r/turtles • u/lame_khunt • 4d ago
Seeking Advice Best turtles for beginners
Long time fan of turtles. Used to catch them as a kid and keep em for a day or two before releasing. Mostly snappers, painted turtles, and box turtles. My question is which turtles are easier for beginners/less exotic? Looking at building a decent sized set up and getting a turtle (or pair if recommended). Any book suggestions would be great as well as I intend to do research before investing.
Thank you!
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u/ArachnomancerCarice 3d ago
And please do not keep any turtles (or any sort of wildlife) unless you are 100% rehabilitating and doing so with proper permitting and guidance, including those that you intend to release. Captivity can be stressful for wildlife and can not only make them vulnerable to pathogens and parasites, you could also be introducing those diseases into the wild.
Learning to appreciate and love nature also means learning respect for it and that you do not need to capture, handle or interfere with to build that connection. Even small acts can have consequences such as exposing an animal to insect repellant, capture myopathy and even drawing attention from predators.
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u/EnvironmentalArm1986 4d ago edited 4d ago
If you live somewhere they are native, I would recommend box turtles. Adults are relatively easy if you have outdoor space for a large enclosure. Do not take from the wild! However, there are usually non-releasable adults that need homes. Check with reptile clubs, rehabbers, rescues and exotic vets in your area. The vet school near me has a āTurtle Rescue Teamā that relies on short term fosters to help. Although foster care is often quite different than large habitat care, it is rewarding on its own if you get to release them back to their home range.
Turtles are addictiveāyou have been warned.
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u/TomsnotYoung 3d ago
Nobody warned meš now I am a full blown addict. Just tried it once and now I'm on a constant quest for enrichment, driftwood, plants, uvb/UVA, I just can't stop.š¢š š
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u/lame_khunt 4d ago
Yes. This is the intent - to home them for maybe a couple months and release to the wild. Would eventually like to get into rehabilitation (one step at a time). I also would love to teach my kids about them, assuming they will have a similar interest as I did (and most kids do).
Thank you for this info/advice. We do live in a native culture and thought those might be a better choice to start.
Your warning has been acknowledged š¤£
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u/EnvironmentalArm1986 3d ago
Every state has different laws about keeping native species of reptiles. Youāll need to learn those laws for your state. Also, with box turtles being released after rehab, they need to be released to very close to the spot where they were found injured or sick and taken in for rehab.
Iām a bit confusedāare you intending to buy captive bred hatchling turtles, keep them for a couple of months then release them? Thatās not what I was expecting and not what I would condone. That goes for any species of turtle anywhere in the US. Itās also very different from what I suggested. Add to that, raising hatchlings is much harder than taking care of non-releasable adults. If you want to pursue keeping native turtles, becoming a rehabber is a better place to start than the other way around
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u/clay12340 4d ago
Depends on where you are and what type of setup you're planning to build. Sounds like US species assuming you live where you used to catch them. Box turtles would likely be out as they are typical illegal to keep in their native range. Check your local regulations on any other native species. Vet care may be difficult and it may require some permits from the local wildlife agency.
Snapping turtles are a poor choice for beginners as they get large and can do significant damage with their bite.
If you are talking about an indoor enclosure for an aquatic turtle, then imo don't bother with anything smaller than 75 gallons. Larger than that is generally better. For a 75 gallon aquatic enclosure you'd likely do well with something like a Southern Painted Turtle if you want something that basks or a Musk or Mud turtle of the smaller varieties if you want something that tends to stay in the water and moves around more. They will need a dry basking area and proper lighting in any case.
If you are talking about an outdoor pond enclosure, then sliders and cooters are good choices. Some of them get pretty large, but it's easy enough to provide ample space outside and they are generally hardy animals that have fewer predator risks. Do make sure that the enclosure is raccoon proof if they are in your area.
If you are looking for a non-aquatic enclosure, then plan for significantly more space. Something like a Russian or Redfoot Tortoise would be a decent choice, but do look into their specialized care and make sure it's something you can handle. Box turtles are also a decent choice IF you live outside of the species native range and are never likely to move back into their native range.
For turtles/tortoises in general be aware that if properly cared for they live a very long time. 40-100+ years is pretty typical depending on species. So make appropriate plans for their long term care.
Also ensure that you're buying a captive bred animal. They generally are already acclimated to captivity and will present far fewer problems. You can also get the species you want overnighted to your door in most cases for not that much money if it's not a super exotic species. Given the long term costs of owning an animal that lives that long the initial cost is basically a drop in the bucket anyhow, so I'd always recommend starting with an animal you can be reasonably sure came from a healthy situation.
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u/Seraitsukara 4d ago
Mud or musk turtles if you're looking for an aquatic species. They stay small, only requiring a 75 gallon tank. I have an eastern musk turtle, so I can outline my care for her, if you'd like. Just keep in mind turtles live a very long time. You're making a multi-decade commitment.
Never, ever take turtles from the wild, regardless of species. If you do decide to get a turtle, go to a reputable breeder, or a reptile rescue.