Why is my RES sleeping under water (20 years old)?

Question

Woke her up to eat - ate and went back to sleep at bottom of tank. She has been sleeping for about 5 days. One day she slept under the basking lamp

Answer 1

My RES is about 15 yrs old now and he does that as well. Sleeps under his light for hours and also under water. Just monitor her food intake, give her some variety - also look under the shell for any in-normalities, see if the color has changed. It might just be old age. Also this time of year where i live is a little colder so at night i put in a cup of warm water in the tank to make sure the water doens't get too cold.

Answer 2

The older a RES gets the longer they are able to hold their breath underwater. Mine sleeps underwater often. They are able to hold it for a few hours actually. I think most turtles if not all tend to sleep while basking. My is currently doing it right now lol. 20 years old is pretty old. Typicaly their life expectancy is 13 years or such. So you must be taking good care of him/her. Do you think it may be possible hybernation?

Answer 3

As long as the temps, lighting, etc. are solid, I would not worry a lot. If this was a sudden change, it might be an illness (possibly pneumonia), but otherwise it just sounds like the changes associated with old age.

(20 is pretty old for a RES.)

Answer 4

My sliders sleep under their lamps and under water but they seem fine and just go on and do their own thing. But where it is 20 yo she is close to the average life expectancy although they can live much longer. I would just keep watching her to make sure she is eating, swimming etc. regularly.

Answer 5

if she's eating normaly and swimming around some she should be fine. my turtles sleep in the water alot. must just be getting old.