While turtles lack vocal cords, they can still produce a wide range of sounds. So, how do they make the sounds? Well, simple, really, they make sounds by expelling air from the lungs.
We humans can perceive some of the sounds, but other sounds turtles produce aren’t in the range of human hearing. Turtles produce different sounds for different purposes. All in all, it’s a way to communicate with each other and express their emotions such as anxiety, anger, and fear. Some cluck like a chicken, others chirp like birds while some hiss.
The red-eared slider is known for making a distinct chirping sound. It’s the only turtle species known to make this sound. Owners ask why their red-eared sliders chirp as well as hiss, squeak, grunt, gurgle, and bellow. Well, this article will explain the various sounds red-eared sliders make and why they make them.
Do Red-Eared Sliders Make Sounds?
Most of the time, when turtles make a noise, the noise is correlated with the current behavior of the turtle. As stated above, red-eared sliders make different sounds, including:
- Chirp
- Hiss
- Squeak
- Gurgle
- Grunt
- Bellow
- Whistle
Why Do Red Eared Sliders Chirp?
The main reasons your red-eared slider is chirping are boredom, stress, hunger, and underlying respiratory illness.Read the section below as we discuss what’s causing your red-eared slider to chirp.
Boredom
It’s vital to remember that when a turtle is confined to a small enclosure without decorations can leave them without anything curious to do. Besides, if a turtle is the only animal in the enclosure, it can swim and swim alone until it gets boring. If the boredom is too much, they can send a chirp to draw anyone’s attention. Since a chirp is a sharp and high-pitched sound, it can go long and far. Turtles naturally chirp because they know it will capture your attention.
Hunger
Additionally, a turtle can chirp when hungry or begging for food. This is particularly true if they chirp every time you enter the room. They do this because turtles associate you with food. Red-eared slider owners admit to overfeeding the turtle sometimes when it makes this sound begging for more food. While it can be tempting, you should only feed the turtle according to schedule – probably twice every day. Remember, turtles are opportunistic feeders and will munch on everything even when full.
Stress
Another common reason why turtles become stressed is due to conditions in the tank. This can range from issues such as small tanks, inadequate temperature, or poor water quality. When they chirp, it’s also essential to keep an eye on other symptoms of stress in turtles, including erratic behavior and loss of appetite. One of the best ways to keep the turtle less stressed and healthy is to ensure the water in the tank is clean and heated to the right temperature.
Respiratory Illness
Moreover, your red-eared slider may be chirping because of a respiratory illness. While this is not uncommon, it’s definitely the most serious among the other reasons. Respiratory illnesses are one of the reasons why turtles die. When they chirp accompanied by other symptoms of respiratory illnesses, it could be more severe than you think. Usually, turtles will struggle to breathe when they have a respiratory illness, which can cause wheezing.
When the condition worsens, they may begin to cough. Turtles with respiratory illnesses may also have too much mucus through the ears and eyes. If you notice a discharge on their face, you could prevent blockage by wiping it off. Severe symptoms of a respiratory illness include loss of appetite and lethargy. When the turtle stops moving, you should call the vet as soon as possible. For respiratory illnesses, your vet is likely to offer antibiotics and sometimes nose drops.
Why Do Red-Eared Sliders Squeak?
Many owners also report that red-eared sliders make high-pitched noises. Should you be worried when they make squeaky noises? Here are reasons why red-eared sliders squeak:
Respiratory Infection
Well, you should be worried when your turtle squeaks because it could be suffering from a respiratory infection. To rule out a respiratory infection, ensure they do not have abnormal nasal discharge or puffy eyes. As mentioned, a turtle with respiratory infections will not breathe properly and may be forced to elongate the neck with the eyes open to breathe.
Begging for Food
Besides, red-eared sliders squeak for other reasons. Sometimes they will squeak to ask for food. Thanks to their keen eyesight and knowing their owners, they will squeak when you go near their enclosure so that you can feed them. This does not mean you have been feeding them less. Turtles, especially young ones, have an insatiable urge for food. Keep in mind that turtles are susceptible to obesity and pyramiding, so watch the food you give.
Chocking
Turtles will munch anything, including large food portions. Due to a lack of teeth, they have to swallow the food whole and may end up stuck in their throat. When turtles chock, they make a desperate attempt to remove it and may squeak in the process. You can prevent this by cutting the food into smaller pieces and making sure you feed them in water because they need to wet the food before swallowing. If the turtle won’t stop choking, there’s nothing you can do but take it to the vet immediately. Ensure you don’t turn it down when choking as they may lose remaining air from their lungs, causing more complications.
Wrong Water Parameters
Turtles will also squeak when water parameters are wrong. For example, when the water gets too cold or when it stinks. Ignoring the squeaks could result in further complications such as respiratory infections.
Adjusting the Jaws
Turtles also produce high-pitch noise when adjusting their beaks and jaws. This is especially true when beaks rub each other during food intake. Also, turtles will squeak when adjusting their jaws, especially when the turtle is basking or relaxing.
When Handled
As you may already know, turtles when being turned upside down. The position makes them vulnerable to predators, and so they squeak to express discomfort. When they get familiar with your touch, they will stop squeaking when you hold them.
Why Do Red Eared Sliders Hiss?
When the red-eared slider retracts back into its shell, the lungs gush out air to shrink and leave some room for other limbs. The expanded lungs take up most of the space, which prevents the whole body from contracting. If the turtle can’t fit in the limbs into the shell, it will leave them exposed and vulnerable. The air they release makes the hissing sound. If a red-eared slider feels threatened, it retracts back to its shell for protection.
In other words, the hissing of red eared sliders means they are scared, but the hissing sound is not just a show of flight. Sometimes they can use it to intimidate threats. They also make the hissing sound to express vulnerability. If the turtle doesn’t feel safe, it will hiss to draw attention. So, in this case, it can either hiss to ask for help or scare off predators or attackers.
If the turtle is sharing the habitat with another animal, there could be some bullying going on, hence the hissing. If other animals are bullying the turtle, you should try to separate the bullies. If it’s two turtles, look for a separate tank or divide the tank using a divider. Additionally, check whether there’s stuff that is scaring the turtle.
Apart from purposes of safety, red-eared sliders will hiss when tired. This species of turtle tends to stick its head inside the shell when sleeping or taking a rest. When they sleep or relax, they hiss to exhaust air from the lungs.
Why Is My Red-Eared Slider Making a Clicking Noise?
Semi-aquatic turtles such as red eared sliders make a clicking noise when they are basking out of water. If they stay out of water for too long, they can make a clicking sound with their tongue. This is mostly when they get dehydrated. It’s completely normal, though, and nothing to worry about.
However, if they keep doing it for too long, you need to check the water. Maybe something makes the turtle to be afraid of the water. Test for factors such as dirty water, imbalanced PH, temperature, and other things that might be keeping the turtle from going back into the water. Ensure the PH level is between 6.0 to 8.0.
If you plan to travel with the turtle, you might be out of water for some time. You can’t take the turtle tank with you on the trip. So, what you can do is to carry a portable plastic tank as a way to help them get some freshwater. If you hear them making the clicking sound, you can just provide access to water for some time.
Why Is My Red-Slider Turtle Making a Gurgling Sound?
Red-slider turtles gurgle when their breathing system is clogged up by mucus. This often occurs when the temperatures within the tank or the basking area are low. Some turtle owners have noticed that young red-eared sliders can gurgle at times when begging for food if they are especially hungry. However, if your turtle is sneezing and gurgling, you should get in touch with the vet.
Why Do Red-Eared Sliders Whistle?
If you do notice that your pet red-eared slider is making a whistling sound when breathing, this may indicate a respiratory illness. The presence of white residue or discharge from the nose or mouth and other noticeable symptoms such as lack of appetite and breathing problems should be reason enough to get in touch with the vet immediately.
Is My Red-Eared Slider Burping?
When turtles are full, they often burp just like we do. Red-eared sliders have a particular liking for respiratory infection, which is indicated by the presence of snot coming from the nose and bubbles blowing as the turtle struggles to breathe. Such cases require urgent vet care.
When Do Red-Eared Turtles Produce a Bellowing Sound?
Although red-eared sliders aren’t renowned for their fighting capabilities, they can at times bellow when wounded or cornered by a predator. This sound isn’t especially common with turtles raised in captivity, and it can be a cry for help, so check up on your turtle if they ever bellow.
Why Do Red Eared Sliders Make Quacking Sounds?
Red-eared sliders have been observed to emit a low-frequency sound, almost like quacking when underwater or on land. These are mating calls often made by a male red-eared slider, and they can be mixed up with hissing sounds when approaching other turtles. Red-eared sliders are often likely to quack when basking and after a meal.
Do Turtles Make Noise At Night?
While most red-eared sliders are diurnal, meaning that they are active during the day, others can be quite noisy during the night. However, red-eared sliders can get quite noisy during the mating season due to increased activity during the night. Mature male red-eared sliders have been noticed to produce vibrations in the water by wiggling their long front claws while at the same time they repeatedly open and close their mouth, thereby emitting a low gurgling sound.
Wrap Up
Red-eared sliders can produce a wide range of sounds indicating their current state. They are particularly likely to hiss when scared, and they accomplish this by tucking their heads into their shells while rapidly expelling the air from the lungs. Keeping your turtles comfortable by providing the right temperatures for the tank and basking sections, proper diet, and providing gravel spots to hide or play in will go a long way into keeping your turtle contented and reducing the amount of noise they make.
Semi-aquatic turtles such as the red-eared sliders can also produce clicking noises when dehydrated so make sure that your pet always has a constant supply of fresh water to keep them healthy and happy. keep in mind that turtles majorly make noise when angry or stressed, so remember to check in on their living environment.