Ahh! turtles! help! please!?

Question

okay. well i live in new jersey, and i need a turtle as a pet. i want one that will stay small, and will be able to live in a small tank, if anyone can give me information, without any remarks please,that would be great! thanks!! (:

Answer 1

Am I a "remark?"  If so, just ignore this.

Again... what size tank?  How much space do you have for an adult turtle?

As for "if anyone can give me information, without any remarks please,that would be great! thanks!!"

The smallest adult you will find is 5-6", and it will take room.

You can peek out box turtles, or leaf turtles, or mud and musk turtles, or maybe a Star tortoise... if you have to work under 100 gal.

Here's no remarks - here's facts and some sites:

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/ca...

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/PDFS/Ps...

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/ca...

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/Ca...

http://www.bnl.gov/esd/reserve/turtles.h...

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/Creeves...

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com

http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Turtles,%20R...

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/tkleinm...

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

I don't know what kind of space you can provide.

I have no wish to be a "remark," only desire to help you get an animal you CAN do.

Good luck.

***ADD easy rule of thumb for the water guys is 10 gal. of water per inch of adult shell length per turtle.  So, figure how much room you'll need for an adult.

Again, good luck, and enjoy your pet.

Answer 2

It is illegal to sell or buy any turtle any size in New Jersey. If you are really intent on getting one (as it is not illegal to keep one acquired through other means as a pet), New York may sell some, but the most common ones available are Red Eared Sliders, and they can get BIG and require a LOT of space and care.

Think about it carefully; you don't really "need" a turtle as a pet.

Good luck! =)

Answer 3

I sent you an email containing all the info you need on Russian Tortoises : )  Well actually 2 emails; I couldn't fit it in one. Did you receive them yet?

Answer 4

i live in jersey, but i could've sworn it was illegal to have a turtle as a pet. I'm not sure, but if you go to Petco or Petsmart

they may have some.

Answer 5

The smallest are mud and musk turtles.  They grow up to 5 inches long and need at least a 40 gallon tank.  That's about the smallest size tank you would need for a turtle that size.  

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/

Answer 6

t ever you decide to put in a small tank will get big and start to smell and then your parents will make you get rid of it..

This is what you should start with and nothing less. I know I got my girls 36 yrs ago !!!

Did you know that they need to bask under a reptile light UVA for 8 to 10 hrs a day for the vitamin D that they need to grow. So that means getting a turtle dock also.

Leave the heater on 75 to 78 degrees always.

Their water needs to be clean otherwise they get sick easily from dirty water cause they p**p allot.

You need a good filter system! Gravel larger than they can swallow.

You need to feed them feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows for protein and calcium daily drop 20 or so in the tanks and watch them disappear! This way when they swim for their dinner they get exercise also!

They need leafy greens( Romaine, Butter lettuce. Iceberg and cabbage are bad for them, any leafy greens will do) for vitamin A that they need at least 3 to 4 times a week.

You probably already know that they get sick easily, shell rot, respiratory sickness, lopsided swimming, coughing,blowing bubbles

Walmart sells a 55 gallon tank with hood, light and decent filter for $153.00. You would need to buy some extra stuff, but that is a cheap tank set up with a good filter. You still need the rep light and large enough gravel they can’t swallow., and a dock…and fish and rep food.

I have used kiddy pools and plastic pond liners from most nurseries..

Remember...that if the turtles water gets icky they will get sick very easy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035692@N0...