Amazing Alternative Aquatic Turtles to Keep as Pets!

Turtles and tortoises, which are sometimes known collectively as chelonians, are among the oldest, and most popular, groups of reptiles to maintain in captivity. Dating as far back as approximately 250 to 290 million years ago during the Permian period, these characteristic shelled reptiles have managed to capture the interest and affection of many people and cultures worldwide, even among those who may dislike snakes, or other reptiles. There seems to just be one or more characteristics of these reptiles which make them less assuming and less threatening to much of the public eye, more so than many other reptiles or amphibians!

As such, hundreds of species have now been kept and propagated in captivity. However, and while these groups of unique reptiles can make for great and interactive pets given the proper amount of research and education, as with any species of animal, they do have several unique attributes which oftentimes makes them more challenging than many other groups of reptiles. Most, if not all turtles are very long-lived animals, being able to reach minimum longevity or lifespans of 40 to 60 years, or even over 100 to 150 years, depending on the species! Many turtles, particularly those species which tend to be aquatic or semi-aquatic, can be especially challenging, and require large and spacious enough enclosures, with clean, adequate water, filtration, and water qualities, can attain relatively large and difficult to house or accommodate sizes as adults, and can have the potential to become very messy and high maintenance animals, also requiring the proper UVB lighting, heating, and other aspects of their care.

Unfortunately, many species of aquatic to semi-aquatic turtles, while having the potential to become good pets for the right individuals, have been offered for sale at extremely inexpensive rates, in situations leading to poorly thought out “impulse buys”, or purchases, oftentimes in completely inadequate enclosures or setups. Species such as the Pond Sliders (Trachemys scripta ssp.), Map Turtles (Graptemys sp.), Softshell Turtles (Apalone spp.), Cooters (Pseudemys spp.), and even Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta ssp.) are examples of those aquatic or semi-aquatic turtles requiring much more space than might still be believed. These scenarios, while certainly not as commonplace as they used to be in previous decades as a result of improved education, awareness, and evolution of the reptile industry than before, can and still do occur, leading to improper animal husbandry and welfare concerns regarding these animals, improper release of exotic or non-native species, and sometimes even zoonotic disease outbreaks, most notably reptile-associated salmonella.

*Photo credit: Reptiles Magazine.

So with all of this said, are there any suitable alternatives for someone interested in a pet chelonian!? As it turns out, there indeed! While small European tortoises, Testudo/Agrionymys spp., such as Russians, Hermann’s, Greeks, and/or Marginateds are always great alternatives for someone seeking a chelonian, how about if someone is still interested in a more aquatic, or semi-aquatic species? It turns out, there are still several great alternatives in this regard as well! But, as with any species, even these smaller species require all of the same regular and proper care and maintenance, and can still be relatively long-lived! And while there is no such thing as a truly “miniature”, “quarter-sized”, “dollar”, or “dwarf” turtle, despite what infamous “dime stores” or “flea markets” may claim, which remains quarter or hatchling sized throughout its life, the below mentioned species still remain relatively small as adults! For this list, our criteria will be that the species remains within approximately 2 to 5 ½ inches as adults, and can be housed reasonably well in a 20 to 40 gallon, or slightly larger, aquarium or other enclosure, without requiring essentially an indoor and/or outdoor pond, or other very large, and very expensive form of customized enclosure.

*Lastly, it is also always recommended to follow and be aware of any and all local, state, and federal laws pertaining to the sale, purchase, and possession of turtles, or other reptiles as pets, and to choose reputable, captive bred sources while ensuring the seller or business selling the turtles also have any of the necessary legal permits, paperwork, and documentation to ensure your turtle was legally obtained. Several of the species on this list may be threatened, endangered, or otherwise protected in many states in which they are native to. And finally, never pick up and take home a tiny hatchling turtle from the wild! Doing so may not only be against the law in many areas, but can also impact local populations, and require specific and long-term care and commitments!  Hatchling turtles are perfectly capable of surviving and caring for themselves the moment they hatch from their eggs, so they do not need to be rescued if found alone!

Without further adieu, here are our top choices for the best, “alternative” aquatic species of turtles to consider as pets!

Photo credit: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Box Turtles (Terrapene spp.): Leading a more terrestrial lifestyle than other more aquatic turtles in their same family, Emydidae, box turtles are that group of small, familiar, and colorful turtles described more in detail in many of our previous lists, which derive their common names from their hinged plastrons, or lower shells, which enable these turtles to withdraw their heads and limbs into their shell and close themselves off, similar to a box. There are several different species and subspecies of box turtles which are indigenous to different regions of the United States, and many can exhibit tremendous variation among their colors and patterning even among individuals of the same species or population. Overall, most box turtles usually reach carapace lengths of 4 to 6 ½ inches, and have varied diets of earthworms, insects, grubs, and other invertebrates, as well as fungi, and some plant and vegetable matter, which should be readily accessible and/or not too difficult to replicate in captivity.

*Photo credit: William Romanowski.

Spotted Turtles (Cleymmys guttata): Spotted turtles are another fairly small and inoffensive species of semi-aquatic turtle, which occurs in disjunct, or fragmented populations throughout the Midwestern, Eastern, Southeastern, and Northeastern United States! They occur in shallow, moist, or grassy wet meadows, bogs, marshes, or the shallow margins of lakes and rivers, where they are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of aquatic plant and algal matter, as well as small fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects and other invertebrates. These beautiful and attractive turtles only reach carapace lengths of about 2 ½ to 5 ½ inches, and can have variable amounts of yellow to orange spotting present throughout! They are, however, a protected to endangered species in most of the states they are native to, so anyone potentially interested in acquiring a spotted turtle as a pet should check with their local and state laws and regulations, and also ensure that the source they are obtaining one from have also been legally obtained.

*Photo credit: PetGuide.com

Chinese Pond/Reeve’s Turtle (Mauremys reevesii): Traditionally known as the Reeve’s Turtle, this relatively small species of European “pond turtle” is indigenous to southeastern to eastern Asia, from China and Japan, to Korea. These personable and enjoyable turtles can be a great alternative to more North American species, and most adults generally range in carapace length of about 4 ½ to 6 inches, making them a strong contender for this list! But as with many of the other species also on this list, the Reeve’s turtle, in their case, is currently an IUCN Red List Endangered Species, so anyone purchasing one of these turtles should only do so from a reputable, captive bred source in the United States, or other country of residence.

*Photo credit: Reptiles Alive.

Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemmys terrapin): The diamondback terrapin is a unique species of North American turtle in that this species occurs along the coastal, brackish-water tidal marshes and wetlands, although they may also be found amongst freshwater as well! They are one of the very few species of turtles which can survive amongst these brackish water habitats, These popular and personable turtles, with their ornately colored and patterned skin and shells, lending to their name “diamondback”, are another strong contender for this list, as they may be housed in a 40 to 50 gallon enclosure or larger with suitable swimming and basking sites, and no two are alike in their color or appearance! They are also omnivorous, feeding on small fish, shrimp, crustaceans, and other aquatic invertebrates. But as with many of the other species on this list, diamondback terrapins are also imperiled due to habitat loss and degradation, as well as over-collecting, so make sure any specimen one may obtain is from a legal and well-documented source! Males remain much smaller than females at about 5 to 5 ½ inches, although females can become much larger, at up to 10 to 11 inches carapace length.

*Photo credit: PetGude.com

Mud and Musk Turtles (Family Kinosterinidae): Quite possibly the top contenders to this list, the Mud Turtles (Kinosternon spp.) and Musk Turtles (Sternotherus spp.) are among the smallest species of turtles occurring in North America, and throughout the world! With several different species and subspecies found throughout much of southern and southeastern Canada, through the southern and eastern United States and Mexico, these small turtles seldom exceed 2 ½ to 4 inches in carapace length, and can make for very personable pet turtles, being able to be kept in a 20 to 40 gallon or similar sized semi-aquatic enclosure! While they may not typically be the most colorful species on this list, they also can still appear quite interesting, with large, over-sized heads, reduced plastrons, and relatively narrow, oblong and highly domed, keeled carapaces! Some species may initially may be pugnacious little turtles, and some can emit a musky smelling odor, lending to their alternate name of “musk” or “stinkpot” turtles, they can become quite bold and domineering turtles for their small size, which do well as pets in captivity overall.