Smallest Turtles and Tortoises in the World

Did you know that some of the world's turtle and tortoise species will only grow to roughly 3 inches? Many in herpetoculture are shocked by this because they are so used to the big, brawny red eared sliders and sulcata tortoises. In this video we explore some tiny turtles including spotted, mud, musk and map turtles, Egyptian, western Hermann's, Star and Greek tortoises and even a true dwarf turtle! Learn how to identify them, where they live and some tips on housing them.
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Who is Garden State Tortoise?
However you made it here, thank you and welcome to Garden State Tortoise. Garden State Tortoise is home to hundreds of animals from all around the world. We are a family dedicated to adventure, conservation of wildlife, and all things nature. We are a reptile rescue and breeding facility for more than ten years, offering refuge to those who need it, and working everyday to protect the beautiful world of reptiles in any way we can. Here on our KZbin channel you will be able to join us on our animal adventures while learning how to care for, protect, properly identify, feed and even breed many species of turtle, tortoise, snake and lizard. We even work with frogs and salamanders! We hope you enjoy our videos and help us share them with the world so we can continue to educate people of all ages about herpetology.
Chris and Casey Leone

[@dshobe720]

Wish the law on shell length wouldn't have been passed then maybe we would have had these native small turtles being kept well instead of red ear sliders being kept poorly. Great information.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

The law has a lot of gray area in which case you absolutely can get these species so long as the source isn’t offering them as pets. Thanks so much for watching.

[@LifeMoreColorful]

The issue with the map turtle in particular is that only the male is so small-about 6” at maturity versus about 12” for the female. So many of the males were taken from the wild that the entire population was threatened.

[@johnkilpatrick4463]

Amen here in Maryland I used to catch wood turtles musk turtles n box now gone barely a box turtle n I look every year supposedly the spotted turtles are native here as well but I've never had the privilege of seeing sad 😔

[@dshobe720]

@@johnkilpatrick4463 I was traveling for work through southern Virginia and got to help 3 female spotted turtles cross the rural highway it was awesome!

[@davidvento5481]

@@GardenStateTortoise I’ve often wondered if you had Bog Turtles (Glyptemys Muhlenbergii) in your extensive collection. I’ve seen every other species endemic to the northeast (NY, NJ, PA) region except the Bog, and I’ve looked in areas considered prime habitat... for over 50 years! The only place I’ve ever seen live specimens is at the Stony Brook Lab & Fish Hatchery on Long Island, NY. They have several pair in a breeding program and I’ve also seen tiny hatchlings there as well. They remind me of mico-mini Northern Wood Turtles; similar sculpted brown shell with reddish-orange or yellowish on their necks. I was fortunate enough to work with Dr Russell Burke (Hofstra U) in a Diamondback Terrapin field study in Jamaica Bay, NY. He showed me the breeding pairs at the Stony Brook Lab which are not on public display.

[@turtlekeepingwithdrewandlu6990]

Extremely concise and thorough video. Everyone looks like they're enjoying the warmer weather. It was also a treat to see the little Nanus. There is not enough information on them and they truly are fascinating creatures.

[@christophermichael.w.7577]

I would like to see more of the smaller species available because I see so many baby sulcatas being sold to people who have no idea how big they will get and I know that most people just don't have the ability to care for such a large tortoise.

[@moonstonepearl21]

You can really see the individual personalities come out with a video like this. You see who's shy and doesn't want to come out of their shell, who's cautiously coming out a bit, and who is really outgoing and adventurous. I love the up-close shots of their faces. You can see the wisdom in their eyes. The shells on some of them really make them look like dinosaurs!

[@BooneeXCdad]

One of your best videos. Hoping you will do a tour of the Aquasscape ponds as they wake up. Flowers look beautiful.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thanks Eric!

[@Mist3rChing]

This is an immaculate and fantastic video for those who are just getting started with having a reptile and has been fascinated with having a turtle and tortoise. When I first started, I had to watch tons of videos about tortoises before eventually deciding on having a greek and a russian tortoise. If I had this video when I first started, I doubt I would have gotten the same breed. On the other hand, wouldn’t change my beloved Sachi and Jaggy for anything else with the way I brought them up

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you so much for that 🙏🏻

[@tamarrajames3590]

What beautiful precious gems these little ones are.🖤🇨🇦

[@toadranchcages]

Great video!! Love these smaller species! ❤️🐢

[@GardenStateTortoise]

❤️👍🏻🐢🐢🐢🐢👊🏻

[@piyushg1238]

Very educative video love from India ❤️🇮🇳

[@Demonslayerjjk]

The reptiles are so cute 🥹

[@GardenStateTortoise]

☺️

[@alliseuss1555]

All such beautiful, adorable species. Can't wait until I get my own little "nugget" later this year.

[@embracenreborns6997]

Awesome video and very informative for people with limited space but love these reptiles. Thanks so much for sharing 👀💚🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

[@westonjako]

You have some of the best videos man! Y’all are crushing it. Making me want a small torty species to add to the farm

[@robertbakerii5469]

Great video as usual.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you!

[@torquess454]

My first love were amphibians, all kinds, but knowing more about other reptiles and turtles/tortoises, have brightened my life, I adore them all now, if I can find them here in Canada, I think my first turtle/tortoise will be a black breasted leaf turtle, they’re absolutely adorable and don’t get big

[@SelinaMattocks-uv6yj]

Im a new subscriber and im making my way through all your videos. Im loving them so much and im learning so much from you guys and i love that your whole family is involved. There is so much to learn about these beautiful turtles and torts. I ❤ your family

[@davisbenn2179]

Been off KZbin for awhile but your guys videos have really improved greatly since the last time I watched!

[@killertrip10]

Love your teams content! Thank you for all the fun informative videos!

[@randikinton7018]

Great video about the little turtles and tortoises. Love your channel and Otis.

[@wigglesnail3803]

When you hear the intro music and expect Matt from WTF1 to come up xD Love your videos and your turtles :D

[@mcfrisko834]

6:51 For future reference in Louisiana we pronounce Ouachita like this (Wash-it-taw) 😂 It can be tricky lol I know

[@dorothyvarga6251]

Great video! I always love how informative they are.🐢

[@DigitalDuelist]

Trim that intro. I though the whole video was that and almost left 🤣

[@kimcrawford5247]

i love your reptile room...great video! Very informative video! thank you

[@Trellemania]

You are always such an inspiration!

[@mrpeddlethesealion]

i always wanted to adopt turtles that people dont want and make raise them in a new home

[@GardenStateTortoise]

👍🏻

[@DSheartlady]

very interesting nice videos🙂

[@ayanpal1]

Fantastic video! Extremely detailed, perfectly edited, and a sight fore sore eyes, as far as their enclosures are concerned. Thanks for this video!

[@HENRYANESDRUMS777]

Really enjoyed this video, so much knowledge!!

[@williamcozart8158]

As a kid I found a hatching nest of musk turtles, they were like pretty much dthe size of a dime. I kept a couple of them for like a year and then let em go.

[@bryceharper446]

Your videos make me smile

[@carschmn]

Your enclosures are so gorgeous.

[@Nerdfighter416]

Great video! I love my little Russian tortoise, he's small but he has a ton of personality. Little turts are the best! 💚🐢

[@LidiaRandomLife]

Very educational thanks for sharing 💚 🐢

[@pondparadisedesignsinc.rob5313]

Outstanding video that is some room very impressive you really know your stuff 👍🐢

[@SJ1993Q]

Very informative thanks! I want a turtle similar to the size you’ve shown! ❤👏

[@muhammaddanishkhan2724]

Very nice

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you

[@mike2687]

Speaking on the state restrictions of Spotted Turtles (other species as well)... do you, through your experiences and possible research, believe that the restrictions go too far by not allowing captive bred specimens? Personally, I wholeheartedly agree that wild caught Spotted Turtles should remain wild, however, I wonder about the unintended consequences of not promoting the option of captive breeding practices. Thanks--love your videos and love what you're doing up there!

[@hoosier_turtles_and_tortoises]

I dig that built in tank for the mud turtles. I’m gonna have to copy that idea my friend.

[@helghanmerc2765]

wow very impressed with your video and how you explain things. I own four kwangtung river turtles. I've been working on breeding since they're practically extinct in the wild I subscribed by the way!

[@chetchurchill9524]

Fascinating!

[@jonahs92]

Negev desert tortoises (Testudo werneri) are also very small tortoises, even as small as Egyptian tortoises (their closest relatives)

[@seanpatterson5033]

Great video💯

[@myslime5090]

Oh, I love your videos, so beautiful, everything. I have four tortoise´s friends in my room who say hellooooo! :P

[@drandy.youtubechannel1436]

These turtles are so Cool 👍👍👍

[@loispadgett6306]

Learned so much from your videos keep them coming. Wish I had the space and financials to have a turtle and tortoise rescue maybe someday. GOD BLESS 🐢💖🐢💖🐢💖

[@bluestaralice3276]

For once a good show about turtles. I have a Mississippi Map turtle named Bubba and I just love him. 😊😊😊🐢🐢🐢

[@batissta44]

1:30 these are my second favorite small turtle species after the Black-breasted leaf turtle.

[@mikezags0816]

Great video. Do you bring the Mississippi map in for the winter?

[@davidvento5481]

The three North American Turtle species which will breed and produce hybrids most regularly are Box Turtles, Painted Turtles and (occasionally) Snapping Turtles. Hybrids typically occur where the range of native species share one long contiguous region.

[@kevinpoe8137]

You should do a top 5 or top 10 rarest tortoise species or tortoises that are hard to care for

[@prenudzsims8041]

These videos deserve way more likes.. if ppl weren't so lazy then they wouldn't JUST VIEW IT THEY WOULD HIT THE THUMBS UP VIDEO, KZbin NEEDS TO TAKE THAT OPTION TO JUST VIEW AWAY

[@Kokobelly22]

I wonder how scary it is to have a picture of a predator constantly over you

[@hackattack0154]

I believe it's pronounced WA-SHI-TAW (Ouachita)...great video, love you're in depth content!

[@jesuscruz-xh2jo]

I like them

[@glennusher4160]

They are cute

[@b.b.6875]

The greek in the middle looks like a tunesian tortoise (Testudo graeca nabeulensis). This species stays also small.

[@tracyyarbrough3358]

The African dwarf mud turtles look like they are little utility workers 😂

[@TheSuzyfick]

Hello from Illinois, what are your box turtle favorite foods? I give mine blueberries, cherry tomatoes and night crawlers. Also, can you please make a video of this and how set up and maintain their living environment

[@tusharanand5617]

What is the maximum size of female eastern painted turtle and female Reeves turtle?

[@bryonflaherty5957]

I love my brooks . Even though I really didn’t want it at first . A guy threw it in as part of a trade

[@prevengeix8551]

This week on this old herpatarium.

[@johnkilpatrick4463]

I'm surprised pancakes didn't make the cut

[@prenudzsims8041]

It's not fair at all to these great KZbinrs

[@filmnegari]

I have heard a story here in Ethiopia about a tortoise which can boil bottled water by just being near. If you know or heard about it please make a video. Thank you so much

[@alex.ann_der]

You mean turtle when it lives on water, and tortoise when lives on ground right ? Haha I've always had that doubt, we have the same word for all of them, "tortuga"

[@grimmjow714]

I think you should make the intro longer that's what everyone comes to see

[@Steevee14]

Perhaps you should have mentioned the Homopus genus (if you did and I missed it, I apologize), especially, H. signatus (speckled padloper) from sw Africa - isn't that considered to be the smallest tortoise species in the world?

[@ushanperera6528]

The Indian star variety living in Sri Lanka does grow slightly bigger than the ones in the mainland, perhaps it maybe due to the geographical isolation

[@naeff002]

Hey Chris, i have a adult female nanus that is over 4 inches. Really a huge female.

[@sgtl2655]

Sadly, in Singapore, all tortoises are banned. :(

[@YouCrackedIt]

Where did you get the pelusio nanus?

[@jiamingli1109]

Let it go

[@mediterralien]

I have 2 testudo nabeulensis they're nearly as small as Egyptian tortoises

[@atikaathmeen7989]

❤

[@prenudzsims8041]

OVER 3,000 views yet only 442 likes wtf

[@Cleeon]

Excuse me, please correct me if I'm wrong. All hermanni tortoise are grassland species? And that Egypt tortoise have different habitat, which is from desert?

[@quincyharris710]

Question have a turtle that keep rubbing her eyes trying to find out why she keep doing it

[@cornondanob6722]

please I need to know what that music in the intro is

[@cyntheab91]

Where can I purchase the turtles at?

[@peteanddrake4242]

We had a musk turtle for 14 years before releasing him into a local colony in Georgia. We'd love to get back into mud / musk turtles

[@danyalthompson6190]

Don’t release captive animals into populations they didn’t come from. Even if it’s the same species that’s 14 years of possible exposure to non-native pathogens that got dumped into a wild population

[@peteanddrake4242]

@@danyalthompson6190 I know you mean well, but tell that to the thousands of wildlife scientists who release mature animals back into the wild every year--from birds to primates. You are well intentioned but woefully uninformed.

[@Soapythepopey]

Any tips on reputable tortoise breeders online?

[@shawndickmann8215]

Seems like you never hear anything about N.A. bog turtles. I heard more about them in the 80's, nothing now.

[@tls5669]

One of the painted species males is small also

[@methos19751]

No spengleri?

[@Wiptur-Willias]

6:53

[@Rlt0929]

Geoemyda spengleri?

[@tonyguarini6140]

I live In Kanas City, where can I buy a smaller turtle ?

[@donna8243]

That lady African dwarf looks like she has a tiny yellow wetsuit on 😂

[@VDRP]

Why do hold the turtles?

[@barbhelle5481]

I wish people would not get a turtle unless they could care for them properly.

[@comepuchas990]

5.22.22 no ww3

[@nickkerr8775]

Its common with humans to see a female 3 to 5 times the size of a male.

[@jase123111]

Those first two turtles look very overweight!

[@harleykostuk5889]

Bruh intros deady long almost didn't make it threw

[@BxSyKo]

I am trying to contact you on your websites I am trying to contact you on Facebook because I am in need of desperate help for a turtle that I just found with a broken shell I watch all your KZbin videos and I figured I could come to you first because you have a lot of turtle experience and knowledge

[@BxSyKo]

Please help me save this turtles life!!

[@BxSyKo]

Contact me please

[@jonbishop9062]

It’s pronounced washitaw

[@crittergirl3647]

❤️