Species of turtles

Before buying a turtle you'll need to know the various species to get the perfect turtle for you. You will need to purchase only a protected species and will need to obtain a paper stating the species and name of the turtle. Below I have listed the species and descriptions of each.

Land Turtles (Tortoises)

These turtles originated in the Balkan countries and in Greece and are found in the south of Italy. There is also a sub-species of this turtle known as the Testudo hermanni robertmertensi.

Hermann's Tortoises will reach a length of up to eight inches, they love caves, lots of sun with some shade and will thrive in a semiarid area with shrubs and rocks in which to hide. If the weather permits you can leave them outdoors in an enclosed area or you might keep one in your Terrarium. To care for them you will need an area with temperatures from sixty five degrees to eighty degrees during the day. The diet needs to consist of hay, greens, grass and leaves and lots of water. They love to dig, climb and will hibernate.

Horsfield's Tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii)-

Originated from Pakistan to Iran and in deserts and mountain areas. The size will be about eight inches. They seem to thrive in areas with dry, sandy and loamy soil and love caves. They will need sixty five degrees at night to seventy nine degrees in the day and if the temperature permits they can be outdoors in an enclosed area or kept in a Terrarium. They love to dig, climb and will hibernate. Their diet consists of hay, greens, grass and leaves. In the summer this turtle may be a little slow on activity for about five weeks.

Bell's Hinged-Backed Tortoise (Kinixys bellians)-

Originated in Madagascar and Africa and will grow to about eight inches. This turtle likes sandy, dry and gravelly soil and are very active during the day. Almost all of these turtles will not hibernate, love fruit, greens and grasses. The Carapace on this turtle is jointed, allowing the tail end of the shell to close. You can have this turtle outdoors in an enclosed area if the air temperature is from sixty eight degrees to eighty six degrees, and can also live in a Terrarium.

Mediterranean Spur-Thighed Tortoise- (Testudo graeca)-

Originated in Libya Morocco, Iran, Egypt and in Southern Europe. This turtle will grow beyond twelve inches, loves caves and rocky areas, loves to climb and dig especially during the day and will hibernate. The temperature should be from sixty five degrees to eighty degrees, can live in an outdoor enclosure or in a Terrarium. The diet should be hay, greens, leaves and grass.

Margined Spur-Thighed Tortoise (Testudo marginata)-

Originated in Greece, grows to twelve inches, likes shrubs and grass and sun, also likes to climb and to dig. Temperature should be from sixty five degrees to eighty degrees at night, can be in an outdoor enclosure or a Terrarium. The diet consists of hay, green, grass and leaves and it will hibernate.

Home's Hinged-Backed Tortoise (Kinixys homeana)-

Originated in West Africa, grows to eight inches, thrives in soil consisting of humus and leaves, and loves a tropical rain area. It should be kept in a Terrarium with the humidity over seventy percent, seventy five degrees to eighty seven degrees during the day. The diet should be fruit, greens and grasses and it will not hibernate. The Carapace is joined, allowing tail end of shell to close.

Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata)-

Originated by the Mississippi River in the United States, grows to six inches long, hides in caves, likes grasses, sandy soil with brush. It is active early in the morning and at twilight, stays in caves during the day. Temperature should be from sixty five degrees to eighty three degrees, can be kept in an outdoor enclosure or in a Terrarium. The diet consists of mushrooms, greens, locusts, crickets and grasshoppers, and will hibernate. The turtle can almost completely close its shell due to a hinged plastron.

Serrated Hinge-Backed Tortoise (Kinixys erosa)-

Originated in Africa, grows to twelve inches, likes rich humus soil and rain forests, loves fruit, greens and grasses and will not hibernate.

Temperature should be from seventy five degrees to eighty seven degrees and will live in a Terrarium that has humidity over seventy percent.

Red-Footed Tortoise (Geochelone carbonaia)-

Originated in South America in the tropics, will grow to twenty inches, lives in humus, leaves, and rich soil, eats fruit, greens and grasses and will not hibernate. It will live in a Terrarium that has humidity over seventy percent, with temperatures of eighty seven five degrees to seventy five degrees.

Freshwater Turtles-

North American Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta)-

Originated in Canada and the United States, males grow to five inches and females to nine inches. They love to live in bogs, near rivers, streams and marshes, eat fruit, berries, beetles, worms, and snails and will hibernate either under the water or will burrow under soil to hibernate. Temperatures should be from sixty five degrees to eighty degrees, can be kept outdoors in an enclosure, or in a Terrarium. These turtles climb a lot and will need to be enclosed so that they cannot climb over tops and get out.

Common musk Turtle (Stinkpot)(Sternotherus odoratus)-

Originated in the United States and Canada, grow to six inches, live in vegetation, and still water. They need either a garden pond or an Aquaterrarium and need temperature from sixty degrees to eighty degrees. They are carnivorous in their diet and hibernation depends on their origin.

Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)-

Originated in the United States along the Mississippi River, grow to ten inches, thrive in vegetation and still water, the adults are herbivorous and the younger turtle are carnivorous plus they will hibernate. They should be kept in either a garden pond or an aquarium with temperatures from seventy nine degrees to ninety degrees.

Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guattata)-

Originated in the United States, grow to five inches, live in slow rivers, marshy ponds, can live in an outdoor enclosure or Aquarium. Temperature should be from seventy two degrees to eighty one degrees. These turtles are carnivorous and will hibernate.

Reeves' Turtle (Chinemys reevesii)-

Originated in China, Japan and Indonesia, grow to seven inches, like calm water, are carnivorous and will not hibernate. They can be kept in either a garden pond or an aquarium, and the temperature needs to be from seventy five degrees to eighty two degrees.

Malayan Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis)-

Originated in Asia, grows to eight inches, like to stay on land near ponds with very shallow shores, are poor swimmers, are omnivorous and will not hibernate. Can be kept in an aquaterrarium with climbing facilities, temperature should be from seventy five to eighty six degrees.

Mississippi Map Turtle (Psuedogeographica kohnii)-

Originated in the United States, grow to ten inches, like ponds with vegetation, insects and fish, some will hibernate. Their diet is insects, crustaceans, worms, snails, mollusks and they are insectivorous/carnivorous.

Black Marsh Turtle (Siebenrockiella crassicollis)-

Originated in Asia, grow to eight inches, like steams, and by water, are Omnivorous and will not hibernate. They can live in an aquarium with facilities for climbing.

Spiny Soft-Shell (Trionyx spiniferus)-

Originated in Africa, males grow to six inches, females to eighteen inches, like lakes, and water, eat meat and some will hibernate. This turtle can be kept in an aquarium, temperatures need to be from seventy one degrees to eighty one degrees.

Painted Turtle (Chrysemis picta)-

Originated along the Mississippi River, will grow to twenty inches, like vegetation around water, are omnivorous, and most will hibernate. They can live in an aquarium or garden pond and need temperatures from sixty eight degrees to seventy seven degrees.

Keeled Box Turtle (Pyxideu mouhoti)-

Originated in tropical rain areas, grow to seven inches, are omnivorous, will not hibernate. They can be kept in an aquaterrarium with temperatures from seventy three degrees to seventy seven degrees at night.

Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinostermon subrubum)-

Originated along the Mississippi River, grow to five inches, live along slopping banks, are mostly carnivorous, and some will hibernate. They can live in a garden pond or aquaterrarium, need temperatures from seventy three degrees to eighty two degrees.