Fully aquatic turtles?

[Peacockbass]

Does anyone know of any fully aquatic turtles that don't get big

 

[bshenanagins]

Does anyone know of any fully aquatic turtles that don't get big

There aren't technically any fully aquatic turtles. Some may spend more time in the water than others and hardly bask, but all of the eventually need to spend some amount of time on dry land. Mud/musk turtles stay pretty small, as well as Maps, Painteds, and the Spotted turtle. Your best bet is to also go for a male, they are typically the smallest of most turtle species. What size tank are we talking here? Any why are you against semi aquatic? It's not that difficult to setup a basking area if you'd like some advice? I've had an RES for 7 years.

 

[Peacockbass]

There aren't technically any fully aquatic turtles. Some may spend more time in the water than others and hardly bask, but all of the eventually need to spend some amount of time on dry land. Mud/musk turtles stay pretty small, as well as Maps, Painteds, and the Spotted turtle. Your best bet is to also go for a male, they are typically the smallest of most turtle species. What size tank are we talking here? Any why are you against semi aquatic? It's not that difficult to setup a basking area if you'd like some advice? I've had an RES for 7 years.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Mogurako]

I fail to see how this is cichlid related but the only one I know of is a Fly River Turtle,

 

[Freakgecko91]

I fail to see how this is cichlid related but the only one I know of is a Fly River Turtle,

And if I'm not mistaken, those get huge

 

[Mogurako]

And if I'm not mistaken, those get huge

20-24" carapace if I remember correctly, never said they stayed small lol! Just the only fully aquatic one I know of.

Mini musk are pretty close to fully aquatic, they do come out every so often though.

 

[Freakgecko91]

If this is for your ten gallon, than no turtle at all

 

[bshenanagins]

There are no turtles I am aware of that never see land. Even a sea turtle comes up to the beach to lay eggs. A turtle needs to come out of the water and dry off at some point, someone feel free to correct me. I know I'm not the only turtle enthusiast on here lol

 

[Oohitsae]

Mata Mata? They should have an area where they can rest at the surface, but don't have to come completely out of it. Also, they can't eat large fish whole, only what will fit in their mouths from what I've been told from a friend about them. All depends on your tank size, but it's probably the best option.

 

[Freakgecko91]

Mata Mata? They should have an area where they can rest at the surface, but don't have to come completely out of it. Also, they can't eat large fish whole, only what will fit in their mouths from what I've been told from a friend about them. All depends on your tank size, but it's probably the best option.

They're also at minimum of $350 not a cheap turtle by any means

 

[Oohitsae]

They're also at minimum of $350 not a cheap turtle by any means

Very true, but it is an option if the OP wanted to spend that kind of money lol

 

[Freakgecko91]

Very true, but it is an option if the OP wanted to spend that kind of money lol

Also they get very large, the same size as the Fly River if I remember correctly

 

[Andrew McFadden]

I have a stinkpot musk turtle and they pretty much never leave the water. It is one of the turtle along with its cousin (that I don't remember their name ) that can stay under the water for months without getting air. As long as water conditions and stress levels are low. They almost never bask, I only see mine get out of the water partially once every couple months.

There was actually a research lab that was studying the tongue of it and found these things on it. They always wondered how they can stay under water longer then all other turtles and that's how they found out. I'll have to dig that research back out - I found it on Google.

Edit


"Common musk turtles have special abilities

One type of turtle possesses an extraordinary organ that allows it to breathe underwater and stay submerged for many months.

The common musk turtle has a tiny tongue lined with specialised buds, scientists have discovered.
Rather than use this tongue for eating, the turtles use it to exchange oxygen, solving a mystery of how these reptiles can remain submerged for so long.

Details are published in journal The Anatomical Record.

"I was very surprised, I really didn't expect that," says zoologist Egon Heiss, who is studying for his PhD at the University
of Vienna in Austria.

Mr Heiss and colleagues made the discovery while studying the feeding habits of the common musk turtle (Sternotherus
odoratus), a freshwater species that inhabits lakes and rivers in southern Canada and the eastern US.

Adults spend most of their lives underwater, but juveniles occasionally come onto land to search for food.

While filming these juveniles trying to feed, the researchers noticed something unusual: when the animals found food,
they could only eat it after dragging it back into the water.Out of land, they struggled to swallow their prey.A closer examination of the turtle's tongue revealed why.The common musk turtle has a weak and tiny tongue covered with and surrounded by specialised bud-like cells called papillae.
Further tests revealed that the turtle uses these cells around its tongue to breathe, by drawing in oxygen from water that passes over them.

"We knew that an organ for aquatic respiration must be present somewhere but finally discovered it accidentally," says Mr Heiss

Copied from
http://carnivoraforum.com/topic/9333490/1/

 

[bshenanagins]

Good article, musks are cool little turtles. But I still stand with a turtle needs to reach dry land at some point, even if it is once in a blue moon

 

[TurtleMan777]

mud/musk turtles or maps are smallest if you want small ones dont get sliders