You may be wondering, what turtles stay small? Most people prefer keeping a small turtle as a pet because they take up less room. Turtles that stay small are also easier to handle, and some people think they’re more attractive.
Turtles under 4 in (10.2 cm) are illegal to keep in the United States, but laws differ around the world. Either way, there are so many small turtles that make good pets.
Whether you want a terrestrial or aquatic turtle, there will be a perfect turtle for you. They come in all kinds of colors and patterns, so the options are nearly limitless.
Best Small Turtles To Keep As A Pet
1. Eastern Box Turtles
- Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina carolina
- Size: Up to 7 in (17.8 cm)
- Lifespan: 50-100 years
- Tank Size: 75+ gallons
Eastern box turtles are common as far south as Texas and as far north as Pennsylvania. Their names come from their high-domed shells that look like boxes.
People often take these turtles from the wild, although they shouldn’t. Eastern box turtles are threatened, and they don’t do well in the wild. Besides, it is easy to buy eastern box turtles. Plus, captive-bred box turtles often come in brighter colors than their wild counterparts.
2. Western Box Turtles
- Scientific Name: Terrapene ornata
- Size: 4-6 in (10.2-15 cm)
- Lifespan: 50+ years
- Tank Size: 75+ gallons
In the wild, the western box turtle lives as far north and east as South Dakota. It lives as far south as northern Mexico. Like the eastern box turtle, these mini turtles have high-domed shells that look like boxes. The shells are black or brown with ornate yellow stripes and dotting.
3. Common Musk Turtles
- Scientific Name: Sternotherus odoratus
- Size: 3-6 in (7.6-15.2 cm)
- Lifespan: 30-50 years
- Tank Size: 30-55 gallons
The common musk turtle is native to North America, and is one of the more popular pet turtles. They get their name because they release a ‘musk’ when they feel threatened. Musk is a cloudy, smelly liquid that comes from the scent glands at the edge of their shells.
4. Razorback Musk Turtles
- Scientific Name: Sternotherus carinatus
- Size: 5-6 in (12.5-15 cm)
- Lifespan: 20-30 years
- Tank Size: 30+ gallons
Razorback musk turtles are the largest members of the musk turtle family. They are docile semi-aquatic animals, making them a good choice for beginners. They aren’t good swimmers, instead preferring to walk along shallow riverbeds. Razorbacks also enjoy basking in the sun.
5. Northern Map Turtles
- Scientific Name: Graptemys geographica
- Size: 6.2-10.5 in (16-27 cm)
- Lifespan: 15-20 years
- Tank Size: 75-125 gallons
Northern map turtles get their names from the beautiful markings along their carapace. The University of Georgia describes these turtles:
“The carapace is olive green and has an intricate system of faint yellow lines that resemble a topographical map… Northern map turtle skin is olive to dark brown and contains yellow or greenish markings…These turtles consistently have a small postorbital blotch that resembles a triangle with rounded points. They also maintain a j-shaped yellow line on the lower side of the neck that arches upward as it nears the head.”
6. Mississippi Map Turtles
- Scientific Name: Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni
- Size: 5-10 in (2-3.9 cm)
- Lifespan: 20+ years
- Tank Size: 75-125 gallons
Mississippi map turtles are aquatic turtles. They have black skin covered in unique yellow markings. They are perfect for beginners because they are easy to care for, but they don’t like handling.
7. Spotted Turtles
- Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata
- Size: 4-6 in (10.2-15.2 cm)
- Lifespan: 26+ years
- Tank Size: 40+ gallons
Spotted turtles are semi-aquatic. They are poor swimmers, so you’ll want to give them shallow water to wade in. These turtles are not hard to care for, and they are a good choice if you want a unique-looking animal. Spotted turtles have black shells and skin covered in white or yellow polka dots.
8. Mud Turtles
- Scientific Name: Kinosternon subrubrum
- Size: Up to 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Lifespan: Up to 50 years
- Tank Size: 40+ gallons
Mud turtles are one of the smallest species on this list, making them one of the most popular pet turtle species. These dwarf turtles are semi-aquatic. But, they don’t like to bask like most semi-aquatic turtles. Instead, they enjoy coming to land to bury themselves under leaves. Like musk turtles, mud turtles release a foul-smelling liquid when they feel threatened.
9. Reeve’s Turtles
- Scientific Name: Mauremys reevesii
- Size: 6-9 in (15.2-22.9 cm)
- Lifespan: 10-15+ years
- Tank Size: 40+ gallons
Reeve’s turtles are native to central and eastern China, North and South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. They aren’t the greatest swimmers. Instead, they prefer slow-moving water and plenty of basking sites. Their shells are a dull brownish color, and their skin is black. The skin is interspersed with intricate whitish-yellow patterns.
10. Bog Turtles
- Scientific Name: Glyptemys muhlenbergii
- Size: Up to 4.5 in (11.4 cm)
- Lifespan: 20+ years
- Tank Size: 30+ gallons
Bog turtles are the smallest turtles in North America. So, they are also the smallest turtle you can own. They got their name because they prefer to live in bogs filled with tussock sedges and grass. You may also spot them in groundwater-fed meadows.
These tiny turtles have dark brown shells with skin that is almost black. But, they are easily recognized by the large yellow patch on either side of their heads.
Unfortunately, there aren’t too many of these turtles left. The Nature Conservancy says that “The bog turtle is classified as federally-threatened on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species List.”
11. Diamondback Terrapins
- Scientific Name: Malaclemys terrapin
- Size: 5.5-11 in (14-27.9 cm)
- Lifespan: 25-40 years
- Tank Size: 30+ gallons
Diamondback terrapins have diamond-shaped designs on the tops of their shells. The diamonds may be gray, brown, or nearly black. The rest of the shell is a lighter brown or gray. Their skin is similar in color but is marked with dark spots, stripes, or blotches. They have webbed feet and are excellent swimmers. Diamondbacks frequently traverse water with strong tides and currents.
12. Western Painted Turtles
- Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta
- Size: 3-10 in (1.2-3.9 cm)
- Lifespan: 50+ years
- Tank Size: 40+ gallons
Western-painted turtles have bright red swirls covering the underside of their shells. Their skin and shells are black. There are bright red and yellow stripes running throughout the shell. Their coloration makes them one of the most popular pet turtle species.
13. Wood Turtles
- Scientific Name: Glyptemys insculpta
- Size: 7-9 in (18-23 cm)
- Lifespan: 40+ years
- Tank Size: 50+ gallons
Wood turtles have brown upper shells with yellow or orange specks and bands across them. They also have black blotches on their shells. Their skin is dark brown to black, but their limbs have yellow, orange, or red pigments. Although they are smaller turtles, it’s best to give them as much space as possible. They are active animals who like to move around.
Conclusion
Small pet turtles are wonderful because they don’t take up a lot of room, they eat less, and they’re easier to handle.
Miniature turtles are often easy to care for, so they make good pets for beginners. Easily stressed, turtles don’t usually like handling. So, they make good pets for anyone who just enjoys watching entertaining critters go about their day.
FAQs
Whether it’s legal to own a certain kind of turtle depends on where you live.
In the United States, all the small turtles on this list are legal to buy. But, especially tiny turtles are illegal.
Since 1975, it has been illegal to buy turtles with a shell length less than 4 in (10.2 cm). The ban came about because of salmonella outbreaks. Many of the outbreaks were linked to the ownership of reptiles. Small turtles have caused the most outbreaks.
The risk of salmonella is present with any pet turtle. But, young children are more likely to handle tiny turtles, so the CDC considers them to be riskier.
The smallest turtle in the world is the speckled dwarf tortoise (Chersobius signatus). These tortoises have a brownish-orange shell with hundreds of black spots. Females may grow up to 3.9 in (10 cm) in length, but males only grow up to 2.4-3.1 in (6-8 cm).
It’s tricky to house two turtles together. Turtles are solitary animals, so if they don’t have enough space, they might fight with tank mates. If you house a bigger turtle with a smaller one, the risk of bullying is greater.
Housing a larger and smaller turtle is possible, but you’ll need to take caution. Make sure there is enough space and the enclosure is set up correctly. Be sure to watch your turtles for signs of aggression and prepare to separate them if needed.
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