, males 5 – 9.25 in, Western females 7 – 18 in, males 5 – 7.25 in, Gulf Coast females 7 – 17 7/8 in, males 5 – 8 in., Guadalupe females 7 – 16 5/8 in, males 5 – 8.5 in.

Pro.s: Active, elegant swimmers, enthusiastic feeders, beautiful & very distinctive from hard-shelled turtles. Capable fishermen. Males often retain juvenile coloration fairly well. Spiny softies are more prone to bask on emergent objects than smooth softies. Russ Gurley in Keeping & Breeding Freshwater Turtles Page 127 states hatchling spiny softshells are somewhat more resilient & accepting of a wider range of water conditions than other species of softshells. Easy to find & cheap.

Con.s: Prone to infection from minor injuries. Leathery shell offers little protection from predators. More prone to dehydration out of water than many species. Prefer sandy section of substrate to burrow into. Fast enough they can be hard to catch in the tank. Can kill your fish. Juveniles can gorge themselves to death. This active medium-sized turtle should have at a dead minimum a 75 gallon tank, & 125 gallon is better.

Availability & Cost: Common in the pet trade. Cost ~ $10-15 for hatchlings.

 

 

b.  Male Smooth Softshell Turtle – Apalone muticus

Description: Very flattened-bodies turtles with long, tapering faces/noses, lips, strongly webbed feet & leathery, skin-covered flexible shells. Hatchlings cute. Anterior carapace has neither spines nor tubercles. Females drastically larger than males. Slider-like care but beware abrasive objects in the tank; at least a container of sandy substrate will be appreciated. Sizes: Females 6.5 – 14 in, males 4.5 – 7 in.

Pro.s: Active, elegant swimmers, enthusiastic feeders, beautiful & very distinctive from hard-shelled turtles. Capable fishermen. Males may be slightly smaller than spiny softshells. Cheap.

Con.s: Prone to infection from minor injuries. Leathery shell offers little protection from predators. More prone to dehydration out of water than many species. Prefer sandy section of substrate to burrow into. Fast enough they can be hard to catch in the tank. Can kill your fish. Juveniles can gorge themselves to death. Smooth softies are less prone to bask on emergent objects than spiny softies (many enclosure basking spots are emergent objects). Harder to find than spiny softies. Have a reputation for being less hardy than spinies. This active medium-sized turtle should have at a dead minimum a 75 gallon tank, & 125 gallon is better.

Availability & Cost: Somewhat uncommon in the pet trade. Cost ~ $10-15 for hatchlings.

 

 

c.  Chinese Softshell Turtle - Pelodiscus sinensis

Description: Very flattened-bodies turtles with long, tapering faces/noses, lips, strongly webbed feet & leathery, skin-covered flexible shells. Smaller than any North American softshell; even females (larger than males) are manageable for many. Hatchlings cute & have an orange plastron. Size: up to 10” SCL.

Pro.s: Active, elegant swimmers, enthusiastic feeders, beautiful & very distinctive from hard-shelled turtles. Capable fishermen. Smaller than North American softies. Slider-like care but beware abrasive objects in the tank; at least a container of sandy substrate will be appreciated.

Con.s: Prone to infection from minor injuries. Leathery shell offers little protection from predators. More prone to dehydration out of water than many species. Prefer sandy section of substrate to burrow into. Fast enough they can be hard to catch in the tank. Can kill your fish. Have a rep. for violently defending themselves when handled (which is hard to do). Harder to find than spiny softies. This active medium-sized turtle should have at a dead minimum a 75 gallon tank, & 125 gallon is better.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon in the pet trade but often common in the live turtle food industry (which you fund with your purchase!).

 

11.) Eastern Box Turtle - Terrapene carolina Carolina

Description: Medium-sized terrestrial turtle which likes to soak. Steeply domed carapace, single-hinged plastron, can close the shell tightly, fairly colorful carapace & head, males & females have different coloration/patterning. Size: 4.5 – 6.”

Pro.s: Omnivorous. Older juveniles & adults fairly affable/interactive with humans & shell provides good protection. Eager feeders. Can be low-maintenance in year-round outdoor enclosures in compatible climates. Fairly easy to find. Hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Dogs can chew through the shell quickly. Wild-caught (usual for pet store adults) apt to contain parasites, may try to hibernate despite not being allowed to do so, & may adjust poorly to captivity. Require clean water yet preferentially excrete wastes in it. Need spacious enclosures offering varying temp.s & humidities. May not adapt well to clear-walled enclosures. May tunnel out of outdoor enclosures. Moderately expensive. Hatchlings can be maddeningly shy & slow to eat.

Availability & Cost: Fairly common to somewhat uncommon as hatchlings in the pet trade. Wild-caught adults too common in pet stores. Cost ~ $25-40 Hatchlings.

 

12.) 3-Toed Box Turtle - Terrapene carolina truinguis

Description: Medium-sized terrestrial turtle which likes to soak. Steeply domed carapace, single-hinged plastron, can close the shell tightly, males & females have different coloration/patterning. Size: 4.5 – 5.”

Pro.s: Omnivorous. Older juveniles & adults fairly affable/interactive with humans & shell provides good protection. Eager feeders. Can be low-maintenance in year-round outdoor enclosures in compatible climates. Fairly easy to find. Hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Carapace drab compared to Eastern box. Dogs can chew through the shell quickly. Wild-caught (usual for pet store adults) apt to contain parasites, may try to hibernate despite not being allowed to do so, & may adjust poorly to captivity. Require clean water yet preferentially excrete wastes in it. Need spacious enclosures offering varying temp.s & humidities. May not adapt well to clear-walled enclosures. May tunnel out of outdoor enclosures. Moderately expensive. Hatchlings can be maddeningly shy & slow to eat.

Availability & Cost: Fairly common to somewhat uncommon as hatchlings in the pet trade. Wild-caught adults too common in pet stores. Cost ~ $25-45 Hatchlings.

 

 

Section IV – Medium-Hard Level Turtles.

            Medium-to-large animals requiring large enclosures or a higher degree of expertise in care or trouble-shooting when problems arise.

 

1.) Blandings Turtle - Emydoidea blandingii                

Description: Medium-large semi-aquatic (more largely aquatic) with moderately domed black carapace, tiny yellow speckles & in adults a striking yellow lower jaw. Have ‘strike & suck’ maneuver like chicken turtles. Females somewhat larger than males. Care similar to slider care but shallower water & more structures to clamber on. Adult Size: 5 - 10.8" SCL.

Pro.s: Predominantly carnivorous, attractive coloration, cold-tolerant & hibernation capable (hail from northern U.S. around the Great Lakes).

Con.s: Need shallower water, more structures to clamber around on, & may prefer more land area & cooler temperatures than more Œstandard¹ basking turtles (i.e.: sliders). Hatchlings are somewhat delicate.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon in the pet trade. Hatchlings ~ $75-125.

Known Legalities: Endangered in IN. They are listed as threatened in IA, MN, WI, IL, OH, NY, MA and ME . PA lists them as a candidate species but cannot yet verify they exist in that state. Consult your state laws for current regulations.

 

 

2.) Pacific Pond Turtle - Actinemys marmorata (2 subspecies) (Note: Formerly Clemmys marmorata, 'Western' Pond Turtle).

Description: Medium semi-aquatic (more largely aquatic) with a brown carapace with streams & speckles. Somewhat brownish coloration/patterning is surprisingly handsome. Longer tails than most basking species. Care like sliders but shallower water with more supporting structures to clamber about on. Size: Up to 8”.

Pro.s: Omnivorous. Distinctive & unusual. Adult Size: Up to 8" SCL.

Con.s: Not ideal for straight-walled deep water setups used for many aquatics (i.e.: sliders, painteds). Can be hard to find. Expensive.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon in the pet trade & very limited production. Cost: Hatchlings ~$300 (~ 4” SCL juveniles ~ $400).

Known Legalities: Illegal to possess in Washington, Oregon, and California. Endangered or threatened in the 3-4 states it occurs in. Consult your state laws for current regulations.

 

 

3.) Diamond-Back Terrapin - Malaclemys terrapin

Description: Medium (male) to large (female) basking species (7 subspecies), variable brownish carapace, often strikingly white skin (can be gray, speckled or darker), with black spots & streaks on the skin. Scutes are raised & have a concentric ring appearance (like pyramiding in other species). Native to brackish coastal areas of the southeast & south. Care like sliders but may need brackish water (controversial). Sizes (of some sub-species): Northern: females 6 – 9”, males 4 – 6.5”. Ornate: females 6 – 9”, males 4 – 6.5.”

Pro.s: Predominantly carnivorous, ornate coloration, males don’t get as large, captive-breds seem to often do okay in fresh water if raised in it.

Con.s: Some, especially wild-caught, are thought susceptible to skin fungal infections unless kept in brackish water. If kept in brackish water, may need to be offered freshwater occasionally for drinking. Wild-caughts may not acclimate well. Females get quite large. Males may be mutually hostile, & even juveniles may turn on each other; jaws designed to crush shell fish can maim & kill each other. Brackish water is not compatible with some species you may want later (say, stinkpots). Can be pricy.

Availability & Cost: Uncommon at online vendors but can be found with persistence. Tracking down a specific subspecies may be harder. Cost varied by subspecies. Cost: $50-115.

 

 

4.) Common Snapper - Chelydra serpentina    

Description: Large, heavy-bodied & thick turtle with a rough, bark-like carapace, very reduced plastron, strong & clawed legs, powerful jaws, long neck, fairly long-range strike & aggressive self-defense strategy. Long tail. Bottom-walking species that actively prowls in the wild (not sedentary like alligator snappers). Care is mud turtle-like on much larger scale but smaller land area needed. Variably dark-brown & drab. Florida snapper (a subspecies) may be more domed. Wild specimens in the northern U.S. get larger. Occur in vast array of habitat, water bodies from dirt road mud-holes (hatchlings) & creeks to large rivers. Size: 8 – 15” (huge old one may hit 19”). Wild ones run around 20-30+ lbs (larger up north), but captives can clear 50 lbs.

Pro.s: Omnivorous but often predominantly carnivorous in captivity. Very hardy. Common & cheap to buy (not own). Eager feeders & usually feed from the hand. Capable fishermen. Huge native range & occur in Canada so hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Very large & heavy adults. Grow quickly. Prone to obesity. Need large enclosures (200 gallon+) with powerful filtration. Often hostile when handled & can inflict severe injuries. Strike very fast, fairly long-range, & can spin around very fast. Predatory & may kill other turtles, even their own kind. Must be housed alone past hatchling stage. Tend to eat your fish. Often mistaken for alligator snappers by new owners.

Availability & Cost: Common in the pet trade. Cost ~ $10 for hatchlings.

 

 

5.) Female Alligator Snapper - Macroclemys temmincki

Description: Large, heavy-bodied & thick turtle with a rough, bark-like carapace, very reduced plastron, strong & clawed legs, powerful jaws, fairly short-range strike & aggressive self-defense strategy. Muzzle is longer & has a more hooked ‘beak’ look than a common snapper. Long tail. Bottom-walking species sedentary in the wild (not as active a hunter as the alligator snapper). Care is mud turtle-like on much larger scale (reaching the surface for air without swimming) but smaller land area needed. Variably dark-brown & drab. Inhabit large, permanent water bodies (mainly rivers). Size: 15 – 26 in. Males can exceed 200 pounds (150 lbs is large for a male; heavier weights entail obesity). Females much smaller; reach around 60 - 75 lbs).

Pro.s: Omnivorous but often predominantly carnivorous in captivity. Fairly hardy. Capable fishermen via wiggling a worm-like tongue lure (unique to this species). Has a very wild, ‘prehistoric’ look. Safer to handle than a common snapper due to lack of distance ‘power strike’ & fast body spin. Females max. out much smaller than males. Growth rate moderate if not over-fed. Less active than common snappers so don’t require much larger enclosures. Parts of range in temperate climate so should be hibernation-capable (but a riverine species).

Con.s: Very large, heavy turtle with very powerful jaws & fairly aggressive disposition (could cost you fingers). Prone to obesity & grow rapidly if overfed. Need large enclosures (200 gallon+) with powerful filtration. Hatchlings can’t be sexed by most for years. Predatory & may kill other turtles. Tend to eat your fish. People seeking these often get common snappers by mistake; be very sure of what you’re buying.

Availability & Cost: Fairly uncommon at online vendors. Cost ~ $25-35 for hatchlings.

 

 

6.) Male Florida Softshell – Apalone ferox

Description: Very flattened-bodies turtles with long, tapering faces/noses, lips, strongly webbed feet & leathery, skin-covered flexible shells. Hatchlings cute & have a ‘smoky leopard’ coloration, but adult coloration varies (dirt/clay brown, tar black, etc…). Females drastically larger than males. Anterior carapace rim has tubercles (blunt bumps). Slider-like care but beware abrasive objects in the tank; at least a container of sandy substrate will be appreciated. Size: Females 11 – 24.75” (must be seen to be believed), males 6 – 12.75.”

Pro.s: Active, elegant swimmers, enthusiastic feeders, beautiful & very distinctive from hard-shelled turtles. Capable fishermen. Can occur in brackish habitat. Males much smaller than females. Hibernates in the northern part of the range. Easy to find & cheap.

Con.s: Males still quite large. Prone to infection from minor injuries. Leathery shell offers little protection from predators. More prone to dehydration out of water than many species. Prefer sandy section of substrate to burrow into. Fast enough they can be hard to catch in the tank. Can inflict severe lacerations & scratches to owner & long neck gives it range. Can kill your fish. Southeastern (Florida & just outside it) origin suggests not hibernating it elsewhere. This active large turtle should have at a dead minimum a 125 gallon is better.

Availability & Cost: Common in the pet trade. Cost ~ $10-15 for hatchlings.

 

 

 

7.) Smaller Female Spiny Softshells – Apalone spiniferus

Description: Very flattened-bodies turtles with long, tapering faces/noses, lips, strongly webbed feet & leathery, skin-covered flexible shells. Hatchlings cute & in some subspecies (i.e.: Eastern spiny) have beautiful rings/ocelli. Females drastically larger than males & the rings/ocelli diffuse out to form lichen-like patches. Slider-like care but beware abrasive objects in the tank; at least a container of sandy substrate will be appreciated. Size: Females can reach SCL 18”! (And the head sticks out past that).

Pro.s: Active, elegant swimmers, enthusiastic feeders, beautiful & very distinctive from hard-shelled turtles. Capable fishermen. Males often retain juvenile coloration fairly well. Spiny softies are more prone to bask on emergent objects than smooth softies. Russ Gurley in Keeping & Breeding Freshwater Turtles Page 127 states hatchling spiny softshells are somewhat more resilient & accepting of a wider range of water conditions than other species of softshells. Easy to find & cheap.

Con.s: Prone to infection from minor injuries. Leathery shell offers little protection from predators. More prone to dehydration out of water than many species. Prefer sandy section of substrate to burrow into. Fast enough they can be hard to catch in the tank. Can kill your fish. Even smaller female spinies get quite large & should have at a minimum a 125 gallon tank, & may well out-grow it.

Availability & Cost: Common in the pet trade. Cost ~ $10-15 for hatchlings.

 

 

8.) Smaller Female Smooth Softshells – Apalone muticus

Description: Very flattened-bodies turtles with long, tapering faces/noses, lips, strongly webbed feet & leathery, skin-covered flexible shells. Hatchlings cute. Anterior carapace has neither spines nor tubercles. Females drastically larger than males. Slider-like care but beware abrasive objects in the tank; at least a container of sandy substrate will be appreciated. Size: Females 6.5 – 14 in, males 4.5 – 7 in.

Pro.s: Active, elegant swimmers, enthusiastic feeders, beautiful & very distinctive from hard-shelled turtles. Capable fishermen. Males may be slightly smaller than spiny softshells. Cheap.

Con.s: Prone to infection from minor injuries. Leathery shell offers little protection from predators. More prone to dehydration out of water than many species. Prefer sandy section of substrate to burrow into. Fast enough they can be hard to catch in the tank. Can kill your fish. Juveniles can gorge themselves to death. Smooth softies are less prone to bask on emergent objects than spiny softies (many enclosure basking spots are emergent objects). Harder to find than spiny softies. Have a reputation for being less hardy than spinies. Even smaller female smooths get quite large & should have at a minimum a 125 gallon tank, & may well out-grow it.

Availability & Cost: Somewhat uncommon in the pet trade. Cost ~ $10-15 for hatchlings.

  

9.) North American Wood Turtle – Glyptemys insculpta

Description: Medium-large semi-terrestrial (heavily utilizing both land & water) with a brown carapace but red-orange skin on the base of the body. Hatchlings are drab brown but with growth progressively more beautiful. Carapace is rough & scutes have a concentric circle appearance that fades with age. Longer tails than most basking species. Water area like a slider’s but shallower water with more supporting structures to clamber about on. Also need a substantial land section. Size: 7 – 9.5”.

Pro.s: Omnivorous, attractive, rep. for unusual intelligence/personality, fairly easy to find. Northeastern & North-central range so hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Males mutually aggressive & mating is brutal so plan to keep one per enclosure. May dominate other species, too. Need large enclosures/land & water sections. Need cooler temp.s than many species (so sharing water areas with some species isn’t workable) & at risk to overheat in outdoor enclosures in warm climates.

Availability & Cost: Fairly easy to find online & at expo.s but expensive. Cost ~ $60-125 for hatchlings.

 

 

10.) Ornate Box Turtle - Terrapene ornata ornata

Description: Medium-sized terrestrial turtle which likes to soak. Steeply domed carapace, single-hinged plastron, can close the shell tightly, fairly colorful carapace & head. Size: Ornate 4 – 5” (up to 6).

Pro.s: Omnivorous (but more carnivorous than Eastern box). Smallest North American box turtle. Older juveniles & adults fairly affable/interactive with humans & shell provides good protection. Eager feeders. Can be low-maintenance in year-round outdoor enclosures in compatible climates. Fairly easy to find.

Con.s: Dogs can chew through the shell quickly. Wild-caught (usual for pet store adults) apt to contain parasites, may try to hibernate despite not being allowed to do so, & may adjust poorly to captivity. Require clean water yet preferentially excrete wastes in it. Need spacious enclosures offering varying temp.s & humidities. May not adapt well to clear-walled enclosures. May tunnel out of outdoor enclosures. Moderately expensive. Hatchlings can be maddeningly shy & slow to eat. Ornate box turtles have a reputation for being prone to health problems in captivity & are considered a poor choice as a pet.

Availability & Cost: Somewhat uncommon as hatchlings in the pet trade. Wild-caught adults too common in pet stores. Cost ~ $20-40 Hatchlings.

 

Section V – High-Level Turtles.

            Either require high-cost & large enclosures or are otherwise very expensive &/or difficult to maintain well.

 

1.) Male Alligator Snapper - Macroclemys temmincki  Hatchlings ~ $25-35.

Description: Large, heavy-bodied & thick turtle (up to 150 lbs healthy weight, over 200 lbs obese) with a rough, bark-like carapace, very reduced plastron, strong & clawed legs, powerful jaws, fairly short-range strike & aggressive self-defense strategy. Muzzle is longer & has a more hooked ‘beak’ look than a common snapper. Long tail. Bottom-walking species sedentary in the wild (not as active a hunter as the alligator snapper). Care is mud turtle-like on an enormous scale (reaching the surface for air without swimming) but smaller land area needed. Variably dark-brown & drab. Inhabit large, permanent water bodies (mainly rivers). Sizes: 15 – 26 in. Males can exceed 200 pounds (150 lbs is large for a male; heavier weights entail obesity). Females much smaller; reach around 60 lbs).

Pro.s: Omnivorous but often predominantly carnivorous in captivity. Fairly hardy. Capable fishermen via wiggling a worm-like tongue lure (unique to this species). Has a very wild, ‘prehistoric’ look. Safer to handle than a common snapper due to lack of distance ‘power strike’ & fast body spin. Growth rate moderate if not over-fed. Less active than common snappers so don’t require much larger enclosures. Parts of range in temperate climate so should be hibernation-capable (but a riverine species).

Con.s: Very large, heavy turtle with very powerful jaws & fairly aggressive disposition (could cost you fingers). Males much larger than females. Prone to obesity & grow rapidly if overfed. Need large enclosures (300 gallon+; for a full-size adult likely 800+ gallons) with powerful filtration. Hatchlings can’t be sexed by most for years. Predatory & may kill other turtles. Tend to eat your fish. People seeking these often get common snappers by mistake; be very sure of what you’re buying.

Availability & Cost: Fairly uncommon at online vendors. Cost ~ $25-35 for hatchlings.

 

2.) Large adult female North American Softshells – all species.

Description: Very flattened-bodies turtles with long, tapering faces/noses, lips, strongly webbed feet & leathery, skin-covered flexible shells. Hatchlings cute but adult coloration often less ornate. Females drastically larger than males. Slider-like care but beware abrasive objects in the tank; at least a container of sandy substrate will be appreciated. Female Florida softshells can hit SCL 24” (2 feet), spinies 18,” & smooths 14.”

Pro.s: Active, elegant swimmers, enthusiastic feeders, beautiful & very distinctive from hard-shelled turtles. Capable fishermen. Many hibernate in part of their range. Eastern Spiny & Florida easy to find & cheap.

Con.s: Prone to infection from minor injuries. Leathery shell offers little protection from predators. More prone to dehydration out of water than many species. Prefer sandy section of substrate to burrow into. Fast enough they can be hard to catch in the tank. Can inflict severe lacerations & scratches to owner & long neck gives it range. Can kill your fish. Hibernation-worthiness may be limited in some species/subspecies. These turtles are enormous. Even a 240 gallon aquarium is insufficient; massive custom enclosures ~ 500+ gallons are needed.

Availability & Cost: Common in the pet trade. Cost varies.

 

 

3. Bog Turtle - Glyptemys muhlenbergii

Description: Very small mildly domed black turtle with large orange or yellow patches behind the eyes. Size: 3 - 4.5" SCL.

Pro.s: Omnivorous & can feed on land or in water. Very small & quite attractive. Northeastern native so hibernation-capable.

Con.s: Palludarium-style enclosure replicating native environment or just basic needs requires some expertise. Very imperiled in the wild, very expensive, hard to acquire legally (or illegally), protected in many places in the U.S. (& CITIES Appendix I for you non-U.S. shoppers), & has a reputation for being prone to health problems in captivity, requiring fairly advanced care knowledge & practice. Recommendation: should only be purchased by advanced keepers planning to propagate the species.

Availability & Cost: Very hard to acquire. At the Daytona Captive Reptile Breeders’ Expo. 2004 they were in short supply, $900 apiece & sold only to buyers with a Florida Drivers’ license.

Known Legalities: In Florida can only be sold to residents with Fl Drivers' license. In PA requires permit to own. Endangered or threatened in all 12 of the states it occurs in. Consult your state laws for current regulations.

 

 

Appendix I.) List of North American Turtles covered in this article.

            Not all North American turtles are covered in this article (i.e.: flattened musk, gopher & desert tortoises, some maps, etc…). I chose a representative majority of those species apt to be purchased or wild-caught by pet seekers.

1.)    Sliders.

a.       Red-eared (RES).

b.      Yellow-belly (YBS).

c.       Cumberland.

2.)    Cooters.

a.       River.

b.      Peninsula.

c.       Florida.

d.      Florida Red-belly.

e.       Alabama Red-belly (included only because it might be wild-caught).

f.       Red-belly.

3.)    Painted Turtles.

a.       Southern.

b.      Midland.

c.       Eastern.

d.      Western.

4.)    Map Turtles.

a.       Texas.

b.      Cagles.

c.       Common.

d.      Mississippi.

e.       Ouachita.

f.       False.

g.      Barbours.

5.)    Chicken Turtles.

6.)    Snappers.

a.       Common.

b.      Alligator.

7.)    Mud Turtles.

a.       Eastern.

b.      Mississippi.

c.       Florida.

d.      Yellow.

e.       3-Striped.

8.)    Musk Turtles.

a.       Stinkpot.

b.      Razorback.

c.       Loggerhead.

d.      Stripe-neck.

 9.)    Spotted Turtles.

10.)         Bog Turtles.

11.)    Blandings Turtles.

12.)    Pacific Pond Turtles.

13.)    North American Wood Turtles.

14.)    Softshells.

                  i.      Spiny.

        ii.      Smooth.

        iii.      Florida.

                                                 iv.      Chinese*  (Not a North American species, but introduced into Hawaii (a state), common in parts of the U.S., & smaller size made it of interest.

 

Appendix II.) North American Turtles by Difficulty Level.

Level I.) The Best Starter Turtles:  Male Texas Map, Male Common Map, Southern Painted, Midland Painted (mainly males), Stinkpot, Razorback musk.

Level II.) Second Choice Starter Turtles: Male Cagles Map, Male Chicken, Male Black-Knobbed Map, Loggerhead Musk, Stripe-neck Musk, Eastern Mud, Mississippi Mud, Yellow Mud, 3-Striped Mud.

Level III.) Medium-Level Turtles: Sliders (North American), Cooters (all), Eastern & Western Painted, Most Maps (including Mississippi, Ouachita, False, Female common, Barbour’s, female Texas & Cagles, etc…), female chicken turtles, Chinese softshells, male spiny & smooth softshells, spotted turtles, Florida mud, Eastern & 3-Toed box turtles.

Level IV.) Medium-Hard Turtles: Blandings, Pacific Pond, Diamondback Terrapin, Common Snapper, Female Alligator Snapper, Smaller female spiny & smooth softshells, Male Florida softshells, Ornate box turtles.

Level V.) High-Level Turtles: Male Alligator Snappers, Large Female North American Softshells (esp. Floridas), Bog Turtles.

 

Appendix III.) North American Turtles by Ease of Acquisition.

Easy to Acquire: Red-eared slider, Florida Red-belly Cooter, all 4 Painted subspecies (southern/midland/eastern/western), Mississippi Map, stinkpots, Spiny Softshells (mainly Eastern spiny softshells), Florida softshells., pet store box turtles (adult, wild-caught, not recommended).

Fairly Easy to Acquire: YBS, Peninsula Cooter, Texas Map, Ouchita Map, False Map, Diamondback Terrapin (as a group; specific subspecies may be harder to track down), Razorback Musk, Mississippi Mud, Spotted Turtle, North American Wood Turtle, Common Snapper, Alligator Snapper.

Fairly Uncommon in the Trade: Cumberland Slider, River Cooter, Cagles Map, Common Map (ironic but true), Blandings, Florida Chicken Turtles, Eastern Mud, 3-Striped Mud, Yellow Mud (adult), Smooth Softshells, Chinese Softshells, Eastern box turtle hatchlings.

Uncommon: Rio Grande Cooters, Barbour’s Map, Pacific Pond, Western Chicken Turtle, Loggerhead Musk, Stripe-neck Musk, Yellow Mud (hatchling), Florida Mud.

Hard to Acquire: Bog Turtle. Alabama Red-belly (endangered & illegal!).

 

Appendix IV.) North American Turtles by Cost.

            Cost of Acquisition. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) tends to be much greater over time. A good example is to compare a hatchling southern painted (~ $15) with a hatchling spotted turtle (~ $125). Even if both are maintained in 75 gallon aquaria (painted for size, spotted to have adequate land & water), lighting, filtration, etc…won’t vary that much. Enclosure & other equipment (filter, UV-B bulb, etc…) run several hundred either way, dwarfing the purchase price of the turtle itself.

Cheap (up to around $15): RES, YBS, Cumberland Slider, Florida Red-belly Cooter, Peninsula Cooter, River Cooter, all 4 Painted subspecies (southern, midland, eastern, western), Mississippi/Ouachita/False Map, stinkpots, 3-Striped Mud, Eastern Mud, Mississippi Mud,

Affordable (~ $20 - $50): Rio Grande Sliders (a.k.a. ‘ornate RES’), Common Map, Texas Map, Black-Knobbed Map, Loggerhead Musk, Alligator Snapper, 3-Toed Box, Eastern Box, Ornate Box.

Expensive (~ $75 - $150): Albino & Pastel RES, Rio Grande Cooters, Barbour’s Maps, Cagles Maps, Chicken Turtles, Stripe-neck Musk, Spotteds, Blandings, North American Wood Turtles.

Very Expensive ($200+): Pacific Pond Turtles.

Extremely Expensive ($500+): Bog Turtles.

 

Appendix V.) North American Turtles by Size.

            Taking into account both SCL (superior carapace length measurement) & general bulk (a 12” common snapper is a good deal larger than a 12” cooter).

Small: Male Texas, Cagles & Black-knobbed map, Southern Painted, Female Midland Painted, Musk (stinkpot, razorback, loggerhead, stripe-neck), Mud (Eastern, Mississippi, Florida, 3-striped, Yellow), Spotted & Bog.

Medium: Female Texas, & Cagles Maps, Common Maps, most male Maps (including Mississippi, Ouachita, False), male Sliders, male Chicken Turtles, female Midland, either gender Eastern Painted, male & some female Western Painted, smaller male Spiny, Smooth & Chinese Softshells, Pacific Pond Turtles, all North American Box Turtles.

Large: Female sliders, female Western & larger Eastern painted, female Barbour’s maps, all cooters (females moreso than males), female Chicken turtles, female Chinese & Smooth Softshells, larger male & small female Spiny Softshells, male Florida Softshells.

Very Large: Larger female Smooth & Spiny Softshells, female Florida Softshells, Common Snappers, Female Alligator Snappers.

Huge: Male Alligator Snappers.

 

Appendix VI.) North American Turtles by Minimum Enclosure Size.

            These are minimum enclosure sizes for a moderately comfortable existence. In nearly all cases at least the next step up in enclosure size is recommended. These are also judgment calls & some will disagree with me.

20 Gallon Long (not regular) Aquarium – Smaller male Texas maps. Smaller mud turtles (such as 1 or at most 2 3-striped). A 20 gallon long is cramped even for these animals. Musk are allegedly more active than mud & so not included. Mud & musk can fight & seriously injure each other.

29 Gallon Aquarium – Male Southern Painted, male Texas map, male Cagles map, male Black-Knobbed map, Musk (stinkpot, razorback, loggerhead, stripe-neck), larger mud turtles (individuals, not so much species) or pairs of muds.

55 Gallon Aquarium – Female Southern Painted, male Midland Painted, male common, Mississippi or Ouachita map, Spotted Turtles, Pacific Pond Turtles.

75 Gallon Aquarium – Male Sliders, male Midland, Eastern or Western Painted, smaller female Maps (i.e.: Cagles, Texas), Chinese & male Spiny or Smooth Softshell 

125 Gallon Aquarium – Female Sliders, male Cooters, most female maps (common, Mississippi, Ouachita), male Barbour’s maps, Blandings, North American Wood, male Florida Softshell, female Smooth & smaller female Spiny Softshells.

240 Gallon Aquarium – Larger female Cooters (particularly river cooters), female Barbour’s Map, larger female Spiny Softshells, Common Snappers.

300 Gallon Stock Tank (i.e.: Rubbermaid stock tank) – Large female North Amercian Softshells, Common snapper, female Alligator Snapper.

Massive (500 gallon+) Custom Enclosures – Male Alligator Snapper.