Pet Turtles for Kids

Kids can learn a great deal about reptiles and pet care in general from taking care of a turtle. While turtles are bad pets for very young children, older children who have adult supervision can easily care for a turtle. Choosing the right turtle for your child depends on a number of different factors and should be approached thoughtfully.

  1. Red Ear Sliders

    • Red ear sliders, which is often abbreviated to RES, are the turtles most commonly kept as pets in the U.S. The females can grow to about a 12 inches long, and the males are usually a few inches shorter. They are omnivorous turtles and in addition to a normal diet of lettuce and vegetables, they will also enjoy live goldfish and dried tubifex worms. This species is usually docile and takes well to handling.

    Cooter Turtles

    • Female cooter turtles can grow as long as 15 inches, while the males are slightly smaller. Like the red ear sliders, cooters are usually very docile and can be handled easily. This turtle species requires a large amount of space per turtle and should be kept outside. While they are technically omnivorous, they prefer a diet that is largely vegetative.

    Musk Turtles

    • Musk turtles eat mostly meat and both males and females top out in size at around 6 inches. These turtles are easy to care for, but it is worth noting that they will exude a foul odor when they are frightened or aggravated. Musk turtles are fairly active, aquatic turtles, and it is recommended that they are kept solitary, as fighting musk turtles can bite each other's legs off.

    Box Turtles

    • Box turtles live on land and are easily recognized by their high-domed shells. They are omnivorous, and they are hardy pets. Both males and females will grow to be about 6-inches long. These are turtles that are ideally kept outside in a large enclosure, and this might make them unsuitable for city dwellers. They do very well in a shaded outdoor pen. During the winter, these turtles need a smaller enclosure with a dirt floor so that they can create a small burrow where they can hibernate.