beginner turtle

Question
I want a turtle for a beginner but I want it to be cool lookin and not get too big and easy to take ccare of. Any suggestions?

Answer
First, even the easiest species requires a large tank, proper equipment and diet, and an investment of time of money.  They can live 30 years or more, so aren't a pet you can just have for a few years.  To be honest, though, there are no "easy" pets if you really want to give proper care.  "Easy" usually means minimal care, and that's just not healthy for the animal.  There are a number of turtle species that aren't too difficult (maps, painted, sliders), but not easy.  Keep in mind that there's no turtle that can be housed in a 20 gallon tank, so they do take up room.

Here's some links that will give you some detailed information on care and housing.  The site also has care sheets that will give you information on the individual species.

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/care.htm
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/waterquality.htm
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/housing.htm