| Pet turtles are commonly referred to as 'terrapins' in | | | | States) is also known as a tortoise in the UK and |
| the United Kingdom and include all kinds of turtles. | | | | Australia. |
| However, there are some terrapins that are specific | | | | The red-eared slider is a semi-aquatic reptile which |
| to a certain kind of environment, such as the | | | | means it needs both land and water masses to be |
| diamondback terrapin which lives in and near brackish | | | | comfortable and healthy. Similarly, the painted terrapin |
| water. | | | | is also semi-aquatic and both types of turtles need |
| Terrapin, in the rest of the world, also refers | | | | warm temperatures to thrive in as well as a lot of |
| generally to a kind of turtle that lives exclusively in | | | | natural, unfiltered sunlight daily for shell-health. |
| fresh water. Terrapins are usually more similar to sea | | | | The box turtle or tortoise, on the other hand, is a |
| turtles with their webbed feet and thinner shells than | | | | purely land-based reptile and does not need water |
| to other kinds of turtles. | | | | except to drink occasionally. The box turtle does, |
| But depending on which country you're in, like the UK | | | | however, require much greater care while handling |
| for instance, if terrapin refers to pet turtle than there | | | | than the other species and it is not recommended as |
| are many different kinds you're likely to hear about. | | | | a pet for small children. |
| A quick overview of each type should give you | | | | It generally isn't recommended as a pet because box |
| some idea of what kind of care it would require as a | | | | turtles must live around the area they were born in. |
| pet. As far as sea turtles are concerned it's generally | | | | So if you don't breed turtles and it wasn't born in |
| not easy or cost-effective to keep as pets and | | | | your garden, don't make it live there. |
| seeing as many are endangered you probably | | | | However, if you do get your hands on one then |
| wouldn't be allowed to anyway. But the box turtle is | | | | make sure it has an outdoor (and very safe!) |
| yours for the taking. | | | | enclosure as these chelonian critters need plenty of |
| As is the red-eared slider, the yellow bellied terrapin | | | | sunlight. |
| and the painted terrapin. (The yellow bellied is simply | | | | Apart from that, do some basic research on the kind |
| a painted terrapin with a yellow plastron.) The | | | | of pet you want and the kind of habitat and care |
| red-eared slider is also known as the Chinese terrapin | | | | you can provide for it and, well, you're set to own a |
| in some locales and the box turtle (in the United | | | | pet! |