5 Recommended Easy-to-Keep and Inexpensive Beginner Turtle Species, a Must-Read for Newbies!

For beginners who have never kept turtles, choosing an inexpensive and easy-to-keep species is key to starting the journey of turtle husbandry. Considering factors such as the turtle’s constitution, disease resistance, diet, and price, the following species are worth special attention.

Common Musk Turtle (Stinkpot)

As the top-tier of beginner musk and mud turtles, the Common Musk Turtle is a prime example of a beginner-friendly species. It has a small adult size of only 8 to 12 cm, so it won’t take up too much space.

The Common Musk Turtle is highly aquatic, has low requirements for water quality, is easy to care for, and is not prone to illness. It can also be kept in deep water aquariums, is highly interactive, and does not require water heating.

The reason it’s called the “Musk Turtle” is that when it encounters danger, its body has musk glands that release a musk-like scent to repel enemies. This odor is foul and unpleasant, hence the name.

Note: A perfect specimen hatchling costs around 60 to 100 RMB.

Chinese Pond Turtle (“Smiling Turtle”)

Chinese Pond Turtles can be divided into Nanshi, Daqing, Xiaoqing, and Yaeyama varieties. The most common on the market now are Nanshi and Xiaoqing, with Xiaoqing having the best appearance. It is a native Chinese turtle species. Its size is not large, with an adult size of 15-21 cm. It is visually appealing, relatively hardy, and can hibernate. At their peak, a single hatchling cost seven to eight hundred RMB, but now you can buy one for 20 RMB, making it a great time to buy at a rock-bottom price.

Note: They are rather timid and shy around people, and are relatively sensitive to water quality.

Snapping Turtles (Florida, Hybrids, or Common Snappers)

The recommended species is the Common Snapping Turtle; it is the most common and largest species of snapping turtle, with an adult carapace length of 40-50 cm. It was introduced from the United States in the late 1990s as a meat turtle. It is inexpensive, costing a little over ten RMB per jin (500g). Its ornamental value lies in its unique aesthetic of power, a visual impact stemming from its size and strength that other subspecies can hardly match.

Note: They have very vigorous activity levels and appetites, and do not have high environmental requirements. They are a species that becomes more visually interesting as they grow, but they are highly aggressive.

Yellow-bellied Slider (Can be kept in deep water)

The scientific name for the Yellow-bellied Slider is *Trachemys scripta scripta*, and it’s like a little cousin to the Red-eared Slider. The most direct difference from the Red-eared Slider is its ear and cheek patches. Its carapace looks like it’s wearing a camouflage uniform, which is very attractive. It is highly interactive, can be kept in cold water, is cold-hardy, highly adaptable, and inexpensive—you can get one for a little over ten RMB.

Note: It grows rapidly, reaching an adult size of around 30 cm. Its colors will gradually fade with age, and melanism becomes more apparent, so the adult’s appearance is average.

Friendly reminder: For complete beginners with no keeping experience, it is recommended to prioritize individuals over 5 centimeters in size rather than hatchlings. This will greatly increase your confidence and satisfaction in keeping them. At the same time, no matter which turtle you choose, pay attention to its living habits and provide a suitable aquatic environment and food to make your turtle-keeping journey smoother. Like and follow for more!～