Kinds of Water Turtles

Basics

• In the turtle world, there are two predominant types that many people recognize. There are land turtles, like box turtles or tortoises, and then there are aquatic, or water turtles. The difference is pretty obvious: Land turtles are drier, with longer legs and taller shells, making them better equipped for traversing over dry land. Water turtles are natural swimmers, who spend most of their lives in aquatic environments, making occasional forays onto land to bask in the sun or hunt for food. Though their mechanics and environments are similar, there are many different types of popular aquatic turtles.

Painted Turtles

• Not only are they among the most popular pet turtles in the world, they're also extremely beautiful. With striations ranging from red, yellow to even peach depending on the species, these turtles have made their way into homes across the country. With their shells growing about 8 inches on average, they're adequately sized and require an aquarium of at least 30 gallons and are very often found in garden ponds. Omnivorous by nature, they enjoy a diet of worms, fish and occasional lettuce. There are four species of painted turtles, all of which are common to pet shops: The Western, Eastern, Midland, and Southern painted turtles.

Red-Eared Sliders

• Another very common, very popular turtle is the red-eared slider, which are found all throughout the United States, from Virginia to Florida, to even parts of the Midwest. They're very similar in size to painted turtles, and, at first glance, their colorations can be similar. Red-ear shells can be gray or green, and have occasional yellow spots. Generally, there are yellow stripes going down its legs and the side of its head. One characteristic that is universal to all red-ears is, obviously, their ears. There are distinctive red markings on both sides of their heads, running down from their eyes, giving the turtles their unique name.

Side-Necked Turtles

• African side-necked turtles are slightly less common than red-ears or painted turtles. They're known for their distinctive flat noses and longer necks than other turtles. Their coloration is much blander than that of other turtles, and they are usually only found in dark black or dark shades of gray. They, like the aforementioned turtles, are omnivorous and will gladly accept fish, worms, crickets and plant matter. From a personality standpoint, they're generally shyer than many other common pet species, and acclimation may take more time.

Soft-Shelled Turtles

• Spiny soft-shelled turtles are a peculiar species, and easily among the most physically unique of all turtles. Their shells are relatively flat and thin, allowing the animals to burrow in sands at the bottom of rivers and streams. Their heads are also unique in that they're round with a pointy, tapered, pig-like nose. Almost all soft-shells come in an olive color, and their cute appearance belies their eventual aggression. Though incredibly interesting to look at, soft-shells are not fond of being handled and spend most of their time buried in the sand or gravel. They're also carnivorous and will not readily accept plant matter.