What Kind of Turtles Stay Small?

While most turtles start very small and grow larger during their lifetimes, there are a few kinds that remain small (up to about 6 inches long). People often purchase a small turtle at a pet store only to find that it eventually grows to be rather large. Those who wish to purchase a turtle to keep as a pet may want to choose one of the smaller breeds. The following is a list of turtles that stay small throughout their lifetimes.

  1. Reeves Turtle

    • The male Reeves or coin turtle, which comes from southern China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan, grows to be about 4 to 5 inches long, on average. Females tend to be larger. They can be brown, gray or spotted and usually have yellow lines along the neck. As babies, they spend most of their time in the water but spend more and more time on land as they grow. They can eat smelt, small snails, worms and some kinds of fish food.

    Diamondback Terrapin

    • Diamondback terrapins grow to be about 4 to 6 inches long. It is only the males that stay this size; the females can grow up to 9 inches long. The diamondback terrapin, found throughout North America, is known for the diamond-shaped lines on its shell. They eat snails, crabs, fish, worms and plant material.

    Musk Turtles

    • The musk turtle, also called the "stinkpot" because of its distinct odor, only grows to be 3 to 4 inches long. Found throughout North America, musk turtles are identified by the yellow or beige lines along the sides of their faces. They can be easily kept in an aquarium filled mostly with shallow, still water. They feed mostly on snails, aquatic insects, fish eggs, worms, leeches, algae and aquatic plants.