The red-eared slider turtles are subspecies of the pond sliders. They are semi-aquatic turtles and belong to the family Emydidae. It is the most popular pet turtle around the world. The red-eared slider turtles are also most commonly traded among the other turtle species because of their popularity.
If you have a red-eared slider turtle as a pet, you also need to learn about its sleeping habits. It’s good to know where it usually sleeps around the turtle tank. That way, you will know if it’s acting normal or showing abnormal behavior. It will alert you if something is not right about your pet.
Can Red-Eared Sliders Sleep Underwater?
Yes, red-eared slider turtles sleep underwater. They float on the surface of the water as they sleep. It’s also normal if it sinks at the bottom of the turtle tank. Turtles inflate their throats to help them to float. They also sleep at night and are active during the day.
Like humans, these turtles have similar sleeping habits. These turtles will sleep when the lights are off. When you turn on the lights, they will wake up. The red-eared sliders are responsive to light. They prefer to sleep underwater so it’s normal if you see your pet doing that. You may also find the turtle sleeping in a different spot
As semi-aquatic animals, the red-eared turtles can stay underwater all the time. After some time, they will float to the surface to sleep. They will put their head up above the water so they can breathe. These turtle species will inflate their throats to stay floating as they sleep.
Do Red-Eared Turtles Sleep With Their Eyes Closed?
Yes, turtles and tortoises sleep with their eyes closed like other animals. They have to close their eyelids so that they can sleep. It will help them to avoid the light. Sleeping while their eyes are closed also helps them to relax. They do this when they get tired as well so that they can rest.
However, if you notice that it seems to close its eyes longer, something is wrong with your turtle. Doing this longer than usual is a sign of a disease. Check if the turtle’s eyes are swollen. If you notice an unusual habit, take it to the vet. Although it’s normal for turtles to close their eyes to sleep, it can also be a symptom of a disease.
How Long Red-Eared Sliders Sleep?
If the red-eared slider turtle is healthy, it should be sleeping between 4 to 7 hours every day. They don’t usually sleep during the day except if they feel sick. It may seem like having a nap but for turtles, that’s a sign of an illness. They need to have enough sleep at night to stay healthy.
The turtle’s sleeping time may vary depending on the season. The water temperature will determine when they should sleep. During the winter, the water will be cold. They will spend more time in the basking area during the day. Turtles need to keep their body warm so they may sleep shorter during the winter.
Once it’s summer, the water will be warmer which is the ideal temperature for the turtle. It will feel more comfortable which results in sleeping longer. The red-eared sliders sleep more during this period. But your pet turtle should have 7 hours of sleep. Keep the water temperature warm so they can do that.
Why Is Your Red-Eared Slider Not Sleeping?
It’s hard to know for sure if your red-eared slider is sleeping enough or not. It can wake up in the slightest noise of light. That means you have to be careful at night to avoid waking it up. It’s best to check your pet if it’s sleeping properly or not.
However, your presence can also take the turtle up. It’s responsive to the slightest sound and light. If you check on your slider and it looks like it is not sleeping, that can be a problem. Like humans, they need to sleep to stay healthy. Sleep will help them with digestion and have enough energy.
The water temperature on the turtle tank should be 26 to 28C for the red-eared slider. If the water feels too hot or too cold for them, the turtle will stay out of the water. It will stay in the basking area instead and avoid the water. It’s not good for the red-eared slider turtle to sleep out of the water.
The quality of water in the turtle tank should also be right. The pH level should be maintained between 6.0 to 8.0. It can irritate the turtle if it’s lower or higher than that. Make sure that the turtle tank is always clean and change the water in the tank regularly.
Why Is Your Red-Eared Slider Sleeping Too Much?
As semi-aquatic animals, turtles sleep underwater. Having a clean living space is also important for them. The quality of the water inside the tank should also be ideal. That will help the red-eared slider turtle to sleep well. Keep the water clean and the pH level and temperature ideal for them.
Providing the perfect condition of the water in the turtle tank is a must. It will help the red-eared slider to sleep better. But what if your turtle seems to be sleeping all the time? If that’s the case, it means that the red-eared slider may be sick. Whether it’s a hatchling or an adult, it’s a bad sign if it sleeps too much.
What are the Reasons Why Red-Eared Sliders Oversleep?
Turtles may oversleep because of a variety of reasons. It can be the effect of their environment or the turtle’s health. If you notice that your red-eared slider is oversleeping, you have to be concerned. Find out what’s making the turtle sleep all the time. That way, you will be able to solve the problem right away.
Check the water temperature, check if the turtle is sick, and see if it’s injured. Those are the common reasons why the red-eared slider may develop the habit of oversleeping. Check the turtle if there is any physical damage. If that’s the vase, the turtle will not be able to swim properly. It can cause them to drown if not addressed the issue immediately.
1. Water Temperature
If your red-eared slider seems to be sleeping more than it should, check the water temperature. When they are in the wild, red-eared sliders brumate in the winter. Brumation is the turtle’s version of hibernation. During this period, turtles will be inactive. It’s their way to save energy during the winter. Low water temperature will cause them to sleep.
2. The Turtle is Sick
If the turtle is sick it will be sleeping a lot. This may be caused by a respiratory disease. Oversleeping indicates that something is wrong with your red-eared slider. If you are sleeping with its mouth open, that means it’s sick. You can see some bubbles around its mouth as well. Aside from oversleeping, the turtle may not eat as much as normal.
3. Physical Injuries
Another reason why the red-eared slider sleeps is due to physical injuries. The turtle might only seem to be sleeping. It might be hurt or injured that’s why it’s not active. The red-eared slider may not have the ability to move as much. Check your turtle to see any signs of injuries on its body.
How to Help Your Turtle Sleep?
If your pet turtle seems to have an issue with sleeping, make sure to help it out. Sleep is crucial for animals. If your red-eared slider is not sleeping properly, it will end up sick. This will be bad for the turtle’s health. Make sure to provide all the necessary requirements so the turtle can sleep well every night. You also need to take some measures to ensure that your red-eared slider can sleep peacefully.
1. Proper Feeding
Feed your red-eared slider properly to ensure it’s not too hungry to sleep. They are omnivores which means they eat meat and vegetables. Sliders need to have a variety of their diet so that they can feel satiated. Feed the slider daily or once every 2 or 3 days.
When feeding your slider, give it the right amount of food based on the frequency. If you plan to feed it daily, you can give small amounts of food. If it’s once every 2 to 3 days, you can feed it more. When the red-eared slider doesn’t get enough food, it will have a hard time sleeping. It will feel restless while waiting for an opportunity to eat again.
2. Maintain a Clean Tank
Keep the water in the turtle tank clean all the time. If the water is dirty, it can irritate the turtle. Change the water at least every two weeks. Clean the title tank once a month as well to maintain a clean environment. The water pH level should be around 6.0 and 8.0 and the temperature should be between 26 to 28C.
3. Proper Basking
Basking is an essential part of the turtle’s life. It needs to bask properly every day so it needs an appropriate basking area. Make sure that it’s always clean. The basking lights should provide enough heat and UV rays. If that’s not available, it will disturb the turtle’s natural behavior. Basking is also essential for the red-eared slider turtle’s metabolism.
4. Check Location of the Turtle Tank
The red-eared slider turtles are sensitive to noise and light. If it’s exposed to them, the turtle may not be able to sleep properly. You have to move the turtle rank to a quiet area of your home. It’s also recommended to use a shade for the turtle tank. This will avoid the light from reaching it, especially at night.
How Do Red-Eared Sliders Breathe?
The red-eared slider turtles have lungs so they need air to breathe. Like humans, turtles need oxygen to continue breathing. Even aquatic turtles need to breathe air as well. They don’t have gills like fish and other aquatic animals who can extract oxygen from water. Turtle’s need to go to the surface of the water so they can breathe.
However, red-eared sliders can go in for months without air. That’s when they go on brumation or hibernation. They can stay underwater for the entire winter. That’s because they don’t need too much oxygen during this period. When turtles go on brumation, their metabolism slows down. They don’t need food or air for a long time.
How Deep Should a Red-Eared Slider Water Be?
The water in the tank should be enough to allow the red-eared slider to swim. They need to have clean water as well as a basking area. The depth of the water should be at least twice as long as the turtle’s length. If you have a 4-inch turtle, the water in the tank should be 6 to 8 inches deep.
The red-eared slider turtles are great swimmers. They spend most of their lives in the water. That means you don’t have to worry about it drowning. But make sure that the turtle can go to the surface to get some air from time to time. It also needs to be able to get out of the water if needed.
How Do You Know If a Turtle is Drowning?
It’s not easy to determine if the turtle is drowning. The red-eared slider turtles are aquatic turtle species. They spend most of their time in the water. But if you think that your turtle may be drowning, take it out of the water immediately. It will save the turtle’s life in case it’s really drowning.
The best way to know if the turtle is drowning is if it’s not moving. If it stays underwater for a long time, it may be drowning. They need to go to the surface of the water to breathe. Check the position of the turtle if it’s floating upside down or at the top of the water. That indicates that it has drowned.
However, you don’t need to worry much about a turtle drowning. As long as you provide a basking area for your turtle, it will not drown. Turtles need a dry area on the tank so they can bask. It will also avoid them from being trapped underwater. The turtle can go to the safety of the basking area.
How Can You Save a Drowning Turtle?
Turtles can drown underwater especially when they get trapped. The usual signs of drowning may vary. When a turtle drowns, it will have a comatose state, lacking reflexes, water in its lungs, and tissue alteration in its lungs. But turtles don’t immediately die when they drown. There’s still a chance for them to survive and recover.
When a turtle drowns, it can still survive for several hours. The turtle’s body will go into hibernation mode. When you find the turtle in that position early, it will have a better chance of survival. Avoid flipping it upside down since it keeps air from its lungs as it goes into hibernation. Calmly take it out and contact a veterinarian immediately.
Do Turtles Drown Themselves?
Turtles can drown even if they are aquatic animals. They don’t have gills like fish so they can’t take oxygen from water. Air is needed for them to breathe because they have lungs. If the turtle gets trapped underwater, it can drown. They need oxygen to survive like other animals so it’s possible for them to drown.
Aquatic turtles can hold their breath for a long time. They can stay underwater for between 45 minutes to an hour. But they usually go to the water surface for some air. If one of their legs got trapped into a tank decoration, that would cause drowning for turtles. Avoid using too many decorations on the turtle tank.
Can Red Eared Sliders Drown?
Although it’s possible for red-eared sliders to drown, they are strong swimmers. They spend a long time underwater so they know what to do. The red-eared sliders can drown since they can’t breathe underwater. Make sure that your turtle will not be trapped by the decorations around the tank.
When the red-eared slider can’t swim to the surface, it will drown. Generally, aquatic turtles need to breathe from their lungs. They need to have oxygen from the air to survive. Provided that the red-eared sliders have a proper enclosure, it is very unlikely to drown.
How Long Does It Take for a Red-Eared Slider to Drown?
It takes between 30 to 35 minutes for the red-eared slider to hold its breath underwater. But the length of time will depend on the water temperature. These turtle species can hold their breath longer when the water temperature is low. They need less oxygen compared to other animals.
The red-eared sliders usually spend 5 to 7 minutes in the water before coming up to the surface. It’s very uncommon for red-eared sliders to drown. Living in the turtle tank makes the chances of drowning slimmer. But it can happen if something blocks the turtle’s access to go to the surface.
FAQs
1. Do Red-Eared Slider Turtles Like Being Underwater?
Yes, red-eared slider turtles like being underwater. They only come up to the surface to get some air to breathe. These turtles also go to the basking area to stay warm. Aquatic turtles spend most of their time underwater. There are better chances of survival when turtles stay in the water. They are slow in and which makes them vulnerable to predators.
Generally, turtles are slow on land and fast when they get in the water. They have evolved to survive in both environments. When they are in the water, they don’t have a lot of predators around. They also sleep in the water since they feel safer. Their food is also located in the water so they stay there.
2. How Red-Eared Sliders Breathe?
The red-eared slider turtles breathe through their lungs. That means they need oxygen from the air to be able to breathe. But turtles are different from other animals since they don’t have flexible torsos. That means the way they breathe is different. Their torsos will not be smaller when they inhale. The same goes when they exhale, their torso will not expand.
Most animals including humans have a torso that is made out of ribs. The turtle’s torso is covered with its shell. Their ribs are fused together and not flexible. Turtles don’t have that flexibility like other animals. their lungs and muscles are set up differently. But it allows them to control how they breathe better. They can also hold air in their lungs.
3. What is the Metabolic Rate of Red-Eared Sliders?
The red-eared slider turtles can hold air in their lungs for a long time. Turtles are reptiles and they are cold-blooded. They don’t have the ability to generate heat from their bodies. It means that their body temperature depends on their surroundings. Their metabolic rate is also slower compared to other animals.
Metabolic rate is how fast the body functions. If the animal has a fast metabolic rate and it’s very active, that means it needs more food, air, and water. While a slow metabolic state makes the animal less active. It means that the animal will only need less food, air, and water if it has a show metabolic state.
That’s the reason why aquatic turtles can stay underwater longer. Turtles can even stay in the water for between 3 to 6 months underwater. The red-eared slider turtles can also manage to stay a long time in the water. That’s because of their slow metabolic rate and the cloaca. It helps the turtles to absorb oxygen in their skin while they are under brumation.
Conclusion
The red-eared slider turtles are usually underwater. They don’t drown because they go up to the surface to breathe. It’s automatic for them to do that even while they’re sleeping. These turtles are strong swimmers so you don’t have to worry that they might drown. It’s their normal habit and many turtle owners are aware of it.
