Mine seem to sleep underwater but when they're awake they come up for air. Or am I just making things up?
2006-08-19 19:15:55 · 15 answers · asked by Saritah 5 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Turtles do not have a way to process oxygen out of water (no gills). Therefore they must come up for air however some turtles like the sea turtle can hold it's breath for over 5 hours.
Being a cold-blooded creature and having a slow metabolism anyway, reduces its need for oxygen. Being asleep would decrease your turtle's need for oxygen even more.
2006-08-19 19:24:57 · answer #1 · answered by slynx000 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Can Turtles Breathe Underwater
2016-10-07 05:04:19 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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RE:
Can turtles breathe underwater?
Mine seem to sleep underwater but when they're awake they come up for air. Or am I just making things up?
2015-08-18 07:59:26 · answer #3 · answered by Christiane 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They cannot really breathe underwater, but...
a.) They have very slow metabolisms that allow them to go a long time on a breath, especially when they are sleeping,
b.) We breath because carbon dioxide builds up in our bodies and we breath to relase it before it causes harm to us. Turtles are very resistant to carbon dioxide harm and breath when the oxygen in their blood drops too low- this lets them hold their breath even longer.
c.) Some species are known to do 'cloacal breathing'- absorbing air out of the water through the tissues inside their cloaca- the 'all-in-one' opening under their tail. It is suspected that other species do this as well. It seems to give them enough air to stay under even longer when necessary but it is unclear if they do it routinely or not.
2006-08-20 09:29:41 · answer #4 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
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No, a turtle is a reptile, they do not have gills, they breathe air like you and me. A word of warning, in most jurisdictions it is illegal to keep a wild animal as a pet without a special licence. Put him Back, his family misses him!
2016-03-27 03:37:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No , turtles don't breath underwater. It take direct air from water level up.
2006-08-19 19:24:03 · answer #6 · answered by bauani 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Turtles can only stay underwater for a certain amount of time but need to come up for air every so often-why turtles drown that aarea caught in trawling nets and why they are outlawed for fisheries to use.
2006-08-19 19:48:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Turtles have lungs and can not breathe under water. They have to hold their breath like we do.
2006-08-19 19:20:28 · answer #8 · answered by notachia 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
they can hold their breathe underwater
2006-08-19 19:19:07 · answer #9 · answered by sadealz 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No.. they cannot breath,,,,,, But they can hold a breath for a very long time..
2006-08-19 19:20:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋