Which Types of Turtles Can Be Pets?

People frequently capture or purchase turtles and keep them as pets. Many different types of turtles make good pets, according to the Reptile Channel website. They are easy to care for and require little special equipment.

  1. Box Turtles

    • The box turtle, so named since it has a hinge on its bottom shell that allows the animal to stay safely enclosed from danger, makes a good pet. This turtle requires a larger area than many species to live in, with outdoor pens the optimum scenario.

    Warning

    • The musk turtle, a small turtle from the eastern part of the United States, will emit a terrible smelling odor if alarmed but in captivity, it typically stops doing this. It has the ability to turn its head and neck far enough around to nip people holding their shells, so care handling them is prudent.

    Map Turtles

    • Map turtles need a very clean environment because the species tends to develop a bacterial problem that affects its shell. These turtles, as do most others, need a source of warmth to bask in for part of the year.

    Red-eared Slider

    • The most popular turtle species kept as a pet is the red-eared slider. This 8- to 10-inch long turtle eats just about anything, and if its owner changes the water constantly, it can live in an unfiltered aquarium.

    Types

    • Other types of pet turtles are painted turtles, yellow-bellied sliders, bog turtles, spotted turtles and snapping turtles.