Snakes:

Corn- 10 years, 3-5 feet long

Milk

Pros:

-very little care

-fed once a week/month

-tank doesn't need cleaning much

-small tank needed, even when they get older!

-no teeth in many breeds

Cons:

-can grow quite big

-live up to 20 years

-gross food needed

-do sometimes bite

-escape artists

-can't just let run wild

-might need new tank

Terrapins:

...many types.

Pros:

-quite small

-live to 30...? Oldest?

-good emotional feedback

Cons:

-water in tank

-setup can be complex

-clean more often

-environment must be exact

-...can they wander round the house...?

-hibernation

In actual fact, there are no species of turtles or tortoises really suitable for beginners or the casual reptile owner. In the past, there has been a trend of marketing these animals, particularly red-eared sliders as ideal pets for children but these are really animals for the keen hobbyist. They have very specific housing and environmental needs, which can be very challenging to meet and are certainly not low maintenance. Basically, most turtles and tortoises are messy, long-lived, can grow to impractical sizes and require controlled exposure to UV light. In addition, their tendency to harbour Salmonella makes them a particularly bad pet for children.