The truth about aquatic turtles

The small adult size of the Reeve's Turtle (Chinemys reevesii) makes it more suitable as a pet than most species.

• Semi-aquatic setups can be created housing frogs, salamanders, invertebrates and even fish. These are attractive and interesting displays but are much easier to care for than turtles.
• If you really like turtles, consider a box turtle or small species of tortoise instead. They may still require a large setup, but not needing to filter and clean a large volume of water can make maintenance much simpler.
• If it needs to be an aquatic turtle, there are some smaller species available on occasion. The initial expense is usually greater, but this is saved in setup costs and frustration down the road.
• Consider adopting a mature turtle. We recommend going to the Little Res Q for both good advice and available turtles.
• If getting a common aquatic turtle species, give some serious thought to housing it as an adult. Talk to the folks at Cayuga Pets about your options and decide what route you would like to take. Aquatic turtles are fantastic pets if you are willing to take the time to learn about their proper care and commit to the time and money involved.