All turtles, including red eared sliders, spend a lot of time submerged underwater. Even though red eared sliders love swimming and submerging themselves, they can drown. In fact, all turtles can drown because they do not have the ability to breathe underwater. If your red slider stays under water for too long, it will drown. The same goes for any other turtle, though. Turtles need both oxygen from the air and water to live a happy and healthy life. Luckily, red eyed sliders are some of the best turtle swimmers, making it unlikely for them to drown if they are provided the proper enclosure. With this information in mind, you probably have some more unanswered questions about your red eared slider turtle. In this article, we’re going to try to tell you everything you need to know to prevent your red eared slider from drowning.
How Long Can Red Eared Sliders Stay Underwater? Red eared slider turtles love water and need access to it in order to be happy and healthy. In ideal conditions, these turtles spend about 30 minutes under water whenever they are swimming. If the turtle is motionless, it can stay 40 to 45 minutes underwater sleeping. At most, red eared sliders can spend an hour underwater before coming up for air. This information is all based on the average adult red eared slider. Baby turtles cannot spend this much time underwater. Instead, newborns cannot spend more than 15 minutes underwater before drowning. Similarly, old turtles may need to come up for air more frequently. Image credit by: Pixabay How Do Red Eared Sliders Breathe? Even though red eared sliders need a lot of water to stay happy and healthy, they need access to the air. Like mammals, these turtles breathe in with their nose, allowing air to enter into their lungs. They also exhale through their nose. One thing that makes turtle breathing different from human breathing is the torso. Whenever you breathe, you can feel your torso expanding and contracting. Turtles, however, including red eared sliders, cannot move their torso. Instead, their torso is completely surrounded by ribs, which are fused with the turtle’s shell. Since the turtle’s torso is not flexible, their lungs and muscles are very different from ours. The different structure allows red eared sliders to hold their breath for much longer than other mammals. Not to mention, breathing is easier for red eared sliders because of their different structure. Breathing Underwater Whenever a turtle breathes out of its nose, it will quickly drown if it tries to do so underwater. However, red eared sliders do have the ability to breathe underwater to a degree. These turtles have what is called a cloaca. This opening access multiple parts for the turtle, including a reproductive area, part of the digestive track, and urinary tract. What is super interesting about the cloaca is that it helps turtles to breathe underwater as well. Much like a pump, the cloaca can suck water whenever the turtle is submerged. Then, the oxygen can be extracted from the water and the water extracted from the turtle’s body. This process is repeated to allow turtles to stay underwater for a longer amount of time. Image credit by: Pixabay Why Do Red Eared Turtles Like to Be Underwater? If turtles have to come up for air, you may be wondering why they go underwater at all. Well, there are quite a few reasons why red eared sliders enjoy staying underwater for long periods at a time. Most notably, red eared slider turtles have better survival rates underwater. As you probably know, turtles move very slowly on land, but they are faster in the water. By staying under the water, they can easily escape predators because of their increased speed. Additionally, rivers and lakebeds are flooded with natural food sources for the turtle. This includes vegetation and insects. By staying underwater, the red eared sliders have more access to the food and nourishment they need to survive. On top of survival requirements, red eared sliders like to be underwater simply for enjoyment. This turtle type is a great swimmer and enjoys being underwater more than it likes being on land.
Signs a Turtle Is Drowning If you suspect your turtle is drowning, it is important to take it out of the water and place it on land as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine if your turtle is drowning since they spend so much time underwater by choice. The biggest indicator that a turtle is drowning is that it has not moved in some time. If the turtle has been underwater for more than an hour, it has likely drowned. You can confirm this by looking at the position you found the turtle in. If it floated to the top or is upside down, the turtle is likely dead from drowning. To help ease your mind, you don’t have to worry too much about a turtle drowning. If you provide your turtle areas to bask on the land, the chances of it drowning are incredibly low. On the other hand, if you do not provide ample basking area or add nets to the enclosure, the turtle may drown. How To Set Up a Red Eared Slider Turtle’s Enclosure To prevent your red eared slider from drowning, you need to set its enclosure up properly. Creating a safe environment for the turtle makes drowning highly unlikely, though not impossible. Here is how to set up a red ear slider turtle’s enclosure.
Fill It with Water Begin by filling the tank with water. You want the water to be twice as deep as the turtle’s length. For example, a 4-inch turtle needs 8 inches of water. Red eared sliders are particularly good swimmers, meaning they enjoy deep water and are much less likely to drown than other varieties. Create A Basking Area All turtles need a basking area. This basking area provides them a place to warm up and breathe. The basking area will help prevent the turtle from drowning. It will also prevent the turtle from getting too cold. Stack rocks on top of one another or find a plastic turtle dock. You can add other stones or wood to the basking area or place them in the water for the turtle to play with. Add Lights and Heat Red eared sliders need additional light and heat in their tank. You want the tank between 74 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The basking spot should be between 90 degrees and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply place a heat lamp over the basking area. You can use a water heater to keep the water warm as well. You will need to install an ultraviolet light in your turtle’s tank as well. Turtles need exposure to UVA and UVB for proper metabolism and health. Invest in a full spectrum reptile ultraviolet light.
Final Thoughts All in all, it is possible for a red eyed slider to drown simply because turtles cannot breathe underwater. With that being said, it is unlikely for a turtle to drown if it is given an opportunity to get on a basking area or some other area erected out of the water. Given that red eyed sliders are really good swimmers, these turtles are very unlikely to drown. Without the proper enclosure, any turtle, including the red eyed slider, can drown. Make sure to provide a basking area in your turtle’s tank so that the turtle can get out of the water to breathe, dry off, and warm up.
Featured Image Credit by: Pixabay
All turtles, including red eared sliders, spend a lot of time submerged underwater. Even though red eared sliders love swimming and submerging themselves, they can drown. In fact, all turtles can drown because they do not have the ability to breathe underwater.
If your red slider stays under water for too long, it will drown. The same goes for any other turtle, though. Turtles need both oxygen from the air and water to live a happy and healthy life. Luckily, red eyed sliders are some of the best turtle swimmers, making it unlikely for them to drown if they are provided the proper enclosure.
With this information in mind, you probably have some more unanswered questions about your red eared slider turtle. In this article, we’re going to try to tell you everything you need to know to prevent your red eared slider from drowning.
How Long Can Red Eared Sliders Stay Underwater?
Red eared slider turtles love water and need access to it in order to be happy and healthy. In ideal conditions, these turtles spend about 30 minutes under water whenever they are swimming. If the turtle is motionless, it can stay 40 to 45 minutes underwater sleeping. At most, red eared sliders can spend an hour underwater before coming up for air.
This information is all based on the average adult red eared slider. Baby turtles cannot spend this much time underwater. Instead, newborns cannot spend more than 15 minutes underwater before drowning. Similarly, old turtles may need to come up for air more frequently.
How Do Red Eared Sliders Breathe?
Even though red eared sliders need a lot of water to stay happy and healthy, they need access to the air. Like mammals, these turtles breathe in with their nose, allowing air to enter into their lungs. They also exhale through their nose.
One thing that makes turtle breathing different from human breathing is the torso. Whenever you breathe, you can feel your torso expanding and contracting. Turtles, however, including red eared sliders, cannot move their torso. Instead, their torso is completely surrounded by ribs, which are fused with the turtle’s shell.
Since the turtle’s torso is not flexible, their lungs and muscles are very different from ours. The different structure allows red eared sliders to hold their breath for much longer than other mammals. Not to mention, breathing is easier for red eared sliders because of their different structure.
Breathing Underwater
Whenever a turtle breathes out of its nose, it will quickly drown if it tries to do so underwater. However, red eared sliders do have the ability to breathe underwater to a degree. These turtles have what is called a cloaca. This opening access multiple parts for the turtle, including a reproductive area, part of the digestive track, and urinary tract.
What is super interesting about the cloaca is that it helps turtles to breathe underwater as well. Much like a pump, the cloaca can suck water whenever the turtle is submerged. Then, the oxygen can be extracted from the water and the water extracted from the turtle’s body. This process is repeated to allow turtles to stay underwater for a longer amount of time.
Why Do Red Eared Turtles Like to Be Underwater?
If turtles have to come up for air, you may be wondering why they go underwater at all. Well, there are quite a few reasons why red eared sliders enjoy staying underwater for long periods at a time.
Most notably, red eared slider turtles have better survival rates underwater. As you probably know, turtles move very slowly on land, but they are faster in the water. By staying under the water, they can easily escape predators because of their increased speed.
Additionally, rivers and lakebeds are flooded with natural food sources for the turtle. This includes vegetation and insects. By staying underwater, the red eared sliders have more access to the food and nourishment they need to survive.
On top of survival requirements, red eared sliders like to be underwater simply for enjoyment. This turtle type is a great swimmer and enjoys being underwater more than it likes being on land.
Signs a Turtle Is Drowning
If you suspect your turtle is drowning, it is important to take it out of the water and place it on land as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine if your turtle is drowning since they spend so much time underwater by choice.
The biggest indicator that a turtle is drowning is that it has not moved in some time. If the turtle has been underwater for more than an hour, it has likely drowned. You can confirm this by looking at the position you found the turtle in. If it floated to the top or is upside down, the turtle is likely dead from drowning.
To help ease your mind, you don’t have to worry too much about a turtle drowning. If you provide your turtle areas to bask on the land, the chances of it drowning are incredibly low. On the other hand, if you do not provide ample basking area or add nets to the enclosure, the turtle may drown.
How To Set Up a Red Eared Slider Turtle’s Enclosure
To prevent your red eared slider from drowning, you need to set its enclosure up properly. Creating a safe environment for the turtle makes drowning highly unlikely, though not impossible. Here is how to set up a red ear slider turtle’s enclosure.
Fill It with Water
Begin by filling the tank with water. You want the water to be twice as deep as the turtle’s length. For example, a 4-inch turtle needs 8 inches of water. Red eared sliders are particularly good swimmers, meaning they enjoy deep water and are much less likely to drown than other varieties.
Create A Basking Area
All turtles need a basking area. This basking area provides them a place to warm up and breathe. The basking area will help prevent the turtle from drowning. It will also prevent the turtle from getting too cold. Stack rocks on top of one another or find a plastic turtle dock. You can add other stones or wood to the basking area or place them in the water for the turtle to play with.
Add Lights and Heat
Red eared sliders need additional light and heat in their tank. You want the tank between 74 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The basking spot should be between 90 degrees and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply place a heat lamp over the basking area. You can use a water heater to keep the water warm as well.
You will need to install an ultraviolet light in your turtle’s tank as well. Turtles need exposure to UVA and UVB for proper metabolism and health. Invest in a full spectrum reptile ultraviolet light.
Final Thoughts
All in all, it is possible for a red eyed slider to drown simply because turtles cannot breathe underwater. With that being said, it is unlikely for a turtle to drown if it is given an opportunity to get on a basking area or some other area erected out of the water. Given that red eyed sliders are really good swimmers, these turtles are very unlikely to drown.
Without the proper enclosure, any turtle, including the red eyed slider, can drown. Make sure to provide a basking area in your turtle’s tank so that the turtle can get out of the water to breathe, dry off, and warm up.
Featured Image Credit by: Pixabay
