It's a common myth that you can keep a turtle small by keeping him in a small tank. Actually, as long as he is otherwise healthy, that turtle will keep on growing regardless of the size of the tank.
My tank is pretty large and has room for Spot to grow. If your turtle is 5" or 6", you could provide a good habitat for now with a 55 or 60 gallon tank. But of course he's probably still growing...
A big tank can be a big investment. However, some of the people on here have gotten amazingly good deals on nice big tank setups by shopping around. I hoping some of the people who have done so well will respond with their experiences. Or you could read up on some of the threads in this section.
An even less expensive alternative that seems to work really well is to use a rubbermaid tub or a rubber stock tank. They are very inexpensive, sturdy and come in a variety of sizes. There are lots of threads on here from people with these sorts of tanks, and pictures too. This can either be a permanent solution or a temporary solution until you get a regular aquarium.
Hope this soothes your nerves!
