Best Pet Turtle Breeds: Ranking the Most Docile Turtles

Generally, common and docile pet turtle breeds that are easy to care for include the Red-Eared Slider (often called Brazilian Turtle), Chinese Pond Turtle, Painted Turtle, and Three-striped Box Turtle. Different turtle species have different habits, so it's important to pay attention when keeping them, choose appropriate food, and regularly change the water and provide basking opportunities.

Ranking of Docile and Easy-to-Care-For Pet Turtle Breeds

1. Red-Eared Slider (Brazilian Turtle)

The Red-Eared Slider is arguably one of the easiest turtles to keep. Scientifically known as Trachemys scripta elegans, it gets its common name from the red patches behind its eyes. This turtle has a moderate size and a strong ability to adapt to different environments, preferring warmer conditions, and are sensitive to cold. As an omnivore, it has a preference for meat.

2. Three-striped Box Turtle

The Three-striped Box Turtle (Cuora trifasciata) is mainly found in the southern coastal regions of China. It has a slender head with a smooth top, a reddish-brown carapace with three black stripes, and a black plastron. It tends to hide in dark places during hot weather and basks in the sun during other times. Its temperament is generally gentle, and they rarely bite people or attack other turtles of their own kind.

3. Chinese Pond Turtle

The commonly referred-to "turtle" usually refers to the Chinese Pond Turtle (Mauremys reevesii), also known as the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle or Reeve's turtle. It's a semi-aquatic turtle, commonly seen in various bodies of water. It usually hides in the water during the day and has a gentle temperament. When encountering danger, it retracts its limbs and head into its shell. It has a slow growth rate but is very resilient to hunger.

4. Painted Turtle

Painted turtles originate from North America. Their carapace features red, flame-like patterns. They have good cold and heat tolerance and do not have high demands for their living environment. These turtles are carnivores when young and have a more herbivorous diet when they are adults. They can be fed things like pork, innards, and fish and shrimp.Explore more:Pet Knowledge