Care information: Baby water turtles care.
Rather frequently, someone will buy a small green turtle under the impression that it will stay that small. Usually this happens to unsuspecting animal lovers who see these little sweet turtles for sale. They then ask how big it will get, and they are told that it won't grow, or that it will stay small. They ask how to take care of the turtle, and are told to just put it in a water dish and feed it hamburger or lettuce or fish flakes, or some low-quality pellets made from ground up insects.
Soon after, this new and inexperienced turtle owner finds out that the turtle won't eat, that it is sick, or that it is growing at an unexpected rate. This is, when the learning starts.
I am sorry you got tricked into getting a pet that turned out not to be what you thought you bought. If you have the means to provide for your baby turtle, I would encourage you to do so. What seems like an overwhelming task at first will become quite straightforward
once you have a proper setup and a bit of practice.
This is also the place to compliment all those people who decide to keep their turtle and give it the home it needs, which is usually an overwhelming and task and an unexpected expense.
Chances are that you are reading this page because you are one of these people.
Here are a few facts I would like you to know:
Check out the Care Sheets for more information, in particular the Baby water turtles care.
I often get asked whether there are any turtles that stay small. The following turtles don't grow big and are readily available in the United States.
MALE Reeves turtles, spotted turtles (not legal to keep everywhere), Diamond back terrapins, and musk turtles all USUALLY stay smaller than 5 inches. Of these, I would recommend a musk turtle, if you are new to turtles. Musk turtles are available through the pet trade. Males usually stay smaller than females. Musk turtles are hardy and make good pets.
Check out the Water Turtle Care Sheets and this Musk turtle Care Sheet by the Tortoise Trust.
So-called mini-turtles grow into 10-inch sliders!
ⓒ Aleks Haecky (CC BY-NC-SA)
Baby red-eared slider turtles.
ⓒ Aleks Haecky (CC BY-NC-SA)
Recommended care book: